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 JesieΕ 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 80βs. The group was produced by Franco & Venise Scopinich, and their one single βSwedeβs Scandalβ 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.
Next to You
Atmosphere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm layin' right next to you
Sometime I feel so alone
That I don't know what to do
I don't know why, I don't know why
(I said) I don't know why, I don't know why
I was out with my crew tonight
I had so much to drink that you'd think
I'm 'bout to go and paint the bathroom sink, pink
Rule number one, always puke alone
The second rule is always puke at home
I guess it's time to go
Didn't see nobody from my family around
So I went outside to flag a taxi down
I told a cab to take thirty-five south and let the windows down
I got to air myself out
I put a new piece of gum in my mouth
As the car pulled up right in front of the house
And all that I can think about is how much I love fucking you
I can't wait to get inside
But I never considered that you'd be fast to sleep
And now I'm masturbating with some Vaseline
And
Darlin' you don't even know
I'm layin' right next to you
Sometime I feel so alone
That I don't know what to do
I don't know why, I don't know why
(I said) I don't know why, I don't know why
I'd love to press my face into the flesh
In between your pregnant breasts
I'd love to squeeze your butt and make you horny
But I know you gotta wake up in the morning
So I'mma just lay next to you
And think about when I make sex to you
It probably sound kinda perverted, I imagine
But that ain't enough to make me wanna curb my enthusiasm
It feels so right in my left
And I don't think she protest if I don't leave a mess
I disappear into the smell of your hair
And it's becoming apparent that I'm becoming coherent
With my mind on my business, fist full of carnal
Blurry with the vision I'm spinnin' like a marble
Fade to black way under the shellac
Can't fap, too wasted
If you was awake you'd laugh
And
Darlin' you don't even know
I'm layin' right next to you
Sometime I feel so alone
That I don't know what to do
I don't know why, I don't know why
(I said) I don't know why, I don't know why
Darlin' you don't even know
I'm layin' right next to you
Sometime I feel so alone
That I don't know what to do
I don't know why, I don't know why
(I said) I don't know why, I don't know why
Atmosphere's song "Next To You" is a melancholic and introspective piece revolving around loneliness, alcoholism, and the human longing for physical and emotional connection. The song begins with Slug, the lead vocalist, confessing his feelings of isolation even though he is laying right next to the person he loves. He is overwhelmed by the distance that he perceives between himself and his loved one, and this feeling heightens his loneliness. The lyrics hint at the problematic tension between intimacy and disconnection, highlight the frustrations of alcoholism, and demonstrate a yearning for affection and sexual fulfilment.
As the song progresses, Slug narrates a drunken night out with his friends, where he drinks so much that he throws up and has to call a cab to go home. When he arrives home, he is eager to spend time with his partner, but she has already fallen asleep. The song takes a self-deprecating turn when he says, "And now I'm masturbating with some Vaseline," emphasising his disappointment and the idea that he is alone in his desires. The song ends with Slug lying next to his partner, not engaging in any sexual activity, but merely fantasising about it while pondering on his feelings of emptiness.
Overall, the song is a prime example of rap music's emotive power to display vulnerability and to address issues that are often deemed taboo. It's a poignant account of loneliness, addiction, and the internal struggles that come with intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Darlin' you don't even know
The person addressed in the song is unaware of the singer's presence, laying next to them.
I'm layin' right next to you
The singer is physically present and laying beside the addressee.
Sometime I feel so alone
Despite being next to the addressee, the singer often feels lonely.
That I don't know what to do
The singer is unsure how to cope with their feelings of loneliness in this situation.
I was out with my crew tonight
The singer was out drinking with their friends.
We were all gettin' super nice
They were all getting drunk.
I had so much to drink that you'd think
The singer drank a lot and is very intoxicated.
I'm 'bout to go and paint the bathroom sink, pink
The singer is so drunk that they feel nauseous and may throw up.
Rule number one, always puke alone
The singer knows from experience that it is best to vomit alone to avoid embarrassment.
The second rule is always puke at home
It is also better to be at home when throwing up for comfort and privacy reasons.
I guess it's time to go
The singer decides that it is time to leave their friend's house and go home.
Didn't see nobody from my family around
The singer did not see any of their family members at the party.
So I went outside to flag a taxi down
The singer goes outside to try to hail a taxi.
I told a cab to take thirty-five south and let the windows down
The singer tells the cab driver their destination and requests fresh air.
I got to air myself out
The singer needs to cool off after feeling nauseous from drinking.
I put a new piece of gum in my mouth
The singer freshens their breath with gum.
And all that I can think about is how much I love fucking you
The singer thinks about having sex with the addressee.
I can't wait to get inside
The singer is excited to be with the addressee and continue thinking about sex.
But I never considered that you'd be fast to sleep
The addressee is asleep and the singer did not anticipate this.
And now I'm masturbating with some Vaseline
The singer is pleasuring themselves with lubricant because they cannot have sex with the sleeping addressee.
I'd love to press my face into the flesh
The singer is physically attracted to the addressee's body.
In between your pregnant breasts
The addressee is pregnant and the singer is turned on by this.
I'd love to squeeze your butt and make you horny
The singer wants to touch the addressee's body and arouse them sexually.
But I know you gotta wake up in the morning
The singer is considerate of the addressee's schedule and responsibilities.
So I'mma just lay next to you
The singer decides to stay next to the addressee and not disturb them.
And think about when I make sex to you
The singer continues to fantasize about having sex with the addressee.
It probably sound kinda perverted, I imagine
The singer acknowledges that their thoughts may seem inappropriate or perverse.
But that ain't enough to make me wanna curb my enthusiasm
Despite the possibly inappropriate nature of their thoughts, the singer is still enthusiastic about their attraction to the addressee.
It feels so right in my left
The singer's masturbation feels pleasurable and natural to them.
And I don't think she protest if I don't leave a mess
The singer believes the addressee would be okay with their actions as long as they are discreet and do not make a mess.
I disappear into the smell of your hair
The singer is comforted by the scent of the addressee's hair and is able to fully immerse themselves in their fantasy.
And it's becoming apparent that I'm becoming coherent
The singer is starting to become more aware and alert as the effects of their drunkenness wear off.
With my mind on my business, fist full of carnal
The singer's mind is occupied with sexual thoughts and desires.
Blurry with the vision I'm spinnin' like a marble
The singer's vision is distorted and they feel dizzy.
Fade to black way under the shellac
The singer's vision becomes completely black and unresponsive.
Can't fap, too wasted
The singer is too drunk to continue masturbating.
If you was awake you'd laugh
The singer imagines the addressee would find their situation amusing if they were awake to witness it.
Darlin' you don't even know
The addressee is still unaware of the singer's presence next to them.
Sometime I feel so alone
Despite the singer's attraction to the addressee, they often feel isolated and lonely in their relationship.
That I don't know what to do
The singer is unsure how to address their feelings of loneliness or how to improve their relationship with the addressee.
I don't know why, I don't know why
The singer is confused and does not understand why they feel this way.
(I said) I don't know why, I don't know why
The singer repeats their confusion and frustration with their situation.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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