Conversations With a Chamelion

A Chicago hiphop mainstay since the early 90’s, Pugs Atomz has been an influential artist on the ever-evolving Windy City scene. Conversations With a Chamelion is a soulful blend through the various sides to life, marking his third and most solid solo album to-date. The release includes production courtesy of Hi-Tek, Colin Response, Vtraxxx, WEXL, with a guest appearances by Capital D of All Natural, Dave Ghetto, and Duce Eclipse. The release comes after years of Pugs immersing himself in the Chicago scene as a fan, graffiti artist, battle rapper, freestyler, party thrower, promoter, fashion designer, radio host and TV personality. He came up the ranks in the traditional way, earning props from corner ciphers at places like The Point, a South Side gathering place for teenagers hungry for hip hop in the mid 90s, and Navy Pier. In 1993, he started a collective called the Nacrobats, including such members as Psalm One, Thaione Davis, Overflo and Offwhyte. Five albums were made, numerous parties and battles were thrown, and it pushed Pugs to take his music and art more serious. In 2001, Pugs released his first solo album, Thanks For Not Rhyming on Galapagos4, receiving a warm response from the underground, and further inspiring him to continue his solo material. Two other full-lengths followed, including 24 Years Later (Birthwrite, 2003), and Playing With Matches (Audio 8, 2004), as well as a compilation on Raptivism Records in 2006 entitled CTA Radio: Chicago City HipHop, which served as an excerpt of the radio show he’s hosted for the past seven years on University of Chicago’s WHPK-FM. On his latest release, Pugs encompasses the soulful side of Chicago hiphop and has created an album that is a sure hit for the fans of the Chicago sound: Common, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco & Rhymefest.