Biography
Pugs Atomz awoke in this world a Leo in Pittsburgh PA., son of an ex Panther turned Radio host and a Painter. His love of Hip Hop developed when his family moved to Chicago; during grade school he would see the graffiti on the trains and in his neighborhood of Englewood. These trains also would have rap groups performing and singers doing their thing for spare change. The first rap he wrote was in 5th grade, so the next day when he recited his, everybody said, �you�re rapping, he's a rapper". From that point it started to make more sense to him.
As teenager his parents would have people like Oscar Brown Jr. in his living room performing �Signifying Monkey" and various other poets/ visual artist schooling him to give me a sense of culture. He would attend Chi Rock meetings (Think Chicago version of Zulu nation) and watching the moves being made by Twista, Common, Dem Dare and Upski. An avid listener of Jp Chill's and Pink House's Rap shows on WHPK and WKKC. In high school there weren�t too many folks at that time that could really help him
with his [HIP HOP] goals, so he became a leader and started a crew called the Nacrobats . This got him into throwing parties and performances with his and other crews. From that revenue he started to put out Nacrobat tapes and CDRs in the mid to late 90's. Nacrobats was a crew that was influential to so many kids coming up at that time, with 100 plus membership, and rep for freestyle battling any and every ware. This was the starting point for Chicago now artists like Qwel, Psalm one, Prime, Vyle, pianist Kenny Keys, producer Prolific, visual artist Rahmaan Statik and so many others.
2000 was his first solo record titled "Thanks for not Rhyming", on Galapagos4 records. It featured his crew and production from the Molemen (Mf Doom, Rhyme Fest, Atmosphere, Saigon) and received a warm response from the underground and started him doing shows across the USA. His second album titled "24 Years later" on his own Birthwrite Records faired even better, getting him shows overseas and on a few tours to get his music to the people. The time he spent in Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Germany, and London seeing all the graffiti pushed him to go deeper with his music. So when Pugs arrived back in the states he started writing for the album "Playing With Matches" on Audio 8 recordings. This album was dedicated to discussing the real life of a Graffiti writer from an autobiography perspective. Pugslee the Vandal, to Sterling the young adult getting paid a thousand dollars a week to paint movie murals (�Light it up� 20th century Fox) and finally the corporate graffiti writer for Ecko, IBM, Nike etc... While all this was going on, he started doing CTA radio with Thaione Davis and Kevin Maxi, a radio show dedicated to Hip Hop with interviews and freestyles, pushing Chicago Artist on the legendary WHPK 88.5fm. Hosting a TV show "Barbershop Hip Hop", interviewing everyone from Gym Class heroes to Kurtis Blow, Pugs and partner Slim the barber would even shoot videos for the locals to have more content.
2006 he released a compilation with Raptivism Records titled "Pugs Atomz presents CTA Radio - Chi City Hip Hop". This CD was basically an excerpt of the CTA Radio show; he has been a part of every Wednesday night from 9-12am for the last ten years. This was a definite must to anybody digging the Chicago sound, ft. new songs from Common, Lupe Fiasco, Rhyme fest etc.. At the same time he was finishing up his fourth album "Conversations with a Chamelion" featuring production From DJ Hi-Tek and Colin Response, guest vocals from Capital D (All natural), Dave Ghetto, Deuce Eclipse and more. This is his most moving work to date on Gravel records. With four music videos to boot with this release, and MTV2 featuring his "Tear N Your eye" video.
2007 -2008 Saw Pugs getting into fashion and designing clothing/fitted hats with the likes of American Needle and Afro Wear. Late 2007 he got on a 38 city tour with DJ Vadim and Abstract rude around the US and Canada. Being away from home he noticed
the scene changing around him, he quickly adapted to the internet life releasing free mixtapes , "Black and Gifted", "Cta Radio Vol. 2", "The Gent$" (Pugs posh group With Wes Restless and Ill Legit), and most recently the critically acclaimed "Road to the Top".
Weekly collaborations and singles for free download. 2008 saw a rise in violence in Chicago schools, so Mr. Atomz wrote the song "Me and you" addressing it. He got involved with Coalmine Music, the Stop the violence movement, and teaching with After School matters. He was also featured on the remake of "Self Destruction" feat, Krs one andTwista among others.
Currently it's all about his new album on SoFlo Ent. "Roof Top", which features Sadat X, Naledge (Kidz In The Hall), DJ Vadim, Black Spade, Rashid hadee, Sc, and others. We are excited that his first two single, “Wait And See” f/ Sadat X and "Get it on" has gotten tons of love from many websites and blogs such as Nah right, Hip Hop DX, 2Dope Boyz etc... and has broken into college radio
charting in the top five. Three music videos are scheduled to follow the release, along with tours of Europe, Canada, and the US along side DJ Vadim for the remainder of the year. The first video, shot and directed Pugs is "Get It On" you can watch it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKxcCwYWI2w "Roof top" was also selected for a Myspace.com feature (Exclusive Album Preview).
He is well on his way to move people with his music. Okay Player describes him as �a rare renaissance figure in hip hop with a background in all the elements. Pugs drops a fun and thoughtful albums that take a few listens for you to realize how rare that combination is nowadays. It�s clear he takes rapping seriously without being so himself, always exuding laid back confidence�.
Tours/shared shows 2000-2009
Large Professor
DJ Vadim
Abstract Rude
De La soul
Dead Prez
Nas
Cypress Hill
Atmosphere
Rakim
DJ Quick
RZA
KRS ONE
Devin the Dude
Kanye West
Talib Kweli
Chingy
Mr Liff
El P
MF Doom
Peanut Butter Wolf
Rhyme Fest
Souls of Mischief
Living Legends
Z Trip
Blackalicious
Acey Alone
Nore
Jean Grae
Immortal Technique
Lupe Fiasco
ICP and many more�
Upcoming Projects 2008-2009
Pugs Atomz - Roof Top
Pugs Atomz & Rasheed Hadee � Stormy LP
Pugs Atomz & Grant Parks � Kinda Like a Rapper
Smokers Jackets � Midnight to 6am EP
www.myspace.com/pugsleeatomz
www.youtube.com/pugsatomz
www.myspace.com/originalafrowear
Contact Info:
Sterling Price 312 504 2209
Price.sterling@gmail.com
Instrumentation
Pugs Atomz - lead vocals
Dj Intel - Cdj / Laptop / turntables
Awdazcate- Hypeman
or
Pugs Atomz - lead vocals
Sabira Jade - Lead vocals
Dj Vadim- Laptop/ turntables
Lil Ste- Key Boards (2)
Discography
1996
Nacrobats "inverted reality EP" Enohes Music
1997
Nacrobats " Morning Nights EP" Enohes Music
1998
Nacrobats "We Equator LP" Enohes Music
1999
Nacrobats " Nacrology LP" Enohes Music
2000
Pugs Atomz "thanks for not rhyming LP" Galapagos 4 records
2001
Nacrobats " Network of Stars LP" Enohes music
2002
Pugs atomz "24 Years Later LP" Birth write
2003
Nacrobats "Always LP"- Birth write records
2004
Pugs Atomz "Vandal Squad 12" Audio 8 recordings
2005
Pugs Atomz "Playing with Matches LP" Audio 8
2006
Pugs Atomz " Pugs Atomz Presents Cta Radio Chicago Hip Hop Compilation" Raptivism records
Pugs Atomz "Man of the people Vinyl EP"
Headnock Records
2007
Pugs Atomz "Conversations with a ChamelionLP"
Enohes Music/Gravel records
2008
The Gent$ "Gent$"
2009
Pugs Atomz "Roof Top" Enohes/So Flo Records
Featured:
1999
"The Black Book Sessions Comp" Galapagos 4
2001
Molemen "City Limits LP" Molemen Inc
Record Playas " Midway Sessions comp" RPC
Centric I.E. "In other Words
2002
"6 shades a diffrent color, comp" Birth Write
2003
Vector Sigma "The Key, Comp"
2008
"Solos In Stereo Compilation" Solos Records
2009
Dj Vadim "U Can't lurn imaginashun" BBE Records
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/pugsatomz |
| PUGS ATOMZ |