Illinois and NIU students are about to get a taste of southern hospitality.

Rap artist Ludacris is booked to perform at the Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Highway, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.

Rap group Disturbing Tha Peace will go on stage, along with other acts to be announced later.

Kevin Selover, director of marketing at the arena, said they’ve been in touch with Ludacris’ promoter for some time.

“We have been speaking with Windtunnel Entertainment Incorporated since the end of the school year about this show,” Selover said. “But it didn’t become official until [Tuesday].”

Tickets for the event are $34.50 for the general public, but students can purchase tickets for $29.50 at the arena office.

The show will make stops in Orlando and St. Petersburg, Fla., before making the trek north to Illinois.

The last rap artist to perform at the arena was Ja Rule, who came with Benzino and Kelly Rowland last February.

Ludacris’ new album, “Chicken and Beer,” comes out Oct. 7, which is 11 days before he is set to come to DeKalb.

Staff reporter Rachel Helfrich contributed to this article.