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.
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.
Drown
Atmosphere Lyrics
I knew that I couldn't survive without you by my side
But I'm alive
I thought that it was more than a tattoo
Try not to get caught in the classroom
Tomorrow morning while the galaxy is forming
I'ma find a box of stories
Buried in the garden underneath the pouring rain
Never seen the storm before it came
Find the strength to forgive my jinx
Swim the length of the kitchen sink
Freedom of speech don't mean what you think
Hold that thought I'm 'bout to close the ink
Y'all know I never gave a frozen shit
I'm just trying to keep my head above the hopelessness
They wanna blow some kisses at the showmanship
Until they poking at your legacy with broken sticks
Yeah, I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do, I'ma drown
With you
With you, yeah
Yeah, I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do, I'ma drown
With you
With you, yeah
Yeah, here we go
I'm tryna be peaceful, keep on clashing with your ego
No logic or reason when speaking
Get peace and disagreements
Tell me what you really thinking when you're drinking
Know when niggas either say that you don't mean that
I heard that before, I don't believe it
Listen to people
They tell you everything in how they treat you
View kindness as weakness, say you don't need me
Hard to let go but I'm leaving faceless right now, what is easy?
Give the very least, that's exactly what you'll receive
What you see's your reflection of what you think you perceive
Don't make a promise you can't keep
But keep what needs to be released
Repeat the things that you should change
Your hands and clank can't point the blame, no you can't stay
You can't just take, reciprocate, make an exchange
I'm lighting sage to cleanse a space
Getting that bad energy up off of me
Replaced with inner peace
Fools call you so expose enemies with false identities
You're no friend to me so don't pretend to be
Yeah, I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do, I'ma drown
With you
With you, yeah
Yeah, I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do, I'ma drown
With you
With you, yeah
I been let down before, laying against this wall
Ain't no use in crying
When I'm sober I drink, always up when I sink
In a coma, I'm blinking
And in my own mistakes
Lay in my bed and rest, ain't no use in trying
When I'm shocked I won't shoot
Don't know what, they're trying to hurt me
Love me then desert me
Don't give me your mercy
Feel like my flesh burning
So let's start a fire
Goes on every hour
They trying to drown me
Feel like I am falling
But I'm alive
I thought that it was more than a tattoo
Try not to get caught in the classroom
Tomorrow morning while the galaxy is forming
I'ma find a box of stories
Buried in the garden underneath the pouring rain
Never seen the storm before it came
Find the strength to forgive my jinx
Swim the length of the kitchen sink
Hold that thought I'm 'bout to close the ink
Y'all know I never gave a frozen shit
I'm just trying to keep my head above the hopelessness
They wanna blow some kisses at the showmanship
Until they poking at your legacy with broken sticks
Yeah, I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do, I'ma drown
With you
With you, yeah
Yeah, I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do, I'ma drown
With you
With you, yeah
Yeah, here we go
I'm tryna be peaceful, keep on clashing with your ego
No logic or reason when speaking
Get peace and disagreements
Tell me what you really thinking when you're drinking
Know when niggas either say that you don't mean that
I heard that before, I don't believe it
Listen to people
They tell you everything in how they treat you
View kindness as weakness, say you don't need me
Hard to let go but I'm leaving faceless right now, what is easy?
Give the very least, that's exactly what you'll receive
What you see's your reflection of what you think you perceive
Don't make a promise you can't keep
But keep what needs to be released
Repeat the things that you should change
Your hands and clank can't point the blame, no you can't stay
You can't just take, reciprocate, make an exchange
I'm lighting sage to cleanse a space
Getting that bad energy up off of me
Replaced with inner peace
Fools call you so expose enemies with false identities
You're no friend to me so don't pretend to be
Yeah, I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do, I'ma drown
With you
With you, yeah
Yeah, I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do, I'ma drown
With you
With you, yeah
I been let down before, laying against this wall
Ain't no use in crying
When I'm sober I drink, always up when I sink
In a coma, I'm blinking
And in my own mistakes
Lay in my bed and rest, ain't no use in trying
When I'm shocked I won't shoot
Don't know what, they're trying to hurt me
Love me then desert me
Don't give me your mercy
Feel like my flesh burning
So let's start a fire
Goes on every hour
They trying to drown me
Feel like I am falling
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, UPSIDEDOWN HEART MUSIC, ANT TURN THAT SNARE DOWN
Written by: Sean Daley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Apostolis Maidonis
[Slug:]
I knew that I couldn't survive
Without you by my side
But I'm alive
I thought that it was more than a tattoo
Try not to get caught in the classroom
Tomorrow morning while the galaxy is forming
I'mma find a box of stories
Buried in the garden underneath the pouring rain
Never seen the storm before it came
Find the strength to forgive my jinx
Swim the length of the kitchen sink
Freedom of speech don't mean what you think
Hold that thought I'm about to close the ink
Y'all know I never gave a frozen shit
I'm just trying to keep my head above the hopelessness
They wanna blow some kisses at the showmanship
Until they're poking at your legacy with broken sticks
[DeM atlaS:]
Yeah I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do
I'mma drown
With you
With you (yeah)
Yeah I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do
I'mma drown
With you
With you (yeah)
[The Lioness:]
Here we go
I'm trying to be peaceful
Keep on clashing with your ego
No logic or reason when speaking
Get peace and disagreements
Tell me what you really thinking when you drinking ?
they say that you don't mean it
I heard that before
I don't believe it
Listen to people
That tell you everything in how they treat you
View kindness as weakness
Say you don't need me
Hard to let go
But I'm leaving faceless right now
What is easy
Get the very leases
Exactly what you receive
What you see's your reflection of what you think you perceive
Don't make a promise you can't keep
But keep with these to be released repeat the things that you should change
Your hands and things can't point the blame
No you can't stay
You can't just take reciprocate make an exchange
I'm lighting sage to cleanse a space
Getting that bad energ-y up off of m-e
Replaced with inner peace
Fools call you so expose enemies with false identities
You're no friend to me so don't pretend to be
[DeM atlaS:]
Yeah I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do
I'mma drown
With you
With you (yeah)
Yeah I think I'm going down
Don't know what to do
I'mma drown
With you
With you (yeah)
I been let down before
Laying against this wall
Ain't no use in crying
When I'm sober I drink
Always up when I sink
In a comer I'm blinking
And in my own mistakes
Laying in my bed and rest
Ain't no use in trying
When I'm shocked I won't shoot
Don't know what
They're trying to hurt me
Love me then desert me
Don't give me your mercy
Feel like my flesh burn me
So let's start a fire
Goes on every hour
They're trying to drown me
Feel like I am falling
DudeBro 9401
I recently went to one of Atmosphere’s shows and Lioness was opening for him and her energy and her flow was absolutely amazing
For every action there is a consequence
Lucky duck! I bought tickets and ended up having a panic attack before the show. Went to the show, it was over ☹️ I got some really fancy bookmarks though.
Donald Ansman
The one in San Diego?
Not Ryan
Same, I saw all of them together like 3 and a half years ago or so and it was legit
Not Ryan
I had seretonine syndrome, close to a panic attack, but everything becomes extremely confusing and hard to figure things out that are normally routine things. Still went, sat in the balcony for the first half of the show... It was a trip that's for sure. Panic attacks are no joke, I learned that recently quiting methadone
Ellie Gordon
Slug is so humble. like he's giving the younger/ newer ones a chance to be in the spotlight. Lioness and Dem actually killed it!
Zoom
tomorrow morning while the galaxy is forming...
whyy thestupidithurts
Till they are poking at your LEGACY with broken sticks ... (I don't think most are getting slug is semi telling he knows he's not forever and his legacy won't truly be his art but rhymesayers ... that's why he kept his piece short sweet then handed off to who will be there when slug isn't or can't be ...the future of the record company)
Jay Row
Wow never heard The Lioness before... I’m an old hip hop head from the 80s and 90s. That sh.it was on point !!! No words just simply amazing 👍
evan sh
This song is amazing but that Lioness verse is something special