Mixtape DJ Sickamore has landed an A&R position at Atlantic Records, where he will help develop artists and scout talent.
The budding executive said he is currently working on projects with Atlantic imprints such as Fort Knox (Just Blaze) Grand Hustle (T.I.), Affiliates Music Group (DJ Drama), Choppa City (B.G.) and 1st & 15th (Lupe Fiasco).
“I have set artists and I have to take care of their projects,” Sickamore told AllHipHop.com of his duties. “[Like] helping to find new beats and to making sure the direction of their project is going straight. People like Saigon, The Banggaz, DJ Drama and other, more established artists like BG and Twista.”
The job opportunity came about through Sickamore’s business relationship with Kyambo “Hip-Hop” Joshua, after the two worked with critically acclaimed rapper Saigon.
In 2003, Sickamore formed I Can Make You Famous Entertainment, a full service artist development and consulting company that provides guidance to new acts and helps organize photo shoots, press kits, album artwork and material.
“I originally brought Saigon to Just Blaze’s Fort Knox (SP) Entertainment,” Sickamore said. “After that I did the deal with Tru Life at Roc La Familia. Then I started I Can Make You Famous and I was all over the country–Miami, Vegas, Houston, The Bay Area, scouting talent and doing things. One day Hip-Hop [Kyumbo] asked me if I wanted a job and that’s how it started.”
Sickamore said his first official project will be the soundtrack to HBO’s Entourage.
The album features appearances from Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, T.I., Paul Wall, B.G., Young Dro, Twista, Sean Paul and Saigon, who starred in an episode of the series.
Sickamore started deejaying in the 10th grade and has since released dozens of mixtapes, working with rappers like Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Shyne, Just Blaze and Erick Sermon.
The DJ said his new job will not interfere with his mixtape operations.
“The best thing about being at Atlantic is I can still do my mixtapes,” he said.
Sickamore’s next mixtape will be the second installment of his annual Overnight Celebrity: The Street Power 30, which features and ranks the Top 30 unsigned artists in the United States.