Chris Atlas

Helio-Tropes

Chris Atlas is more than meets the eye. An extra popped episode with the accomplished music executive and Bronx-native who tells us about his earliest hip-hop memories running around NYC including a life-changing performance from Public Enemy at a small club in the meatpacking district. We dive into his first opportunity in the music industry as an intern at the legendary Tommy Boy Records where he cut his teeth in College Radio promotion before moving into A&R. He tells us about his time at the label promoting tracks at radio from seminal artists like House of Pain, De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, signing Tony Touch and his involvement in working with Penalty Recordings artists like Capone N Noreaga under the same umbrella. We chop about his time at Cornerstone Agency, Buzzfeed's recent sale of COMPLEX to NTWRK and how his near decade-long tenure at Def Jam was basically graduating with honors from the school of hard knocks. From SVP to EVP of Marketing at Def Jam, he waxes poetic on career-defining album roll-outs and marketing campaigns from the biggest boss Rick Ross and a young Kanye. And even gives us the scoop on the reference for an iconic Earl Sweatshirt moment during his time as EVP of Urban Marketing at Warner Records. As if his resume isn't deep enough, he tells us how he diversified his bonds outside of the music game by becoming a partner in a lifestyle boutique in NJ selling apparel and sneakers called Hush Life. And was generous enough to share his keys to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Now if he only shared the keys to the G-Wagon...