Honesty. That’s the first word that comes to mind when someone mentions Atmosphere, a fiercely independent Hip Hop duo (producer Ant and MC Slug) from Minneapolis whose reputation has grown exponentially (and organically) since its inception more than a decade ago.
Slug’s deft raps leave crass, bling-laden boasting on the sidelines in favor of first person, deeply evocative tales of everyday life. Yet the duo’s latest, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, represents a curious creative shift in which Slug trains his keen lyrical lens on others (waitresses and various small-time strivers) over beats that trade Ant’s dynamic soundscapes for more intimate, sample-free atmospherics.
Slug took time out of the band’s (yes, Atmosphere takes a live band out on the road these days) busy schedule to talk poop, Minneapolis and working with Tom Waits. See the interview here.
Atmosphere headlines Scribble Jam, the annual Hip Hop extravaganza at Annie’s on 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 24.