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.
Round and Round
Atmosphere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
I never had the skills that it took to sell weed
I was too generous, too understanding to your needs
As far as school, I lacked the motivation for the occupation
Preparation, guess I'll never catch that bacon
I need to find a duty doing sales or some shit
'Cause I was always good at talking people into dumb shit
Fuck it, just program some drums
I'll be honest to myself and take the wealth if it comes
Run baby, run baby
Because it's metro, it's destined to ruin
Let go of that echo, baby what are you pursuing?
Priorities are twisted and head's not on straight
I think I'm gonna pop if I don't stop and take a long break
And find time to reflect, I need to take a second
Quit breaking my neck to get this fat paycheck
Because money is the root of all people
Ayo most people are evil so I'm on a roof shooting at bald eagles
Adrenaline, mescaline, ephedrine and apple sauce
Ain't no way to hang a platinum records on these battered walls
Every man's a faggot and all women are sluts
So I'm a hold out my love for all a y'all to shake your butts and
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Somewhat exotic how a lotta these cats went about it
And when they got crowded let the boundaries cloud it
I doubt that if they only knew how I was coming through
Probably be the oasis they was running to
Fashion, the lifestyle, around the fashions and lifestyles
Of entities you don't know much less trust judgment
Judgmental, the soldier with the common pencil
So say what's up when you see me on the bus
Ayo, the worst is yet to come, in fact its on its way
You better go and get you some before there ain't no more today
And hey I'll be just fine, trying to bust rhymes
Got my eye on my son and my hand on my nine
The clock stops, for everybody that you know that got shot
And eight o' clock the seconds get hesitant for every cat that went in an accident
And seven o' clock time stands still for everyman killed by the planet's build
Consumed by the elements, water, earth, wind, fire
When I die I wanna go like that, fuck the devil's development
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
(Get down)
Run away, come away from the land of Sodom and Gomorrah
Run away, come away from the land of the sinking sands
Run away, come away from the land of Sodom and Gomorrah
Run away, come away from the land of the sinking sands
Run away, come away from the land of Sodom and Gomorrah
Run away, come away from the land of the sinking sands
Run away, come away from the land of Sodom and Gomorrah
Run away, come away from the land of the sinking sands
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
Never heard from and hardly seen
"Round & Round" by Atmosphere is a song about feeling lost and stuck in a repetitive cycle of daily life. The lyrics depict the singer's frustration with their lack of direction in life and the desire for change. The repetition of "round and round, upside down" reinforces the cyclical nature of their routine and evokes a feeling of being trapped or suffocated. The line "priorities are twisted and head's not on straight" suggests that the singer is feeling overwhelmed and disoriented. The verse about money being the root of all evil and people being inherently corrupt speaks to a disillusionment with society and a desire to reject mainstream values. The final repeated line "never heard from and hardly seen" could symbolize the singer's feelings of being invisible or overlooked in their own life.
Line by Line Meaning
Round and round, upside down
Livin' my life underneath the ground
The singer feels stuck in a repetitive cycle of life, struggling to make progress or move forward, and feels like they're hiding from the world.
I never had the skills that it took to sell weed
I was too generous, too understanding to your needs
The singer didn't have what it takes to be a drug dealer and cares too much about others' needs to succeed in that business.
As far as school, I lacked the motivation for the occupation
Preparation, guess I'll never catch that bacon
The singer lacked motivation for schooling to prepare them for a career, and now feels like they missed out on financial success.
I need to find a duty doing sales or some shit
'Cause I was always good at talking people into dumb shit
The artist feels like their talent for persuading others could be useful in sales but recognizes the downside of selling people things they don't need.
Fuck it, just program some drums
I'll be honest to myself and take the wealth if it comes
The artist is willing to try something new, like drum programming, and will be honest with themselves and take financial success if it comes their way.
Because it's metro, it's destined to ruin
Let go of that echo, baby what are you pursuing?
The singer believes that living in the city will lead to destruction and is questioning the listener's goals.
Priorities are twisted and head's not on straight
I think I'm gonna pop if I don't stop and take a long break
The singer feels overwhelmed and knows they need a break to straighten out their priorities before they lose control.
Because money is the root of all people
Ayo most people are evil so I'm on a roof shooting at bald eagles
The artist believes that money corrupts people and that most people are bad, leading them to extreme action.
Somewhat exotic how a lotta these cats went about it
And when they got crowded let the boundaries cloud it
The artist finds it strange how many people got caught up in something and lost sight of their own boundaries.
I doubt that if they only knew how I was coming through
Probably be the oasis they was running to
The artist thinks that if people knew how they were going to succeed, they would be popular and highly sought after.
And hey I'll be just fine, trying to bust rhymes
Got my eye on my son and my hand on my nine
The singer is focused on their craft and keeping their family safe, even if they have to resort to violence.
When I die I wanna go like that, fuck the devil's development
The artist doesn't want to end up in hell after they die and would rather die peacefully in a natural way.
Run away, come away from the land of Sodom and Gomorrah
Run away, come away from the land of the sinking sands
The singer is referencing the biblical cities that were destroyed by God and is urging the listener to leave a place or situation that is heading towards ruin.
Never heard from and hardly seen
The singer has a low profile and is not well-known or visible.
Contributed by Tyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.