Categories
Atmosphere Videos

Atmosphere – Became video

From October 2011 to January 2012 a music video was collaboratively made for the song “Became” by Atmosphere. The goal was to create an engaging educational experience with students as the focal point. The result, a collaboration story with The Minnesota School of Business, MTS Digital Media Academy, Rhymesayers Entertainment, Visumm Media, Alex Horner Pictures, Hickey Photography, Hanson Creative Group, Justin Staggs, Jeremy Wanek, Tom Okins, Nick Mihalevich, and Cinequipt. Watch the Behind-the-Scenes documentary here: vimeo.com/36282652

Producer: Sam Kovar (MSB)
Director: Nate Maydole (Visumm Media)
Director of Photography: Alex Horner (Alex Horner Pictures)
Art Direction: Kate Hasnon (Hanson Creative Group) and Nicole Nelson (MSB)
Editor: Nate Maydole (Visumm Media)
Visual FX and Design: Jeremy Wanek (MSB Digital Video Alumni)
Concept: Nate Maydole (Visumm Media) and Justin Staggs (Filmmaker)

Categories
Atmosphere Tour Dates

Atmosphere 2012 tour dates Welcome To Minnesota tour

ATMOSPHERE ANNOUNCES ‘WELCOME TO MINNESOTA” TOUR

This February, Rhymesayers and Atmosphere bring you the Second Annual “Welcome To Minnesota Tour”. With performances from Atmosphere, Kill The Vultures, Big Quarters, MaLLy and DJ sets throughout the night from BK-One. Join these artists as they tour throughout their home state of Minnesota. The tour begins February 20th in Mankato and makes subsequent stops in Bemidji, Minneapolis, Duluth, Rochester & St. Cloud. Last year all of the shows sold out in advance so make sure you get your tickets early!

Tickets for the “Welcome To Minnesota Tour” go on sale Friday, December 16th at 11:00AM CST and are available through Ticketmaster. Tickets for the Minneapolis, Duluth and St. Cloud shows are also available at Fifth Element (2411 Hennepin Ave S, Mpls, MN | 612.377.0044) in Uptown.

WELCOME TO MINNESOTA TOUR
Atmosphere
Kill The Vultures
Big Quarters
MaLLy
BK-One

2.20 – Mankato, MN – Verizon Wireless Center Ballroom
2.21 – Bemidji, MN – Sanford Center Ballroom
2.22 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
2.23 – Duluth, MN – Clyde Iron Works
2.25 – Rochester, MN – Mayo Civic Center Auditorium
2.26 – St. Cloud, MN – Atwood Center Ballroom @ SCSU

Categories
Atmosphere Reviews

Review: Atmosphere live at Stubb’s

Atmosphere performed at Stubb’s, Monday, May 2 in Austin, Texas. Opening for the indie rapper were other Rhymesayers members, including DJ Abilities, Sab the Artist, Grieves and Budo and Blueprint.

Gregory Keltgen, better known as DJ Abilities, is well known in the Midwest for being one of the best battle DJs in the local scene. Along with working with the late Eyedea in Eyedea and Abilities Keltgen has made a name for himself as a talented DJ. Sab the Artist brings hip hop back to the age of just having fun. Originally starting off with the name Beyond Sab co-founded Rhymesayers Entertainment and has helped in making the label what it is today.

Grieves and Budo are a duo that pushes the boundaries of hip hop. Multi-instrumentalist Budo provides soulful horns, keys and guitar, while Grieves raps about the difficulties and joys of being on the road and back at home. Blueprint is a critically acclaimed rapper who has released his latest album Adventures in Counter-Culture. Blueprint manages to remain innovative, combining synths, keyboards, drum machines and his own unique rapping ability to create something that is fresh and enjoyable.

Atmosphere should be a name that everyone knows. Take a listen to songs such as “Say Hey There” or “Trying to Find a Balance,” and you will understand why Atmosphere is at the forefront of independent hip hop. Comprised of rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ Ant (Anthony Davis), along with touring members Erick Anderson (keyboards) and Nate Collins (guitar), Atmosphere is a combination of Slug’s introspective rapping style and the soulful sounds of contributing band members.

Sab and his brother and DJ Ganzobean got the party started.  Charismatic, fun and enjoyable Sab had people moving along to his rhymes. Sampling Grizzly Bear’s “Two Weeks,” “Lookin’ at Girls” was a nice treat as Sab rapped about how he cannot stop looking at girls. Sab the Artist started off the night right with their good-natured rhymes and party-friendly beats.

In between sets was DJ Abilities, who combined samples from Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya,” Beastie Boy’s “Paul Revere” and the ever so famous “Bed Intruder” song. Fans were impressed by DJ Abilities’ turn tabling and mixing of fan-favorite samples.

Grieves and Budo immediately pulled everyone in as they started with “Bloody Poetry.” Producing soulful keyboard and trumpet sounds Budo was switching instruments every second while Grieves laid down his rhymes.

Following Grieves and Budo was Blueprint who kept the energy high. Playing songs off his latest album, Blueprint had the crowd going absolutely wild with synth-heavy songs such as “Automatic.” Add in a bass player and a DJ, and you have an even more enjoyable performance. Blueprint’s performance became even better as he strapped on a keytar and went into “So Alive.” Showing off his skills as a keytarist, Blueprint moved around while singing “so so alive” during the chorus. Smiling at the audience Blueprint began playing “Radio-Inactive” on the keyboards. “So thank God for every fan, every single listener,” rapped Blueprint as he pointed out to everyone in the audience, the crowd producing a loud scream that brought an even larger smile to Blueprint’s face.

Up next was the one and only Atmosphere who began the show with “Until the Nipples Gone.” Instantly everyone was jumping and clapping as Slug and the rest of the group immediately took control of the audience. “Hello Austin, Texas. It’s Atmosphere,” yelled Slug. Going into “Between the Lines,” Slug had everyone saying the chorus.

“I like when the lights are low, because I can’t see any of you. We are all the same,” said Slug as the group went into “Sunshine.” The group did not miss anything, and Slug’s rhymes and charisma only made this fan-favorite song that much more enjoyable.

Slug then threw another one at us; Anderson and Collins played some improvisational parts before laying down the groove to “Puppets.” “Cut those strings,” yelled Slug as he went into the first verse.

Keeping the energy up Anderson started playing the piano part for “God Loves Ugly,” and the crowd yelled. Ant was bobbing his head and really getting into it with one cigarette in mouth. “God loves ugly,” shouted the audience as Slug smiled. “Go to sleep my little time bomb,” yelled Slug as the lights dimmed and the crowd continued screaming.

“Y’all are too live for me. I’m actually intimidated now,” said Slug. With Ant and Anderson walking offstage, Slug and Collins went into “Guarantees.” “My shorty got caught smokin’ weed at a concert, Nicki Minaj is a mother effin’ monster,” rhymed Slug smoothly and without thought, making audience members laugh at his reference.

“Right now we are all a community. We are family. You came here tonight to take your mind off problems and have a good time. It’s a beautiful thing” said Slug as the group went into “Lovelife.”

Yelling “Atmosphere” and “Slug,” the group came back onstage and gave an encore that left the audience satisfied. Collins started off “Trying to Find a Balance” with the whole group following suit. “In the days of Kings and Queens, I was a jester,” sang Slug as everyone in the audience and the balcony replied with, “treat me like a God, oh they treat me like a leper,” during the chorus.

Ending their performance with “Yesterday,” Atmosphere could not have chosen a better song. Intimate, heart-felt and perfect, Slug’s delivery was just like how it is on the recording. Sending chills down my back Anderson’s piano part was right-on, its soulful, happy sound underneath Slug’s rhymes about missing his father. “I thought I saw you yesterday, but i knew it wasn’t you, cause you passed away, Dad,” rhymed Slug with so much conviction it could be felt.

From working at a record store and doing overnight shifts to support his son to playing sold-out venues, Slug’s experiences can be followed through his music. Knowing that he would not be where he is without the support of his fans, Slug makes sure that every one of his fans gets either a picture or a handshake. “Get ready to have fun tonight,” said Slug as fans entered Stubb’s, a smile on his face as he walked up to fans who wanted a hug, picture or both. This is what makes Atmosphere great.

Creating enjoyable music, giving their fans a good show and actually interacting with their fans is what made their performance much more intimate and entertaining. As Slug said, “we are all family.” The faces of teenagers and adults smiling as they exited Stubb’s shows that Atmosphere did not disappoint their “family” in Austin. Atmosphere is the life of the party, regardless of bad weather.

Categories
Atmosphere Reviews

Atmosphere – The Family Sign album review

“Sign of a man; Sean Daley”

With their 7th studio album release, producer Anthony Davis better known as ‘Ant’ and rapper Sean Daley who goes by the alias ‘Slug’ combine with guitarist Nate Collis and keyboardist Erick Anderson for a more powerful expression in the sonic realm. Addressing more complicated and personal topics with a fuller, deeper sound, Family Sign represents a huge bound forward artistically.

A major difference noticed is the lack of traditionally sampled beats that were often used on other albums. The instrumentation sounds much more original and cohesive with the blending of guitar, keyboard, and drum machine; Atmosphere has evolved completely into a full-fledged band. The result is a much more emotionally charged resonance of music and lyrics that work together harmoniously like the Flinstone family car. The touching piano melodies and soulful guitar riffs in My Notes and Your Name Here are testimonies to the group’s musical evolution.

The lyrical progression of ‘Slug’ sets the album far apart from the others. For fourteen tracks, Sean Daley composes a creative dissertation on a multitude of life’s challenging subjects, and from a new perspective; Sean is recently married, a father, and quickly escaping his thirties. By no means does this entail a ‘toned down’ version of the heavy themed lyricist out of Minneapolis. If anything, it adds wood to the fire. With a solidified self-understanding and confidence, Sean deals intimately and provocatively with abusive relationships, bankrupt friendships, love, loss, and everything in between with a sincere passion and security about his place in the world, and the music industry.

This has not always been the case. Sean has expressed his displeasure with the original Atmosphere album Overcast, refusing to ever play some of the songs, alluding that he was in an emotional tug of war with his identity, and trying to prove his legitimacy as a rapper. Now the proof is in the pudding. Songs like My Notes and I Don’t Need Brighter Days demonstrate the heights of his lyrical growth, and satisfaction with himself as an artist.

Through a beautiful mix of upbeat beats and melancholy melody, Family Sign introduces us to Sean Daley the man, Atmosphere as a collective and unified band, and a bright future for one of the longest standing hip-hop groups there is. This musical family affair shows definite signs of good things to come.

Categories
Atmosphere Videos

Atmosphere – She’s Enough

Artist: Atmosphere
Song: “She’s Enough”
Produced by: Ant
Mixtape: The Family Sign
Directed by: Dave Wilson

Categories
Atmosphere Press Releases

ATMOSPHERE RELEASE ‘THE FAMILY SIGN’ ALBUM AND PREMIERE VIDEO TODAY ON MTV VIDEO FOR THE SINGLE ‘SHE’S ENOUGH’ PREMIERES ON MTV

ATMOSPHERE RELEASE ‘THE FAMILY SIGN’ ALBUM AND PREMIERE VIDEO TODAY ON MTV VIDEO FOR THE SINGLE ‘SHE’S ENOUGH’ PREMIERES ON MTV

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “SHE’S ENOUGH” HERE

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“He’s finally found a satisfying hip-hop hybrid- with longtime collaborator Ant and a spare-but-flexible keyboard/guitar lineup- matched to a set of lyrics that at least feel like his most personal revelations yet.” – ALTERNATIVE PRESS

“No longer the self-obsessed antihero, Slug continues his shift to serious storyteller…” – SPIN

Atmosphere, the staunchly independent Minneapolis hip-hop group comprised of MC Slug and producer Ant, celebrate the release of The Family Sign on Rhymesayers Entertainment today. Here Slug touches on themes of fatherhood, loss, love, disappointment and jubilation and tailors them to the instrumental framework provided by Ant and keyboardist Erick Anderson and guitarist Nate Collis. Lyrically, The Family Sign is evidence that hip-hop wields the ultimate potential to discuss life’s virtues and shortcomings. The Rhymesayers camp, and Atmosphere in particular, have emerged as an industry anomaly, selling over two hundred thousand copies of 2008’s When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, an accomplishment for any artist. Slug and Ant have united a body of devoted fans that religiously subscribe to the idea that creativity, as a microcosm for life in general, is a give and take, counterbalanced and anchored by appreciation for ones friends, family, and audience. This philosophy is what The Family Sign embodies, and it’s the key to the tremendous legacy that Atmosphere continues to establish.

THE FAMILY SIGN TRACK LISTING
My Key
The Last to Say
Became
Just For Show
She’s Enough
Bad Bad Daddy
Millenium Dodo
Who I’ll Never Be
I Don’t Need Brighter Days
Ain’t Nobody
Your Name Here
If You Can Save Me Now
Something So
My Notes

Categories
Atmosphere Videos

Atmosphere – She’s Enough video [Sneak Peek]

Atmosphere – She’s Enough video [Sneak Peek]

The latest single and video off of Atmosphere’s upcoming album The Family Sign dropping 04.12.11!

Directed by: Siddiq Sayers
Shot by: Skye Rossi
Edited: Jesse Cairnie / Dave W

Categories
Atmosphere Press Releases Tour Dates

Soundset 2011 Announces Full Lineup Including Atmosphere, Big Boi & De La Soul

Soundset 2011 Announces Full Lineup Including Atmosphere, Big Boi & De La Soul

General On Sale is Friday, April 1, 2011 at 11:00AM local time

Rhymesayers Entertainment and Rose Presents bring you the fourth annual Soundset Festival: the official Midwest kick-off of the summer with nine hours of the best independent Hip Hop music in one day. It all goes down at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN (rain or shine).

Confirmed artists for Soundset 2011 include:Atmosphere, Big Boi, De La Soul, Slaughterhouse (Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Royce da 5’9″, Crooked I), Brother Ali, Doomtree (P.O.S, Dessa, Sims, Cecil Otter, Mike Mictlan, Lazerbeak, Papertiger), Evidence x Rakaa-Iriscience x DJ Babu, Mac Miller, Curren$y, Blueprint, Grieves & Budo, Zion I & The Grouch, Sab The Artist, DJ Abilities, Face Candy, Edan with special guest Paten Locke, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Looptroop Rockers, Rubberoom, Soulcrate Music, 2Mex, Mr. Gene Poole, Qwazaar, Longshot, MaLLy, Desdamona, Duenday, Midwest Konnect, Rocky Diamonds, Stage One, Shortkut, Noam The Drummer, Exile, Maseo, Skeme Richards, Kid Cut Up and Espada. Hosted by Toki Wright, Carnage and Kevin Beacham.

In 2010, Rhymesayers and Rose Presents produced the third year of Soundset to an outdoor festival setting at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN with over 18,000 people in attendance, including: two stages with over 40 artists performing, B-Boy battles, MC battle, live DJs, live artists painting, skateboard demos and a custom car show. Soundset 2011 is expected to be even bigger this year!

“The biggest indie-rap festival of the year…” URB.com

After their sold out To All My Friends and Welcome to Minnesota tours Atmosphere returns this year to the Soundset mainstage in support of their upcoming April 12th album releaseThe Family Sign. On the heels of his highly successful and critically acclaimed release Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, Big Boi, one half of superstar combo Outkast, brings his legendary live show and catalog to the Twin Cities for one of the best hip hop sets you’ll see all year. Slaughterhouse, including the full lineup of Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Royce da 5’9″ & Crooked I perform together in Minnesota for the first time in 2 years! Referred to as “one of independent Rap’s strongest voices” by HipHopDX, Brother Ali will once again deliver his raw emotion on the main stage. Fly Society founder and Jet Life CEO Curren$y makes his Soundset debut. Soundset veteran Blueprint takes the stage in support of his upcoming April 5th release Adventures in Counter-Culture! Named one of XXL Magazine’s “2011 Freshmen,” Mac Miller makes his Minnesota debut performance at Soundset. Doomtree returns with the entire crew for their first mainstage performance. In support of his upcoming Rhymesayers debut release Cat & Dogs, Evidence teams up with Rakaa-Iriscience, hot off his new release Crown of Thorns and DJ Babu to bring you a special combined set showcasing their solo efforts while giving fans some Dilated classics as well. And this year we’re proud to announce a first ever De La Soul Soundset performance. Whether young or old this iconic hip hop group’s performance will be a favorite of the year!

With options of two stages delivering over 40 artists performing nine hours of diverse music, an expanded B-Boy/B-Girl DJ tent which includes the newly added Red Bull EmSee Battle, live painting exhibit, skate demo area, Soundset custom car show and a special Last of the Record Buyers production showcase, Soundset 2011 is guaranteed to provide fun for the whole family!

Tickets are on sale Friday, April 1, 2011 at 11:00AM local time to the general public through www.ticketweb.com and Fifth Element. General admission tickets are $38 ($3 facility fee and parking are included in ticket price), VIP options are also available!

SOUNDSET FESTIVAL 2011
Date: Sunday, May 29, 2011 – Gates at 11:00AM CST
Location: Canterbury Park – Shakopee, MN

Categories
Atmosphere Media

Atmosphere – She’s Enough song audio

Atmosphere – She’s Enough song audio

Atmosphere for your ears/eyes- “She’s Enough” is the 2nd song off The Family Sign which drops April 12th on Rhymesayers

Categories
Atmosphere Press Releases Tour Dates

ATMOSPHERE DEBUTS VIDEO FOR NEW SONG “JUST FOR SHOW” ON MTV

ATMOSPHERE DEBUTS VIDEO FOR NEW SONG “JUST FOR SHOW” ON MTV

NEW STUDIO ALBUM THE FAMILY SIGN DUE APRIL 12 ON RHYMESAYERS ENTERTAINMENT

“THE FAMILY TOUR” SPANS U.S. AND CANADA, PLAYING LARGEST VENUES TO DATE

A video for Atmosphere’s new song “Just For Show” premiered this morning on MTV. Featuring Chloe the Golden Retriever in a performance praised by MTV, who says, “Not since ‘Cool Dog’ have we seen a dog express such an array of emotions in front of a camera.” Check it out here:

The preeminent independent hip-hop group reasserts their status as legends of the genre with the release of their most realized, streamlined effort to date, The Family Sign, due April 12th on Rhymesayers Entertainment. The album is available to preorder here.

This April Atmosphere will embark on a 21-date US and Canadian. The group, comprised of MC Slug and producer Ant, will be accompanied by keyboardist Erick Anderson and guitarist Nate Collis as well as label-mates Blueprint, Grieves with Budo, Sab The Artist & DJ Abilities. A notable stop of the excursion (and the group’s largest headlining performance to date) will take place at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA and will include the addition of Aesop Rock with Rob Sonic & DJ Big Wiz.

“THE FAMILY TOUR” DATES
04.20.11 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
04.21.11 – Munhall, PA @ Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
04.22.11 – S. Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
04.23.11 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
04.24.11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
04.26.11 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
04.27.11 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
04.28.11 – Richmond, VA @ The National
04.29.11 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
04.30.11 – Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco
05.02.11 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s BBQ
05.04.11 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
05.05.11 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater
05.06.11 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
05.07.11 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
05.09.11 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
05.10.11 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
05.12.11 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall
05.13.11 – Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room
05.14.11 – Saskatoon, SK @ The Odeon
05.17.11 – Boulder, Co @ Fox Theatre

What the press is saying:

“Slug has matured into one of hip-hops best performers … Slug might sing about being scared of success but it hasn’t stopped him from achieving it.”- LOS ANGELES TIMES

“With passionate inflection and pristine delivery, Slug toggles neatly among the poetic, preachy, and provocative, sometimes hitting all at once.”- ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“A guy this talented deserves to achieve his goal to ‘build a home outta syllables.'” – SPIN

“In this era of the hip hop anti-hero, there’s no more unlikely candidate for universal stardom in the rap game than a gangly kid from Minneapolis.” – XLR8R

“One can feel Atmosphere loosening modern hip-hop from its moorings and yanking it into some weirder and far more interesting place.”- ROLLING STONE

“With a mix of introspection, sarcasm and passion – when slug raps it sounds as if he is forcing sweat from his eyes – Atmosphere has never sounded as pointed and focused” – BILLBOARD MAGAZINE