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Chaka Zulu, longtime Atlanta music exec and Ludacris' manager, shot overnight in Buckhead

Atlanta police said that he was a surviving victim of a shooting Sunday in Buckhead.

ATLANTA — A longtime Atlanta music executive and manager for Ludacris was shot Sunday night in Buckhead, police confirmed. 

Chaka Zulu, co-CEO of Disturbing Tha Peace Records, was shot at a location off Peachtree Road around 11:35 p.m. where two other men were shot. All three were transported to the hospital, but one did not survive. 

Homicide investigators responded to the scene to begin investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Atlanta Police said. Officers on scene told 11Alive that the shooting sprung from an argument in the parking lot behind the strip center on Peachtree Road.

Police do not have a suspect in custody and have not released the condition of Zulu or the other surviving victim. The Fulton County Medical Examiner identified the deceased victim as 23-year-old Artez Benton.

Police said the investigation remains active and is ongoing. 

RELATED: 1 dead in triple shooting at Buckhead strip mall, police say

Credit: AP
Record producer Chaka Zulu looks through material, created by his artists, to post to YouTube on Sept. 2, 2008, in Atlanta. Zulu, who manages rap star and actor Ludacris, was injured in a parking lot shooting in an upscale neighborhood north of downtown Atlanta on Sunday night, June 26, 2022. A man was killed and another man was also injured in the incident. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)

Zulu is best known as manager to hip-hop artist Ludacris. His label, Disturbing Tha Peace Records, now a subsidiary of Def Jam, has represented artists including Chingy, Bobby Valentino, Young Jeezy, Swizz Beatz, Big K.R.I.T. and Childish Major.  

According to a bio on the Home Depot Backyard Juneteenth event page, his most recently served as Head of Artist & Talent for Spotify. He previously served as VP of Sports and Entertainment Marketing at Monster, the company formerly behind Beats by Dre headphones.

A bio on the National Black College Hall of Fame Foundation website says he was behind the brands of T.I., Ludacris, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Iggy Azalea, Outkast, Cee-Lo Green, 8 Ball & MJG, B.O.B., Dj Drama, and Big K.R.I.T. 

Earlier this year Zulu was recognized as the ninth recipient of the "Forever 404 Honors presented by Sharecare" at the Atlanta Hawks game.   

This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.

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