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.

Can't Break
Atmosphere Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He wanted to make a difference be understood right?
Wanted to go the distance wanted to live that good life
Put some work on that wood jumped and took flight
Left his hand writin' in that book what that look like?
Happy mess is the reach touch and manifest it
Caught between respect your momma
And them battle weapons
Lost your adolescence at them intersections

Spread them wings
And you're gonna need some landin' lessons
The sun is gonna burn them feathers
Lost track of time tryin' to ride the bender
Used to have an agenda but really why remember?
Doesn't matter when your head's in
A bottle somewhere in tribeca
Or maybe you sedate it up in Silverlake
Cheatin' fate first rate feelin' great
Tryin' to turn a first date
Into a friendly game of kill the snake
Can't wait to get her face against a pillow case

Progress that came with a cost
Rejoice for the rain that will wash
Multiple choice you can stay on that cross
Or grab it by the arms and break 'em off

[Chorus]
The wheels are stopped done so let me off
Deal the cards but already lost
Kill me now just to get applause
Steal the shot run and set it off
I feel and I fear and I want and I can't break away

If they buy it for you how you not gonna drink it?
If they fry it for you how you not gonna eat it?
If they throw it to you how you not gonna hold it?
Touch it taste it love it and f**k with it a moment?
Every city's the same scene gangrene
Vampire's lookin' at your veins fangs craving
Interchangeable hair similar name jeans
Faux-made take charge and late start playthings
It ain't harder to tell
They rebel to celebrate the day their martyr had fell
Now meet him at the bar 'cause it's part of the sell
Felt at peace leavin' pieces of his heart at hotels
Stepped in with his next new best friend
On the bed's edge loadin' up on the weapon
Tryin' to win big all bets in
Now pull the bedspread back and pop that essence

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In this song, Atmosphere talks about a person who had dreams and aspirations to make a difference and live a good life. This person had potential, but they lost themselves along the way due to societal pressures and indulging in vices like alcohol and drugs. The lyrics describe the struggles of trying to balance the need for respect from loved ones with the temptation of easy fixes to escape reality. The chorus further emphasizes the theme of feeling trapped and unable to break away from destructive patterns. The last verse touches on the idea of conformity and the pressure to fit in, even in different cities, and the consequences of making poor choices.

Atmosphere never explicitly states who he is referring to in the song, leaving it open to interpretation. However, it is relatable to many people who may have lost track of their dreams and have succumbed to societal pressures.

Line by Line Meaning

He wanted to make a difference be understood right?
He had a desire to have an impact and be properly comprehended by others.

Wanted to go the distance wanted to live that good life
He wished to attain goals and live a fulfilling life.

Put some work on that wood jumped and took flight
He worked hard and made progress, moving forward towards success.

Left his hand writin' in that book what that look like?
He left his mark and recorded his progress, making his accomplishments visible to others.

Happy mess is the reach touch and manifest it
Achieving goals and making progress can bring joy, even if there are challenges or struggles along the way.

Caught between respect your momma
He was conflicted between honoring his family's values and making his own choices.

And them battle weapons
He faced obstacles and challenges that required effort and dedication to overcome.

Lost your adolescence at them intersections
He experienced challenges and hardships during a critical time in his life, which had a powerful impact on him.

Spread them wings
He was ready to take on new challenges and opportunities, to grow and develop.

And you're gonna need some landin' lessons
He knew that success and progress can be difficult, and that he would need to learn and adapt to new situations.

The sun is gonna burn them feathers
He was aware that there would be challenges and risks along the way, and that success may come at a cost.

Lost track of time tryin' to ride the bender
He became caught up in a cycle of excess, losing sight of his goals and priorities.

Used to have an agenda but really why remember?
He had once had clear goals and plans, but they had become less important or forgotten.

Doesn't matter when your head's in a bottle somewhere in tribeca
It is easy to lose perspective and become trapped in unhealthy behavior, regardless of location or circumstances.

Or maybe you sedate it up in Silverlake
He may have turned to substances or other coping mechanisms to obtain relief from stress or discomfort.

Cheatin' fate first rate feelin' great
He may have felt empowered and confident in the moment, but was potentially setting himself up for negative consequences or repercussions.

Tryin' to turn a first date into a friendly game of kill the snake
He may have been overly aggressive or manipulative in his pursuit of a romantic interest.

Can't wait to get her face against a pillow case
He was eager for sexual experiences or encounters.

Progress that came with a cost
He recognized that success and achievement may involve sacrifices or trade-offs.

Rejoice for the rain that will wash
Despite difficulties or setbacks, there are opportunities for growth and renewal.

Multiple choice you can stay on that cross
He had options and choices, even in difficult situations.

Or grab it by the arms and break 'em off
He had the power to take control of his life and make changes, even if it meant taking risks or facing challenges.

The wheels are stopped done so let me off
He was ready to change direction and move forward in a new way.

Deal the cards but already lost
He may have felt like he had already made mistakes or experienced losses before entering into new situations or challenges.

Kill me now just to get applause
He may have engaged in attention-seeking or self-destructive behavior, needing validation or recognition from others.

Steal the shot run and set it off
He was willing to take risks and act boldly, even if it meant being disruptive or upsetting.

I feel and I fear and I want and I can't break away
He was struggling with powerful emotions and desires, feeling trapped or unable to move forward.

If they buy it for you how you not gonna drink it?
He faced pressures or temptations from others, making it difficult to resist harmful behaviors.

If they fry it for you how you not gonna eat it?
He may have been surrounded by unhealthy temptations or influences, making it difficult to make good choices.

If they throw it to you how you not gonna hold it?
He was easily swayed or influenced by external factors and stimuli, making it hard to resist temptation or pressure.

Touch it taste it love it and f**k with it a moment?
He was impulsive and acted on desire without fully considering the consequences or long-term effects.

Every city's the same scene gangrene
He saw similarities and patterns in different situations, environments, or social groups, and recognized negative or destructive tendencies.

Vampire's lookin' at your veins fangs craving
He felt like he was being preyed upon or exploited, and sensed a desire or hunger in others that was potentially dangerous or harmful.

Interchangeable hair similar name jeans
He observed a lack of individuality or uniqueness in others, and potentially in himself.

Faux-made take charge and late start playthings
He saw individuals who were putting on a false front, pretending to be in control or successful when they really were not.

It ain't harder to tell
He recognized patterns or situations that were repeating, and could anticipate the outcome or result.

They rebel to celebrate the day their martyr had fell
He observed groups or movements that were inspired by the loss or sacrifice of others, and were motivated by a sense of defiance or resistance.

Now meet him at the bar 'cause it's part of the sell
He recognized that certain behaviors or actions were encouraged or promoted, even if they were negative or harmful.

Felt at peace leavin' pieces of his heart at hotels
He may have felt distant or detached from his own emotions or experiences, potentially engaging in behaviors or activities that felt empty or unfulfilling.

Stepped in with his next new best friend
He was eager to form connections and relationships, but may have been easily influenced or swayed by others.

On the bed's edge loadin' up on the weapon
He was potentially engaging in dangerous or risky behaviors, potentially with harmful or violent intentions.

Tryin' to win big all bets in
He was taking major risks in pursuit of big rewards or gains, potentially with little regard for the potential consequences or risks involved.

Now pull the bedspread back and pop that essence
He was potentially engaging in risky or dangerous behaviors, possibly with drugs or other substances.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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