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.
The Skinny
Atmosphere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the five star rooms down to skid roe
Whether you answer phones
Or dance on poles
Big money escort
Or broke on a stroll
He don't care about your stats or background
He ain't picky once he puts his mac down
Cause all of y'all heifers are cash cows
And at first it was just a little game
Had no idea that he was fucking with your brains
When he was around you seemed mature
He helped you calm down and feel secure (sure)
He'd go get em when they still just kids
Give them some gifts, get on they lips
Before they even get a chance to get hips
Candy pimp turned it down to a trick real quick
[Chorus: x2]
Fly trick
Like dick
Gon' pay all day
But won't ever get away
From skinny white pimp
I know it feel like you can't live without him
And you're still too embarrassed to tell your parents about him
It's kinda crazy how he's on your mouth
Every time you need a little bit of help you out
Ain't no kitten gonna play that shark
Shake you down
Make his mark
Take you down
Break your heart
And don't give a damn for anything that came apart
Some try anything to leave him
Say some even put themselves in treatment
Some get away but still gotta keep looking over they shoulder forever
That ain't freedom
Take his tax makes you love it
Same old trap
But ain't you above it?
He'll beat yo ass in public
Now suck that skinny white pimp dick (suck it)
[Chorus: x2]
First thing you wake up to
Your pimp
Don't forget to pay up to
Your pimp
Get that money
Give it here
He'll keep a bitch in that stable for 50 years
He ain't scared of the law or the cops
Got em paid off some kind of trade off
Gonna stay in the pocket
As long as the money stays long and the hands stay strong
It's like you don't know a kid
He's right there in your clothes and hair
You never gonna let him in your home
I can smell his breath on this microphone
Your lips taste like his dick
I can always tell when he's been in your whip
Just one in a million trick
Now take your ass outside and go talk to your pimp
[Chorus: x2]
Hey baby I need to change
On top of that I need to keep the change
Mother fuckers put a filter on my brain
All the cigarettes of the world get together and sing...
[Chorus: x2]
The song "The Skinny" by Atmosphere explores the toxic power dynamics in the world of prostitution and pimping, particularly the control a pimp has over their prostitutes ('tricks and hos'). The lyrics detail the various ways in which pimps manipulate and control their victims, from offering material gifts to breaking them down emotionally and psychologically. The pimp is portrayed as a calculating and cold figure who sees the prostitutes as mere sources of profit, rather than human beings deserving of respect and dignity.
The chorus, which repeats the line "From skinny white pimp," highlights the singer's disdain for this character and the violence and abuse he inflicts upon those in his grasp. The final verse, however, seems to suggest that the singer himself is struggling with addiction and the desire for change, perhaps recognizing that he too is trapped in a cycle of self-destruction.
Overall, "The Skinny" is a harrowing portrayal of the realities of prostitution and the insidious power dynamics that are often at play. It is a stark reminder of the importance of combating the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable individuals in our communities.
Line by Line Meaning
This is for all those tricks and hos
The song is dedicated to all the sex workers
From the five star rooms down to skid roe
Sex workers can be found in fancy hotels or in poor areas
Whether you answer phones
Some sex workers operate through phone calls or online services
Or dance on poles
Some sex workers work in strip clubs
Big money escort
Some sex workers charge high fees for their services
Or broke on a stroll
Some sex workers are struggling financially and walk the streets
He don't care about your stats or background
The pimp doesn't care about the sex worker's personal details
He ain't picky once he puts his mac down
The pimp accepts any sex worker who is willing to work for him
Make you suck it all the way to the ass now
The pimp may force the sex worker to do something she doesn't want to do
Cause all of y'all heifers are cash cows
The pimp sees the sex workers as a source of income
And at first it was just a little game
The pimp may lure the sex worker in by pretending it's just a game
Had no idea that he was fucking with your brains
The sex worker realizes later that the pimp is manipulating her
When he was around you seemed mature
The sex worker feels grown-up and protected around the pimp
He helped you calm down and feel secure (sure)
The pimp may act like a comforting presence for the sex worker
He'd go get em when they still just kids
The pimp may recruit young, vulnerable sex workers
Give them some gifts, get on they lips
The pimp may bribe the sex worker with gifts or money
Before they even get a chance to get hips
The pimp may target young girls who haven't yet reached puberty
Candy pimp turned it down to a trick real quick
The pimp's initial charm quickly fades and he becomes abusive
[Chorus: x2]
Refrains the chorus
Fly trick
The sex worker is seen as a profitable commodity
Like dick
The pimp's power is derived from the sex worker's work
Gon' pay all day
The sex worker is expected to work constantly
But won't ever get away
The pimp's hold on the sex worker is powerful
From skinny white pimp
Refers to the pimp's physical appearance
I know it feel like you can't live without him
The sex worker feels dependent on the pimp
And you're still too embarrassed to tell your parents about him
The sex worker may feel ashamed or afraid to tell anyone about her work
It's kinda crazy how he's on your mouth
Even when the sex worker is not with the pimp, he occupies her thoughts
Every time you need a little bit of help you out
The sex worker may ask the pimp for help with personal or financial issues
Ain't no kitten gonna play that shark
The pimp is powerful and cannot be easily manipulated or extorted
Shake you down
The pimp may intimidate or threaten the sex worker to get his way
Make his mark
The pimp asserts his dominance over the sex worker
Take you down
The pimp can crush the sex worker emotionally
Break your heart
The pimp can be cruel and manipulative
And don't give a damn for anything that came apart
The pimp has no regard for the sex worker's emotional wellbeing
Some try anything to leave him
The sex worker may try to leave the pimp's clutches
Say some even put themselves in treatment
Some sex workers may require therapy or rehab to recover from their experiences
Some get away but still gotta keep looking over they shoulder forever
Even when the sex worker leaves the pimp, she may not feel safe or free
That ain't freedom
Being a sex worker under a pimp's control is not true freedom
Take his tax makes you love it
The pimp may force the sex worker to hand over her earnings
Same old trap
The sex worker is stuck in a cycle of exploitation
But ain't you above it?
The song questions whether the sex worker is above being exploited
He'll beat yo ass in public
The pimp may use violence to control the sex worker
Now suck that skinny white pimp dick (suck it)
The pimp may force the sex worker to perform sexual acts
First thing you wake up to
The sex worker's first thought is her pimp
Your pimp
The pimp is everything to the sex worker
Don't forget to pay up to
The sex worker must pay the pimp his cut
He'll keep a bitch in that stable for 50 years
The pimp has an endless supply of women to exploit
He ain't scared of the law or the cops
The pimp is confident he can evade legal consequences
Got em paid off some kind of trade off
The pimp may be bribing law enforcement to turn a blind eye
Gonna stay in the pocket
The pimp will keep control of his sex workers
As long as the money stays long and the hands stay strong
The pimp only cares about the money
It's like you don't know a kid
The pimp is immature and lacking in empathy
He's right there in your clothes and hair
The pimp's influence is pervasive and overwhelming
You never gonna let him in your home
The sex worker may fear the pimp too much to let him into her personal life
I can smell his breath on this microphone
The pimp's presence can be felt everywhere
Your lips taste like his dick
The sex worker is still under the pimp's control, even away from him
I can always tell when he's been in your whip
The pimp's influence is detectable in the sex worker's life
Just one in a million trick
The sex worker is one among many in the pimp's control
Now take your ass outside and go talk to your pimp
The song urges the sex worker to confront her pimp
Hey baby I need to change
The song expresses a desire for change and growth
On top of that I need to keep the change
The song wants to keep the progress it makes
Mother fuckers put a filter on my brain
The song bemoans the impact of outside forces on its thinking
All the cigarettes of the world get together and sing...
This line is a non-sequitur and seems to exist for poetic effect only.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDRE BENJAMIN, ANTWAN PATTON, BRIAN LOVING, DAVID SHEATS, GERT BETTENS, JOI GILLIAM, NICHOLAS SHERWOOD, NSILO REDDICK, SARAH BETTENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind