The new Atmosphere CD get another outstanding review!
Receiving a package in the mail that read Epitaph records stopped me dead in my tracks. Why would a legendary punk/rock label be sending me an album? When I opened it and saw what lay inside was the new Atmosphere album everything made sense again.
Atmosphere, the Minneapolis-based hip-hop duo comprised of Slug (MC) and Ant (DJ), have collected props from underground cats for the last ten years without much media attention. Now in their early thirties these two veterans are poised to make waves on a global scale.
It makes sense when you think about it, the fact that Atmosphere signed to a punk label. I mean this is not your average hip-hop group by any means. Slug is quite possibly the most honest MC of all-time, weaving in and out of real life situations involving, for the most part, getting drunk and trying to get laid. Who can't relate to that?
As hip-hop becomes oversaturated in pop culture, more and more heads are searching out authentic artists to grab hold of. Beats and rhymes that are constructed atop a foundation of artistic integrity, and not get-rich-quick schemes, are what your every day city dweller wants bumping in his headphones. Don't get me wrong; Atmosphere is a lot more than broads and booze. There is a high level of awareness that comes through in the lyrics, but Slug doesn't get stuck trying to be profound or self-righteous on the tracks. "If you want to sit down and talk about existence/we'll need more than 15 minutes"
Ant's production is consistently soulful and chalk-full of tasty funk breaks and melodies. Occasionally, such as on "Cats Van Bags", the beats rumble with the heavy rock distortion that Epitaph is known for backing. The music does just enough to accent the lyrics without ever tainting the chemistry that makes this duo so potent.
The opening track, "Trying To Find A Balance", is perfectly placed on the album and exemplifies the motives of a man known as Slug. " While everyone was trying to outdo the last man/I was just a ghost trying to catch some Ms. Pac man"
In the past the media has tried to compare slug to Eminem on the basis that his skin is white and he is brazenly hilarious. While these two traits are undoubtedly true, Slug is as original an MC as you'll find in music today and deserves to stand alone. Another tag that has followed him around is that he is "emo". It cracks me up how writers need every artist to fall into some already existing category so they don't have to admit that an artist is just flat out sounding like himself.
While Eminem and "emo" he is not, you will get no argument from me if you were to say that Slug is a " horny twisted genius" and together with Ant, as Atmosphere, they have created one of the most raw and original albums of 2003.
by: Gray Grice
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