Meet Tamara Futrell of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Futrell.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I got my start hosting open mics at Irish Bred Pub in Underground Atlanta then The Black Lion Cafe on the historical sweet Auburn Avenue and Scores Underground Atlanta amongst many other venues .I ran those open mics until 2013, and during that time I was organizing events, promoting artists, finding venues, and managing everything behind the scenes without a blueprint, funding, or a team
In 2013, I became Vice President of AHAT South Rap Battle League and then became President of AHAT South Atlanta because i wanted to focus on Atlanta not the entire southern region which came with its own challenges. I had to help build structure, develop talent, and keep the league moving forward in a city where battle rap still wasn’t fully supported. That experience taught me leadership, consistency, and how to navigate a culture that didn’t always appreciate the work happening behind the scenes.

I founded Atlanta Battle Rap with a business partner. I came up with the name Atlanta Battle Rap because everyone grouped the entire South under “southern battle rap,” but my focus was specifically on Atlanta. I wanted the city to have its own identity, its own platform, and its own brand — and I even got a timeless, classic logo designed to represent that vision.
I’m dedicated to showcasing, developing, and elevating Atlanta’s battle rap culture. I specialize in building artists, creating opportunities, producing high‑quality content, and shaping the visual identity of Atlanta’s battle rap scene. I’m known for discovering talent early, putting people in position, and creating a brand that represents Atlanta with authenticity and pride.
Today, I run Atlanta Battle Rap Films as the sole owner where I focus on content creation, original series, and film projects. I built my production team from scratch and taught them how to bring my vision to life. Now my 22‑year‑old son, Archive Tapes, handles all production for the brand, which is one of my proudest accomplishments.

What sets me apart is my consistency, my eye for talent, and my ability to build something real without shortcuts. I’ve helped develop battlers who now perform on major platforms, and I’ve created a brand that represents Atlanta with the respect it deserves.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I started building platforms for artists long before Atlanta battlers were getting real attention and
One of the biggest challenges was putting together film crews and teaching them how to bring my vision to life.
Today, my 22‑year‑old son, Archive Tapes, is in charge of all my production needs, which is one of my proudest accomplishments.

At the same time, I was a single mother working a regular job, and people didn’t respect that. I put a lot of people in position over the years and helped develop talent, but I haven’t always felt appreciated for the work I put in. Still, every challenge pushed me to stay focused, keep building, and move at my own pace. Those obstacles helped me grow Atlanta Battle Rap and eventually expand into Atlanta Battle Rap Films, where I now focus on content creation, series, and film projects.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m the founder and creative force behind Atlanta Battle Rap and Atlanta Battle Rap Films, two platforms dedicated to showcasing, developing, and elevating Atlanta’s battle rap culture. I specialize in building artists, creating opportunities, producing high‑quality content, and shaping the visual identity of Atlanta’s battle rap scene. I’m known for discovering talent early, putting people in position, and creating a brand that represents Atlanta with authenticity and pride.
Today, I run Atlanta Battle Rap Films, where I focus on content creation, original series, and film projects. I built my production team from scratch and taught them how to bring my vision to life. Now my 22‑year‑old son, Archive Tapes, handles all production for the brand, which is one of my proudest accomplishments.

What sets me apart is my consistency, my eye for talent, and my ability to build something real without shortcuts. I’ve helped develop battlers who now perform on major platforms, and I’ve created a brand that represents Atlanta with the respect it deserves.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I’ve had family and friends support me from the begging but My biggest supporter was my best friend, Natina Reed from the group Blaque. She believed in me and helped me build confidence and always pushed me to keep going, even when the road wasn’t easy. Natina supported my ideas, encouraged my creativity, and reminded me that my vision mattered. Her confidence in me played a major role in the foundation of everything I’ve built. Even after her passing, her energy, her love, and her belief in my purpose continue to motivate me. Best piece of advice was for me to stay independent

Contact Info:

• Website: https://atlantabattlerap.com
• Instagram: atlantabattlerap
• Facebook: Atlanta Nattle Rap
• Twitter: ATLBattleRap
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@atlantabattlerap