Ludacris "Rolls Out" Free Car Program

Based on his song titles ("Move Bitch," "Get Back" and "Nasty Girl," just to name a few), it's easy to assume that Ludacris is tough as nails. Turns out that beneath the rough persona, the rapper's actually got a heart of gold.

According to an article on CNN.com, Ludacris recently teamed up with Nissan South dealership in Morrow, Ga. to give cars to 20 people in need in and around Atlanta, the rapper's hometown. While recipients are expected to pay the taxes, registration and insurance on the cars, the vehicles come with 30 days of free gas.

Winners of the LudaDay Car Giveaway were selected from a pool of 4,000 folks who submitted essays to the rapper's Ludacris Foundation Web site. Applicants were asked to describe in 300 words why they deserved a new set of wheels. Ludacris and his mother, Roberta Shields, along with Ludacris Foundation staff reviewed the essays and chose the final 20.

Though Ludacris facilitated the contest, the idea itself belonged to Chris White, manager of the Nissan South dealership. Together, the two helped out a lot of Americans in need, including a single mother, a Sudanese refugee and a father of two who lost his job a year ago.

While the contest certainly benefited down-on-their-luck Atlantans, it could also yield some fringe benefits for the struggling dealership. Nissan South is down about $800,000 after doling out discounts for car buyers after the Cash for Clunkers program ended on August 24. Even though the government subsidy had ended, the dealership didn't want to turn away buyers, so they continued to offer the clunker discount of between $3,500 and $4,500. The 20 cars offered through the LudaDay giveaway could be written off as a charitable donation, making them eligibile for a tax deduction.

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng.