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 JesieÅ 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 80ās. The group was produced by Franco & Venise Scopinich, and their one single āSwedeās Scandalā 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.
Overcast!
Atmosphere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now were working on another one)
Shit gets tense well before I henceforth
Use common sense and don't bring
Your ass up north
Built a tall fence, so high you can't see in
Tilt your defense, bitch
The force much too big
So you could never conquer
Fuck you up, kid did
Then once more for the encore
I'm much more emcee than you
Could ever fucking be
And you thought it was you
But I control your destiny
The A-N T lace a track for murder
Spawn sets the attack with words
The insert blurs the vision
Time for the decision
Thumbs up? No thumbs down
You shoulda' known it was us
When you felt the shaking, ground making
Sound waves that pave ways for us to go
It's not who you know, it's what you know
So let it go, I got a lot of angles
Too much for simple minds to count
Yo, you wanna tango? You better
Off and you just bounce
The last ounce of breath is
Now left your body
Life now past tense cause your
Rhyme skills are sloppy
You couldn't stop me
That's what it comes down to
You can't out-rock me, b-boy
Muthafucker old school
Grabbed by the shoulders
Ripped in half like the broken
Flyers to your show
Told ya not to try to flow
Not cause your weak
It's cause your don't freq the speak
With any type of technique from deep inside
I peeped your vibe
It seems to thrive off the shit of the minute
But I've come to stop the cries
And let my feces fossilize
And when it's hard as a granite rock
Rocker was classic as Planet Rock rock
I grabbed your flask of thoughts to
Make the planet stop stop
Understand the understated
Cause it's unnecessary to
Undermine the underestimated
Underrated, under one nation
Of underachievers
Who undercut by fucking under the table
Under the nose of unbelievers
With that in mind
How do you find the time to dislike me?
Bitch, give me the mike and I'm
A gut you like a Pisces
What's fucked up, is I don't even know you
But we got a track left to
Kill so I'm a show you
And you can show your whole crew
(Atmosphere) I don't care if you know
Me or you hate me
There's something in Minneapolis and I
Think it's starting to spread
Atmosphere (The mass of air surrounding the Earth's surface)
Ayo, see you on the next one
Thank you for the purchase
In the song "Overcast!" by Atmosphere, the lyrics convey a sense of confidence and superiority in the face of competition. The opening lines suggest that the artist is continuously working on new music, showing their dedication and ambition. The chorus emphasizes the importance of knowledge and skill rather than relying on connections or superficiality. The lyrics assert that the artist controls their own destiny and possesses a greater understanding of the rap game.
Throughout the song, Atmosphere displays a dismissive attitude towards other rappers. They criticize those who fake toughness and pretend to be something they're not. The lyrics also touch on the idea of standing out from the crowd and not conforming to societal expectations, implying that the artist is authentic and unique.
Overall, "Overcast!" portrays an artist who is confident in their abilities, unafraid to challenge their competitors, and committed to their craft. The lyrics suggest a sense of self-assurance and a refusal to compromise their artistic integrity.
Line by Line Meaning
Shit gets tense well before I henceforth
Things become intense well before I leave
Use common sense and don't bring
Your ass up north
Be sensible and don't come to our area
Built a tall fence, so high you can't see in
Created a barrier that you cannot penetrate
Tilt your defense, bitch
You ain't hard you just pretend
Reveal your weak defense, you are not tough, just pretending
The force much too big
So you could never conquer
We are too strong, you can never defeat us
Fuck you up, kid did
Then once more for the encore
We will defeat and harm you, and do it again for the last performance
I'm much more emcee than you
Could ever fucking be
I am a better rapper than you can ever be
And you thought it was you
But I control your destiny
You believed it was about you, but I have power over your fate
The A-N T lace a track for murder
The A-N T produces a song with deadly vibes
Spawn sets the attack with words
The insert blurs the vision
Spawn initiates the verbal attack, causing confusion and distortion
Time for the decision
Thumbs up? No thumbs down
It's time to make a decision, but it's not a positive one
You shoulda' known it was us
When you felt the shaking, ground making
Sound waves that pave ways for us to go
You should have recognized it was us when you felt the impact of our powerful music that opens paths for us
It's not who you know, it's what you know
So let it go, I got a lot of angles
Too much for simple minds to count
It's not about connections, but about knowledge. So forget about it. I have many perspectives that are too complex for basic minds to comprehend
Yo, you wanna tango? You better
Off and you just bounce
Do you want to challenge me? It would be better if you leave and disappear
The last ounce of breath is
Now left your body
You are now out of breath and defeated
Life now past tense cause your
Rhyme skills are sloppy
Your life is now in the past because your rap skills are unimpressive
You couldn't stop me
That's what it comes down to
You couldn't prevent my success, that's the ultimate outcome
You can't out-rock me, b-boy
Muthafucker old school
You can't surpass my skills in hip-hop, you are just an old-school wannabe
Grabbed by the shoulders
Ripped in half like the broken
Flyers to your show
I forcefully grabbed you and tore you apart just like the damaged flyers promoting your show
Told ya not to try to flow
Not cause your weak
It's cause your don't freq the speak
With any type of technique from deep inside
I warned you not to attempt to rap because it's not because you lack skill, it's because you don't understand the essence of the art form and lack any meaningful technique
I peeped your vibe
It seems to thrive off the shit of the minute
I observed your energy, and it appears that you thrive on the current trendy garbage
But I've come to stop the cries
And let my feces fossilize
However, I have arrived to put an end to the complaints and allow my excellence to endure
And when it's hard as a granite rock
Rocker was classic as Planet Rock rock
And when it becomes extremely solid, like a rock as strong as granite, like the classic genre-defining song 'Planet Rock'
I grabbed your flask of thoughts to
Make the planet stop stop
I stole your reservoir of ideas in order to halt the world's progression
Understand the understated
Cause it's unnecessary to
Undermine the underestimated
Comprehend the subtle nature, as it is pointless to sabotage the undervalued
Underrated, under one nation
Of underachievers
Who undercut by fucking under the table
Under the nose of unbelievers
Underestimated, belonging to a collective of individuals who constantly fall short, cheated by hidden deals beneath the radar of doubters
With that in mind
How do you find the time to dislike me?
Considering all of this, how do you manage to spare time to hold a dislike towards me?
Bitch, give me the mike and I'm
A gut you like a Pisces
Give me the microphone and I will metaphorically attack you like a forceful strike to the abdomen, just like a Pisces would
What's fucked up, is I don't even know you
What's messed up is that I have no knowledge or familiarity of you
But we got a track left to
Kill so I'm a show you
However, we still have a song to perform and dominate, therefore I will demonstrate my superior talent to you
And you can show your whole crew
And you can share this experience with your entire group
(Atmosphere) I don't care if you know
Me or you hate me
(Atmosphere) It doesn't matter if you are familiar with me or despise me
There's something in Minneapolis and I
Think it's starting to spread
There is something in Minneapolis, and I believe it's beginning to spread and gain recognition
Ayo, see you on the next one
Hey, I'll see you in the next situation or event
Thank you for the purchase
Thank you for buying our music
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jmj5498
I. 1597: 0:00
II. Brief Description: 3:05
III. Current Status Ft. Beyond: 7:21
IV. Complications: 11:02
V. 4-30 am: 16:06
VI. Adjust Ft. Beyond: 19:16
VII. Clay: 24:00
VIII. @: 27:49
IX. Sound is Vibration: 30:06
X. Multiples: 34:03
XI. Scapegoat: 38:16
XII. Ode to the Modern Man (Lightning Blend): 42:08
XIII. WND: 46:09
XIV. Multiples (Reprise): 49:17
XV. Caved In: 51:05
XVI. Cuando Limpia El Humo: 54:49
XVII. The Outernet: 1:00:02
jmj5498
I. 1597: 0:00
II. Brief Description: 3:05
III. Current Status Ft. Beyond: 7:21
IV. Complications: 11:02
V. 4-30 am: 16:06
VI. Adjust Ft. Beyond: 19:16
VII. Clay: 24:00
VIII. @: 27:49
IX. Sound is Vibration: 30:06
X. Multiples: 34:03
XI. Scapegoat: 38:16
XII. Ode to the Modern Man (Lightning Blend): 42:08
XIII. WND: 46:09
XIV. Multiples (Reprise): 49:17
XV. Caved In: 51:05
XVI. Cuando Limpia El Humo: 54:49
XVII. The Outernet: 1:00:02
BakedNConfused
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ItsBenbetter
Thank you!
Brian Ruth
He2 18 highest non-node value, O8 c.c., eV - ZAPe.v., n=Vrms=3RT/MĀ² oh Gā¢muā¢nu=Rā¢muā¢nu-Ā½Rā¢gā¢muā¢nu
Bailey Plays Drums
I remember buying this album from Slug before anyone gave a crap about him. One of the all time GOAT albums. I still miss Spawn, aka Rek tha Heavyweight.
Dr. Dan Dungus
Atmospheres best music! Love the old school beats man. So stoked they remastered.
Sean Connell
Easily one of the best hip hop albums ever
ItsJust Me
āItās all in the flows we balance so freakin well, your style has the personality of a speak and spellā š fucking bars š„
KatzProductions
So much better than their new stuff. I once bumped God Loves Ugly album on repeat in a trap house party. Everyone loved it.
Prestone Lite
"Cause I can read an MC from front to back from the cover to the classified I pacified my mind with my rhyme skills"