Respected A&R executive Luis “Lu” Mota has joined Atlantic Records as EVP, A&R. Based at Atlantic’s New York City headquarters, he will report to the label’s Co-President of Black Music, Lanre Gaba. Mota comes to Atlantic from Columbia Records where he played a pivotal role on the team that discovered and developed platinum-selling hip-hop stars including Lil Tjay, Polo G, Fivio Foreign, and Joey Bada$$.
In making the announcement, Gaba shared, “Lu is one of the most promising A&R execs I’ve met in a long time. He has proven his ability to find and nurture talent while delivering hit records. Sharing Atlantic’s unwavering commitment to long-term artist development in black music, he’ll be key in helping us break new acts and deliver great music.”
Mota added, “Atlantic has a rich history of getting in early and championing superstars from the ground up. To now be a part of this dynamic and accomplished team is an honor. There’s so much undiscovered rising talent out there on the global music scene, and I’m looking forward to making my mark here.”
Most recently, Mota served as SVP, A&R at Columbia Records. After discovering Lil Tjay, Mota brought him to Columbia Records, developing the breakout star and playing a major role in the Bronx native’s success, including his Billboard Hot 100 No. 3 smash “Calling My Phone,” and multi-platinum hits “F.N” and “Brothers.” Mota and his team also notably A&R’d Polo G’s “Pop Out,” a record that went platinum four months after its release and has since gone eight times platinum. He is also credited with inking a deal between Columbia and Fivio Foreign whose debut album B.I.B.L.E. went on to secure a Top 10 spot on the Billboard 200. Lil Tjay, Polo G, and Fivio Foreign all landed on XXL Magazine‘s coveted Freshman cover in 2020.
Prior to joining Columbia in 2018, Mota held an A&R role at 300 Entertainment. His expertise has earned him recognition on Billboard‘s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players list as well as a pivotal role on the XXL Awards Board where he serves alongside the rap industry’s movers, shakers, and veteran artists.
