Hip-hop outfit and Rhymesayers label heads Atmosphere represent the Twin Ci… Read Full Bio ↴Hip-hop outfit and Rhymesayers label heads Atmosphere represent the Twin Cities with introspective rhymes, creative storytelling, and classic production (often incorporating live instrumentation), building a devoted grassroots following with prolific output, collaborations, and consistent touring. First appearing as a trio during the mid-'90s, Atmosphere settled into the core duo of rapper Slug and producer Ant, and first made a major impact on the hip-hop underground with 2001's Lucy Ford, a collection of three early EPs. Slug's lyrical focus shifted from personal struggles to character-based narratives with releases like fifth full-length When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, which landed at number five on the Billboard 200 when it arrived in 2008. With releases like 2011's The Family Sign and 2018's Mi Vida Local, Atmosphere's songs reflected on middle age and fatherhood, while 2020's The Day Before Halloween was an electro-tinged detour into dystopian paranoia. 2021's Word? was a more lighthearted return to a vintage boom-bap sound. As co-founders of Rhymesayers, they are also affiliated with a roster of like-minded hip-hop acts and curators of the annual Minneapolis music festival Soundset.

As a teenager, Slug (Sean Daley) became entranced with hip-hop, graffiti, and breakdancing, forming the Rhymesayers label and collective (originally known as Headshots) with two high-school friends, Siddiq Ali (Stress) and Derek Turner (Spawn). After some early gigs as Urban Atmosphere -- where Slug DJed behind Spawn's rhyming -- the pair hooked up with producer Ant (Anthony Davis), as well as like-minded locals such as MC Musab, Mr. Gene Poole, and the Abstract Pack, forming an underground hip-hop clique dedicated to freestyling and clever lyricism. In 1997, Atmosphere released their debut album, Overcast!, which received college radio airplay and earned an underground hip-hop following thanks to Slug's deeply personal, poetic musings, as well as Ant's bare-bones -- but inventive -- production.

Atmosphere participated in the supergroup the Dynospectrum (who released a self-titled album on Rhymesayers in 1998) and Slug contributed to another supergroup, Anticon's Deep Puddle Dynamics (whose full-length The Taste of Rain...Why Kneel appeared in 1999). The Headshots collective concluded their series of underground cassettes with a seventh volume in 1999, later reissued as an Atmosphere release called Headshots: Se7en. The group also began a series of limited releases (often sold exclusively on tour) titled Sad Clown Bad Dub, beginning with an extremely scarce 1999 cassette.

A year later, Atmosphere (then down to the duo of Slug and Ant) released the Ford One and Ford Two EPs, followed by the Lucy EP in 2001. Collected as the 2001 full-length Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs, the three EPs were built around the theme of Slug's complicated relationship with his ex-girlfriend, the lost love of his life. As Atmosphere's following increased beyond underground hip-hop circles, they toured consistently, both at home and overseas; while Ant usually didn't accompany the group on the road, Mr. Dibbs of the group 1200 Hobos often joined in behind the turntables while Slug was assisted on the mike by young rappers like the teenaged Eyedea. In June 2002, Atmosphere unleashed God Loves Ugly, an 18-track effort that returned to previous themes ("F*@k You Lucy"), but also contained the group's pop-friendly single "Modern Man's Hustle," which reached the Top 20 of the U.S. rap singles chart.

By this time indie rap superstars, Atmosphere returned with their fourth album, Seven's Travels, in 2003, followed two years later by You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having. Following the record's success, Ant began regularly touring with the group. They continued to put music out during the next couple of years, including the free download Strictly Leakage in late 2007, a near-party album that they followed up with When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold in April 2008. The record featured plenty of live instrumentation and guest background vocal spots from Tom Waits and TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe; it was also their highest-charting album, hitting number five on the Billboard 200. The "double EP" To All My Friends: Blood Makes the Blade Holy appeared in 2010, with the full-length album The Family Sign following in 2011.

In 2014, the group released the album Southsiders, which featured the single "Bitter" and became another Top Ten-charting hit. The following year, Atmosphere celebrated the ten-year anniversary of You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having by reissuing the album as a four-LP set (including instrumental versions of all the album's songs), in addition to The Fun EP, a picture-disc vinyl issue of an EP of You Can't Imagine outtakes that was originally released as a promo CD in 2006. In 2016, they returned with Fishing Blues, an album that featured the single "Ringo" along with guest appearances from MF Doom, Kool Keith, and Aesop Rock. While the set peaked just outside the Top 20 on the Billboard 200, it became their second album to top the U.S. indie chart. Mi Vida Local, an urgent reflection on middle age, appeared in 2018, followed a year later by the full-length Whenever. The Day Before Halloween arrived on that exact date in 2020, with Atmosphere unexpectedly switching to sci-fi/horror-informed themes over spooky, synth-heavy backdrops. Nearly a year later, Ant and Slug swerved back to their signature sound with Word?, which included guests such as Evidence, Aesop Rock, Sa-Roc, and MF Doom.

Biography by Dan LeRoy

There are other artists with the same name:

2) A Polish rock group, established in 1993 in Leszno, Poland, with Marcin Rozynek as a vocalist. In 1994 the group appeared at Mokotowska Jesień Muzyczna, where they were runners-up just behind Myslovitz. Two years later they won competition Marlboro Rock In. In 1997, Atmosphere released their self-titled debut album, Atmosphere, and in 1999 released Europa Naftowa. Atmosphere was awarded the Album debut of the year 1997 by magazine Tylko Rock and was nominated for the award Fryderyk in 1998 in the category Debut of the Year. In 1998, Atmosphere appeared at the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole with song Niewielki Skrawek Ziemi. Disbanded after Marcin Rozynek departure for a solo career. However, Atmosphere regrouped recently with a new line-up and is recording a new album.

3) An obscure one hit wonder Italo-disco group of the early 80’s. The group was produced by Franco & Venise Scopinich, and their one single “Swede’s Scandal” was realased on Superradio Reccords (label owned by Franco & Venise Scopinich).

4) A thrash metal band of the same name from Vietnam who have released two demo's.

Blame Game
Atmosphere Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Slug]
Yo yo yo...
I wish that I had something to say
That could wipe that smile right off of your face
Here take my hand pretend you know my man
Blame it all on the game, blame it all on the game

[Sample]

(???) is a thing that we love
So here's another one to get jealous of...do it Ja!(?)

[Slug]
So put your hand up if you remember the Juice Crew
They don't make em' like they used to
This supposed to be the new school?
Your guns are aimless, songs are nameless
How long you been famous?
I claim this region to hundred-mile radius
Twin Cities' flavors RhymeSayers got the tastiest
And you can hate me, it's part of the territory
As long as you know it's impossible to ignore me
From middle fingers to hugs, tofu to the drugs
The fights fist(?), might as well just take pictures of Slug
And live out your own life to the fullest
Why(?while?) you starin' at my feet when you're standin' in this bullshit?
You could never learn how to ride a bike without balance
So what's the point of trying to grab the mic without talents
Go get your brakes looked at, you fuckin' fake hood rat
want to be the basement's greatest? Too late, already took that!
Father knows best, but Father knows stress
But Father needs love, a back rub, and some rest
Damn he could use a good home cooked meal
Been burnin' both ends since he broke the seal
Up, up and away, watch him take off
Give himself a little hell and quit the day job
And ignite the sunlight, tryin' to write about life
About face(?), break the fear, and you're here till the plight(?)

[Chorus]
And I wish that I had something to say
That could wipe that smile right off of your face
Here take my hand pretend you know my name
And blame it all on the game, blame it all on the game

[Slug]
Cat's be walkin' into the spot like they own it
Wearin' a face that they should save for they opponents
With the shoelaces tied, you're(?yet?) too wasted to drive
Either way I've arrived to bless this place with my vibe
Yeah right, my vibe ain't even cool
I sit in the corner and drink until I slur and drool
The t-shirt says shoot pool, not people
Kill time, not life, grab the mic and let the beat go
(Beat go beat go beat go) But that's good for me,
It's hard to hide a magic card when you wear a short sleeve
Force feed what I've got when they not hungry
Tryin' to replace everything that they ripped off from me
Bloke(?) the tummy, and choke the dummy theory
Beat the point dead until these folks hear me clearly
Keep it all simple, a simplistic intricate(?)
Rebuild the robots with bigger tits and little fists
Repo man(?), a world full of slow jams
Grab the prize and clutch it tight with both hands
Why go (???) talk
Anyone that calls this fall off(?) can suck my balls off
I ain't goin' nowhere, I'm still here, right here
Same spot that I stood when you first woke up
The same guy that grabbed the mic and made your girl want to fuck
The same MC still runnin' on an empty tank of luck

[Chorus]
And I wish that I had something to say
That could wipe that smile right off of your face
Here take my hand, pretend you know my name
And blame it all on the game, blame it all on the game
And I wish that I had something to say
That could wipe that smile right off of your face
Come here take my hand, pretend you know..know..know
Blame it all on the game (Blame it all on the game) [x10]

[Sample]
Because of the beats other rhymes, when in fact it did (?whole line?)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Atmosphere's song "Blamegame" highlight the struggles and pressures faced by an artist in the music industry. The song begins with Slug expressing his desire to say something that could wipe the smile off someone's face, suggesting that he feels he needs to be more cutting or provocative to have an impact. However, he ultimately rejects this approach, delivering verses that criticize the current state of hip-hop and encourage the listener to embrace their own unique voice and style. The chorus emphasizes the idea of blaming the music industry and its competitive nature for any perceived shortcomings, rather than blaming oneself.

The song also touches on various other themes, such as self-care and the difficulty of maintaining balance in one's personal and professional life. Slug uses personal anecdotes to explain his perspective, portraying himself as someone who has been through challenges but continues to push forward. The verses are packed with vivid imagery and wordplay, building to a powerful but ultimately hopeful message.

Line by Line Meaning

Yo yo yo...
Introducing the song with enthusiasm

I wish that I had something to say That could wipe that smile right off of your face Here take my hand pretend you know my man Blame it all on the game, blame it all on the game
Expressing a desire to challenge someone who seems content, and offering an escape route by blaming it on external factors

(???) is a thing that we love So here's another one to get jealous of...do it Ja!(?)
Sampled lyrics from another song, with a shoutout to Ja Rule

So put your hand up if you remember the Juice Crew They don't make em' like they used to This supposed to be the new school? Your guns are aimless, songs are nameless How long you been famous? I claim this region to hundred-mile radius Twin Cities' flavors RhymeSayers got the tastiest And you can hate me, it's part of the territory As long as you know it's impossible to ignore me
Reminiscing about the golden era of hip-hop and criticizing current trends, while asserting oneself as a dominant force in one's own region

From middle fingers to hugs, tofu to the drugs The fights fist(?), might as well just take pictures of Slug And live out your own life to the fullest Why(?while?) you starin' at my feet when you're standin' in this bullshit? You could never learn how to ride a bike without balance So what's the point of trying to grab the mic without talents
Describing the ups and downs of life and encouraging listeners to focus on their own experiences rather than idolizing the artist, while cautioning against pursuing an endeavor without the necessary skills

Go get your brakes looked at, you fuckin' fake hood rat want to be the basement's greatest? Too late, already took that! Father knows best, but Father knows stress But Father needs love, a back rub, and some rest Damn he could use a good home cooked meal Been burnin' both ends since he broke the seal
Mocking those who try to emulate the artist's success without putting in the work, while acknowledging the difficulties of maintaining that success

Up, up and away, watch him take off Give himself a little hell and quit the day job And ignite the sunlight, tryin' to write about life About face(?), break the fear, and you're here till the plight(?)
Describing the artist's creative process and encouraging listeners to face their fears and pursue their passions

And I wish that I had something to say That could wipe that smile right off of your face Here take my hand pretend you know my name And blame it all on the game, blame it all on the game
Repeating the chorus that expresses a desire to challenge someone's happiness, and offering an escape route by blaming it on external factors

Cat's be walkin' into the spot like they own it Wearin' a face that they should save for they opponents With the shoelaces tied, you're(?yet?) too wasted to drive Either way I've arrived to bless this place with my vibe Yeah right, my vibe ain't even cool I sit in the corner and drink until I slur and drool The t-shirt says shoot pool, not people Kill time, not life, grab the mic and let the beat go (Beat go beat go beat go) But that's good for me, It's hard to hide a magic card when you wear a short sleeve
Observing the behavior of people in a social gathering, admitting one's own lack of coolness, and emphasizing the need to enjoy life responsibly

Force feed what I've got when they not hungry Tryin' to replace everything that they ripped off from me Bloke(?) the tummy, and choke the dummy theory Beat the point dead until these folks hear me clearly Keep it all simple, a simplistic intricate(?) Rebuild the robots with bigger tits and little fists Repo man(?), a world full of slow jams Grab the prize and clutch it tight with both hands
Critiquing the music industry and the tendency to plagiarize, while proposing a simpler yet more complex approach to making music, and asserting oneself as an opportunist who will capitalize on success

Why go (???) talk Anyone that calls this fall off(?) can suck my balls off I ain't goin' nowhere, I'm still here, right here Same spot that I stood when you first woke up The same guy that grabbed the mic and made your girl want to fuck The same MC still runnin' on an empty tank of luck
Defending oneself against critics and asserting that success has not changed the artist's identity, while acknowledging the role of luck in one's career

And I wish that I had something to say That could wipe that smile right off of your face Here take my hand, pretend you know my name And blame it all on the game, blame it all on the game And I wish that I had something to say That could wipe that smile right off of your face Come here take my hand, pretend you know..know..know Blame it all on the game (Blame it all on the game) [x10]
Repeating the chorus for emphasis and encouraging listeners to challenge their own happiness rather than attributing it solely to themselves

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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