Pugs Atomz

Pugs Atomz is an accomplished solo-artist who has graced the stage at some of the world’s largest music festivals including SXSW, Hip Hop Kemp,and Glastonbury. He has worked with countless world renowned artists such as KRS One, Twista , Dj Hitek, Dj Vadim and Fat Freddys Drop, and been mentioned in publications like Rolling Stone, URB, and Sister 2 Sister to name a few. You might have heard him recently on the Fifa 2013 video game sound track with “Got that fire”, or seen him on a recent Episode of F.O.M.. His roots in Chicago’s Hip Hop scene run deep, from co-founding CTA Radio (15+ years), presenting on the TV show Barbershop Hip Hop, to his time in the 90′s leading the Nacrobats collective. His group The Electric (DJ Vadim/Sabira Jade) released their debut album, in-between tours of Europe, Asia & the Americas, titled ‘Life is moving” a combination of energetic Hip-Hop, soulful lyrical verses, set against killer electric beats.

Rhymes: Whodini “The Freaks Come Out”, Saafir “Light Sleeper”, Thirstin Howl III “Brooklyn Hard Rock”, and Kanye West ft. GLC and Consequence “Spaceship”

Reasons:

Click here to download Pugs’ interview

More Info on Pugs:

Pugs Atomz 

@PugsAtomz

Pugs on Facebook

Pugs on YouTube

Songs from this Interview:

Whodini “Freaks Come Out at Night”

Roy Ayers “Chicago”

Artifacts “Wrong Side of the Tracks”

EMPD “Give the People”

Saafir “Light Sleeper”

Casual ft. Saafir “That Bullshit”

Saafir “Just Riden’”

MC Juice “Elements”

Twista “I’m Old School”

Common “Resurrection”

Thirstin Howl III “Brooklyn Hard Rock”

Thirstin Howl III “Polo Rican”

Zhigge “Lo Life Skit”

Kanye West ft. GLC and Consequence “Spaceships”

Kanye West ft. Rhymefest and Mikkey Halsted “Good Ass Job”

Sharkula “School Fools”

DJ Vadim ft. Pugs Atomz “Saturday”

The Electric “Toot Toot”

Guru ft. MC Solaar “Le Bien, Le Mal”

Melle Mel & The Furious Five “Internationally Known”

Kimeco “Allegra” Roberson

Kimeco is Allegra from the group Allegra Dolores.  Mix one-part Joy, and one-part pain; add soul – and taste the sound of Allegra Dolores.  These Chicago-born biological sisters are a multi-talented force of nature.  Dolores is the emcee with overtones of sarcastic humor, while Allegra carries an edgy rocker vibe with an element of negro spiritual. And just when you think you’ve got them figured – out comes the harmony in their singing voices.  Molded out of influences that range from Hip Hop to Punk Rock, with soulfully beautiful harmonies, these ladies have been likened to the Jones Girls.

Rhymes: 8Ball feat. Phoenix Johnson “This is Dedicated,” Ol’ Dirty Bastard “Harlem World,”  The Coup “I Just Wanna Lay Around All Day in Bed with You,” and MF Doom “Potholderz”

Reasons

Click here to download Kimeco’s interview

More Info on Kimeco:

Allegra Dolores

@AllegraDolores

On Facebook

Songs from this Interview:

8Ball feat. Phoenix Johnson “This is Dedicated”

8Ball & MJG “Comin’ Out Hard”

Ron Hardy Live at the Muzicbox 1986

Black Moon “How Many MC’s…”

The Stylistics “You’re a Big Girl Now”

Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me”

Subhumans “Ex-Teenage Rebel”

Ol’ Dirty Bastard “Harlem World”

The Coup “I Just Wanna Lay Around All Day In Bed With You”

MF Doom “Potholderz”

Mr. Green ft. Malik B. of The Roots & Kevin Brown “Live From the Streets”

Chief Keef ft. Lil’ Reese “I Don’t Like”

O.C. “My World”

Julian “J. Kwest” DeShazier

For nearly a decade, the ministry of Julian “J.Kwest” DeShazier has been an exploration in the relationship between music and faith. As artist, this Chicago native has used his unique rhythm to tell stories of deep meaning, inside and out of the church. A 2007 Holy Hip Hop Award winner, his song, “So Blessed,” was featured on the Grammy-nominated compilation Holy Hip Hop: Taking the Gospel to the Streets and J has been celebrated as “Living Black History” by Urban Ministries International. In 2012 he and his group, Verbal Kwest, were featured in the OXFAM and Bread for the World-produced documentary The Line, providing a critical voice against poverty and violence in the US.  A graduate of Morehouse College and the University of Chicago Divinity School, Julian currently serves as senior pastor of University Church in Chicago, and is a regular to Sojourners, UrbanFaith and Kidult publications.

Rhymes: Outkast “13th Floor/Growing Old”, Common ft. Lauryn Hill “Retrospect for Life”, and Wu-Tang “Triumph”

Reasons:

Click here to download Julian’s interview

More Info on Julian:

J. Kwest.com

J. Kwest on Facebook

@MrKwest

Verbal Kwest

Songs from this Interview:

Outkast “13th Floor/ Growing Old”

Outkast “Hootie Hoo”

Common ft. Lauryn Hill “Retrospect for Life”

J. Cole “Lost Ones”

Little Brother “All For You”

Shaquille O’Neal “Biological Didn’t Bother”

Outkast “Church”

Eminem “Lose Yourself”

Wu-Tang “Triumph”

Verbal Kwest “Believers”

Verbal Kwest “Crazy Streets”

Asad Jafri

Asad Jafri is a global arts leader, cultural organizer, and multidisciplinary artist with a passion for sustainable social change. As a visionary, Asad recognizes community needs and drives initiatives for local and global change through his love of the arts. As a multidisciplinary artist, Asad utilizes his knowledge in many genres of music, theater, visual art, and dance from around the globe to curate unique captivating fusion productions. He is internationally regarded as an innovator, collaborator, connector and mentor. From 2007 – 2012, Asad served as the Director of Arts and Culture at the Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN). Asad also DJs under the moniker Man-o-Wax and has played at venues across continents, blending music from all over the world. As an individual and with his group – the FEW Collective, Asad has travelled far and wide merging art and social change through innovative mediums.  Currently, Asad is based in Kuala Lumpur working with the World Islamic Economic Forum and several other international arts and youth projects. Asad continues on his mission to travel the globe building community and connecting people across cultures through the universal language of art.

Rhymes: Killah Priest “B.I.B.L.E.”, Boogie Down Productions “Why Is That?”, and Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth “T.R.O.Y.”

Reasons:

Click here to download Asad’s interview

More Info on Asad:

FEW Collective

@ManOWax

Songs from this Interview:

GZA feat. Killah Priest “B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)”

Gang Starr “Above the Clouds”

Gang Starr “Who’s Gonna Take the Weight?”

Eric B. & Rakim “Casualties of War”

K-Solo “Letterman”

The Pharcyde “Runnin’”

MC Kash “Beneath this Sky”

Boogie Down Productions “Why is That?”

Boogie Down Productions “Love’s Gonna Get’cha”

Brother Ali “Soul Whisper”

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth “T.R.O.Y. (They Reminisce Over You)”

“Ali Mola Ali Mola”

Altimet “Syukur”

Tiraline feat. The ReMINDers “Tolerance”

Brother Ali “Good Lord”

Rapsody

Rapsody is a North Carolina emcee signed with super producer 9th Wonder for Jamla Records.  With the release of four projects in just a year and a half and a critically acclaimed debut album in August of 2012, she is slowly establishing herself as a major player in today’s rap game.  The Idea of Beautiful was her debut album and XXL quoted that “it might just be on of the best Hip-Hop debuts of late”.

Rhymes: MC Lyte “Poor Georgie”, Method Man ft. Mary J. Blige “All I Need (Remix)”, and the Fugees “Ready or Not”

Reasons:

Click here to download Rapsody’s interview

More Info on Rapsody:

Rapsody Online

Jamla Records

@rapsodymusic

Songs from this Interview:

MC Lyte “Poor Georgie”

MC Lyte ft. Missy Elliot “Cold Rock A Party (Bad Boy Remix)”

Luther Vandross “Any Love”

Tina Turner “Private Dancer”

Eminem ft. Royce Da 5’9″ “Bad Meets Evil”

Bubba Sparxxx “Deliverance”

Method Man ft. Mary J. Blige “All I Need (Remix)”

Little Brother “The Listening”

Little Brother “Lovin’ It”

The Fugees “Ready or Not”

The Fugees “Fu- Gee- La”

Lauryn Hill “Tell Him”

Rapsody feat. Childish Gambino and GQ “Beautiful Music”

Jay-Z “A Million and One Questions”

MC Lyte “I Cram to Understand U (Sam)”

Nas ft. Anthony Hamilton “World’s An Addiction”