Senator Barack Obama, contemplating a run for president, met privately with rapper Ludacris on Wednesday (Nov. 29).

"We talked about empowering the youth," said the rapper born Chris Bridges.

Ludacris was in town to launch the YouthAIDS "Kick Me" campaign to raise HIV/AIDS awareness during a stop at Northwestern University in the Chicago suburb of Evanston.

The meeting at Obama's downtown Chicago office was a meeting of two star powers.  Both have won Grammy awards: Obama for readings from his memoir, "Dreams From My Father," and Luda for his verse on Usher's "Yeah!"

Bridges said meeting Obama, known for his warm personal style, was like meeting with a relative.