Guest Blogger: Jacob 2

Atmosphere is an underground hip/hop group from Minneapolis. The group has included many different members but the main members are emcee Slug (Sean Daley) and producer Ant (Anthony Davis). Atmosphere has been one of the most successful independent hip/hop groups since there first album called Overcast! which was released in 1997. The group has been offered many major recorded deals but has chosen to stay on the independent label Ryhmsayers which is also based out of Minneapolis. Atmosphere built their name nationally by touring constantly to get there name out there and reach fans. Atmosphere in there early days once traveled from Minneapolis to Dallas to play for $250. Atmosphere’s songs are mostly based on day to day struggles such as girls, your job, and drugs/ alcohol. The early Atmosphere was often depressed about these things but there latest albums are a lot more optimistic. Atmosphere can be compared to artists like Brother Ali and Murs. Murs and Slug also made a series of albums together called Felt. Slug is really just a poet over Ants beats, for example the song “The Skinny” which sounds like a song about pimping is really a metaphor for his cigarette addiction. The song “Gods Bathroom Floor” paints a picture of what drug addiction is like. Slug also makes a lot of fictional story songs that relate to his life. In my opinion Slug is one of the best song writers to ever live in any generation of music. Overall I would agree with critics that say Atmosphere is one of the best underground hip/hop artists over the last ten years. I would say any Atmosphere albums are definitely worth the time and money. If you are sick of the same commercialized hip/hop that you hear on the radio then I would definitely pick up some Atmosphere albums.