However Atmosphere wasn’t my first introduction to this ‘underground’ hip-hop scene. I thank my brothers for Immortal Technique, Dose One, Buck 65, MC Paul Barman, and Aesop Rock back when I was just in middle school. But not one of those artists stuck with me as hard and as consistently as this crucial duo. Sean has a versatile voice that can really be manipulated by the varying beats produced by Ant. Slug can sound aggressive in certain songs, like “F*ck You Lucy”, but there is still an inflection of sadness that you can hear behind everything he raps. I probably quote Sean Daley more than any other rapper. He has insightful one-liners and hits all the different aspects of a struggle. A lot of slug’s ‘real-talk’ rapping comes from his infamous heartbreak from Lucy. Which everyone can try to relate to. If you’ve been through a tough break-up (again my sappiness shines) the entire “God Loves Ugly” album and the “Lucy Ford” album are for you. In “Song about a Friend” he claims he has a sickness and it feels like love. Slug’s verses deal with the hate he has, how he’s just losing it, how he wishes she was still here, and then touches on the move on, “Love Life”.
I like Atmopshere because of their relate-ability and their overwhelming sadness at times. They use a lot of opening dialogue before the song begins that I really enjoy because it makes you feel like you’ve got an ‘in’ with Atmosphere and they’re you’re boys from back home. While Slug may be rapping about his extreme heartache Ant normally keeps all beats fairly up. When I hear Atmosphere I feel I should be walkin’ down the street kickin it to this music, high-fivin’ kids jump roping and playing hop scotch. Cause there is heartache and you have to deal with that in this world. But you can’t let any of that hold you back or contain you in anyway. So listen to these uplifting beats and enjoy your surroundings. “When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint that Sh*t Gold”.