Thanks to Atlas, Arizona is becoming hip-hop’s latest hotbed for talent. After his basketball career failed to flourish, Atllas has been chipping away at rap stardom. Many believe, his first independent album, King of AZ, was the catalyst, which brought shine to the previously hip-hop lacking state.

In 2006, opportunity knocked again for Atlas when MTV contacted him to be a coach on their show MADE, where he would teach a high-school girl how to rap. It was a successful episode and garnered a lot of attention for both Atllas and Arizona. Now with Rawkus records, Atlas is continuing his pursuit for greatness. Sixshot.com sat down with Atlas to discuss his label Fire Flock Entertainment, his hometown, and why you’ll only see more heat  from Atlas.

Sup Atlas, how's life man?

Everything is lovely homeboy!  My digital album Arizona Caesar just dropped to every digital retailer on the planet.  So, the momentum is feeling good.

 So, tell us about life growing up in Arizona.

Same hood, different corner.  The struggle is everywhere you go.  This is a Republican state man.  So cash rules everything here.  You getting it or you not.  Alo t of people come out here to lay low as well and get away.  You can be in the cut without everyone being in your business out here, if you know where to go.   Arizona is a beautiful place, man.  I'm from Maryvale; it's real rough around there.  But, there are the rich parts of town too.  Arizona ain't much different than anywhere else; we just have better weather and women. (Laughs)

How's the hip-hop scene out there?

That's the biggest thing out here, right now, is seeing the progression of the music scene.  We went from having little to no scene, to having cats getting signed.  It's great because I know I'm apart of that growth.  When I released my album King of AZ in 2003 that really lit a candle under the states ass and people started grinding hard because we were all competing, and then I brought them MTV cameras really showing that there was more to AZ then just desert, and now look at us, shining in the national spotlight!

How did you get into rapping?

When my basketball career stalled out, it was either rap or the dope house man.  I chose rap.

Your state is finally getting some shine, Willy Northpole, Hot Rod, Juice, yourself. How do you feel about that?

I think it's great, as long as everyone stays focused and doesn't get caught in "those lights" of celebrity.  I see alot of Hollywood shit going on in my city and I'm not really with it.  As long as cats remember it's about representing these Arizona streets and helping push the state forward, I have no problems.  I think each of those cats are talented individuals. 

Was it an advantage or a disadvantage being a rapper in an untapped market?

It was an advantage.  Cats would always tell me, if I wanted to make it I need to move.  I was too hard headed for that.  Why be a small fish in a big pond, when you can big the biggest fish in a small pond? I alwaysk new that, no matter where you're at, if you do what you do well, the people will come!  Like the Chappelle Show, who was really watching Comedy Central?  But, his show was so good, people found it.  Same goes for music.  I would advise everyone to stop moving to these bigger markets and focus on killing it where you're at, to the point when anybody comes to your city and asks people to name a rapper from that city...they have to bring your name up.

I gotta ask, what was it like being on MTV's made? How did you get into that?   

MTV Made was a dope experience. That really opened me up to the world.  They play that show all over the world.  I get emails from everywhere every time it airs.  I remember I was at Fashion Week in NY and some teeny boppers ran up on me like, "aren't you Atlas from MTV, Atlas, Atlas, Atlas".  The exposure is priceless. MTV came out here looking to do a show and they asked one of our local newspapers who were the best rappers in Phoenix, and my name was brought up.  They called me for an interview and I flashed them the smile...and it was on from there.

Also, because I can't hold back, was that girl and her family as odd as they seemed?

Yeah, they were pretty crazy, but very cool.  I loved them.  They new that this would be an eye opening experience and they were very open minded about which I loved.  Her mom's didn't understand hip-hop, but she was open to learning.  I respected that.  Genevieve is still my homegirl.  She's a very dope individual.  She had never been around so many black people and she was wildin' out.

You've appeared in a lot of magazines, plus MTV, what do you feel "put you on the map"? 

The music man.  You can only fake it for so long, at a certain point your music has to match your hustle.  I either had alot of hustle or a whole lot of flow/I ain't trying to be cocky, but I think it was both".  It's that "IT" factor you here about.  You have IT or you don't. 

Tell us about King of AZ and Hunger and Starvation.

King of AZ is the album that changed the scene, in my opinion.  No rapper out here took such an aggressive stance before I did it.  That what took me from being another face in the crowd to center stage.  I made Hunger and Starvation in response to my dealings with major labels.  I got offered alot of bullshit deals, because people thought that because I'm from Arizona I didn't know any better.  I had to decide if I was Hungry or Starving.  Hunger can be satisfied with a snack Starving is desperation.  When you got your gun and you have to feed your babies.  That's starving.  Alot of rappers or artist in general, don't know the difference so they settle for anything. 

"We Here to Party" is doing well, were you happy with the response?

You know what, I haven't been happy with any of the responses to any of my music.  I feel like I'm making classic records and people are slow to catch on.  "We Here to Party" should be on every radio station and video channel in America.  That joint fits every radio or video format.  But, it's a process and a money game.  So, I understand it.  I'm still building and growing, so everything will come with time.  I'm building my audience right now.

How would you describe your rap style?

My rap style is "hip hop soul".  I write music based on my emotions and I want you to feel those emotions and relate your struggle and pain to it.  If I make a song like "We Here To Party" that's because I wanted to hit the club, so when you hear it, I want you to feel that.  If I make a song like "Street Lights" I want you to feel my struggle and see me inside of you.  I make songs to stir emotions in people.  My music is based on the passion of being creative.

Who were some of your musical influences?

My early musical influences were Outkast, Jay-Z, Geto Boys and Tupac's life.  The way he touched people.  Now my musical influence is the conditions in the hood and trying to bring light to it.  I really don't listen to other artist any more, because I want all my thoughts to be as original as possible.

What made you go to Rawkus?

Being independent. They allowed me to remain in control of my music. The financial side was good and they signed on to help push my message, unchanged, to the world.  Who would say no?

Tell us about Fire Flock Entertainment.

You've done your research.  Good shit!  I started Fire Flock in 2003 when I got feed up with these major labels.  If you listen to my first two albums you can hear that frustration.  So, instead of crying about it, I invested in myself and my vision.  I knew what I was doing would catch on, so, why not control that?  I became a CEO out of necessity, not design.

How far do you see yourself taking this rap thing?

3 more albums and I'm done.  I'm going to fall back into that executive role and create talent.  Let these other dudes run around and be the rappers.  A passion of mine is providing opportunities.  Fire Flock Entertainment will be a major label within 5 years.  I definitely see myself being a legend in music when it's all said and done.  I'm doing what God put me here to do, I truly believe that.  So, there is no other place to end up, than amongst the greats.

What can we expect from your next album?

I like how you're giving me the opportunity for me to plug everything without me having to force it in (Laughs).  My next album is called Say Hello to the Crook.  It will be out in '08.  The message of that album is that the real crook in the urban community is ourselves.  Alot of times, with our negative outlooks and counterproductive behavior, we rob ourselves of success and opportunity making us crooks in our own lives.  "Say Hello to the Crook" means 'Say Hello' to yourself because unless we change it we will never see progress in our community.

Anything you'd like to say to your fans at Sixshot.com?

Big shout out to Sixshot.com for the interview go online and download my new album "Arizona Caesar" on iTunes, Zune, Rrhapsody or any other online music site and check out www.atllasonline.com for all my updates and upcoming tour dates!  And get your free download of my new mixtape I'm Hood Famous: The Maryvale Story hosted by Statik Selektah at www.myspace.com/atllas. Maryvale baby!