Master P Partners with HUD to Rebuild His Old Hood

Former gangster rapper and No Limit Records founder Master P has announced a partnership with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development -- more commonly known as HUD -- to rebuild the B.W. Cooper Housing Projects (formerly called the Calliope Projects) in New Orleans.

Construction on Cooper, where Master P grew up, began October 15. When completed, the renovated housing project will be renamed Marrero Commons, after well-respected neighborhood activist, Yvonne Marrero, who died when Hurricane Katrina destroyed most of the surrounding area.

More than 1,000 units in the housing project were evacuated during the hurricane. In their plans for the new project, Master P and HUD plan to build 1,500 new apartments, providing housing for more than 3,000 New Orleans residents.

"I want to be able to show these guys look at me. I changed my image, I changed my life and I had to grow up," Miller said in a statement. "I'm honored to be a part of the ground breaking alongside President Obama's right hand man, Secretary Shaun Donovan, who shares the same goals as me, which is to help B.W. Cooper residents get back into their new homes."

Construction on the first phase of the facility is expected to be completed at the end of next year.

Last week we reported that Miller had partnered with charity One Million Gifts, working to help feed and clothe more than 1 million people during the upcoming holiday season. Also watch for P on VH1's 'No Excuses,' which will follow him as he tries to help a Los Angeles gangbanger change his situation by showing him "the amazing things you can do when you stop making excuses," according to a VH1 press release.