I grew up… in Englewood, Chicago. One of the more poverty stricken black neighborhoods in Chicago…I use to love riding the El from there you would see so much Graffiti on the rooftops etc…My Father played me records and my Mom taught me how to paint. I have so many great memories there from opening a Icee stand (my first biz lol), basketball, softball to my first Hip Hop parties I put on. I still go back often to kick it with my childhood friends and my oldman.

It all started when…I was in 5th grade with a poetry assignment about God, so the next day when I recited mine, everybody said “you’re rapping, he’s a rapper”. From that point it started to make more sense to me. My older cousin Segram was a slick MC and beat boxer he  showed me a few things. Then later around 17, 18, 19, I got heavy into freestyling and graf, sparing with people like Rhyme Fest, Juice, Anacron, and Kanye…and battling in any cypher I saw with my crew the Nacrobats. Around that time I started to write songs and make tapes for my friends.

If I’m not playing music you’ll find me…hosting CTA radio with my partner K Max every Wednesday from 9-12 am on the legendary WHPK. Shooting music videos, designing T-Shirts and album covers. Teaching with After School Matters or with a young lady down Michigan ave.

I can’t perform unless I have…DJ Intel, DJ Vadim, DJ Alo or DJ Pickel on the tables, and of course women in the front row. (I got alot of female songs ha).

My three dream festival headliners would be…Cody Chesnut (Circa. Headphone Master Piece), Saafir (Circa. 95,96) and Dave Chapelle.

You’ll always see me wearing…Polo & Benetton (I collect vintage stuff), or some Chicago labels like Jugrnaut, Enstrumental, Iridium.

I wish I hadn’t…recorded so many songs last year cos trying to put them all out this year is tuff.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s…I know nothing but to trust my gut. And try to always be a student.

Give me 10 minutes and I’ll cook a great…salmon, spinach and mashed potato plate.

Buy me a drink and I’ll…sell you a CD…but seriously that’s usually the start to an entertaining conversation.

I’m not really into Emotronic, but I do like Hudson Mohawke.

My favourite food is…Salmon, or deep dish cheese pizza (Gino’s East).

My favourite smell is…design markers, BBQ

My most recent album is…Roof Top and it’s available now on iTunes featuring Sadat X, Naledge, DJ Vadim and Black Spade.

My next release is...the ‘Kinda Like A Rapper’ album with Grant Parks. I also have this group called Gent$, we will drop our record May 1st, and this mixtape called Smokers Jacket with my homie Awdazcate will drop in a few weeks.

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Pugs Atomz -- Off Switch ft. Simeon and Wes Restless -- download

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Pugs Atomz -- Fire --

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