Atmosphere Concerts Tickets

ABOUT ATMOSPHERE

Hip-hop duo Atmosphere was formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1996 and consists of rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ/producer Ant (Anthony Davis).

CAREER

1996-1997: Beginnings and Rhymesayers

Sean Daley and Derek Turner, aka Slug and D-Spawn, met while attending Washburn High School and began rapping together, performing under the names Mental Subjects, A Rhythmic Culture, and Urban Atmosphere. Initially, Spawn rapped and Slug was their DJ but D-Spawn convinced him to begin rapping too. Through their mutual rapper friend Musab (then known as Beyond), Slug and Ant were introduced and the three (Slug, Ant, and Spawn) began recording together, dropping ‘Urban’ from their name.

The trio formed a hip-hop collective alongside rappers Musab, Phull Surkle, Black Hole, and The Abstract Pack, known as Headshots. The collective then evolved to become the record label Rhymesayers when Siddiq, a member of the group, purchased a recording studio having been frustrated at the way the group was treated at other studios.

1997-1999: Oversayers! and Headshots Se7en

Overcast!, the group’s debut studio album, was released on Rhymesayers on August 5, 1997. One of its singles, "Scapegoat," was in heavy rotation on college radio stations, introducing them to a bigger audience. During this time, Spawn left the group, and they became a duo. They performed regularly on the Minneapolis circuit at venues including The Front (Freeloaded), First Avenue, and 7th Street Entry, building a large fanbase.

Atmosphere were involved in two collaborative albums in 1998. The first is The Dynospectrum with Beyond (Musab), Swift (of Phull Surkle), and I Self Divine. They also featured alongside Sole, Alias, and Doseone, with production from Jel, on the album Deep Puddle Dynamics, released by the Oakland, California-based underground rap label Anticon.

The duo’s second album, Headshots Se7en, was released on cassette only in 1999. The album charted on the Billboard 200 and reached number 12 on the Independent Albums chart. Eventually, Headshots Se7en was re-issued on CD in 2005.

2000-2001: Ford and Lucy Ford

Throughout 2000, the duo performed nationally on the twenty-one date Ford One Tour. That year, they released three EPs: Ford One, Ford Two, and The Lucy EP. These sold so well at shows (which was their original purpose) that in 2001 they were combined to make the compilation album Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs. 2001 saw the duo perform on three separate tours across North America and Europe.

2002: God Loves Ugly

Atmosphere’s second studio album, God Loves Ugly, was released on June 11, 2002. The album charted on the Billboard 200 and reached number 43 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its lead single, "Modern Man's Hustle", reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. The album also launched the title track "Godlovesugly" as a single. To promote the album, the duo embarked on an extensive tour that included venues in Europe and Japan and consisted of them playing sixty shows in seventy-one days. The success of the album and tour drew the attention of the major labels Interscope, Sony, and Warner Brothers but the duo decided to remain independent.

2003: Seven’s Travels

Seven’s Travels, Atmosphere’s third full-length studio album, was released on September 23, 2003, through Rhymesayers and the punk label Epitaph. The album launched two singles, "Trying To Find A Balance" and "National Disgrace," both of which received rotation on MTV, bringing them a wider fanbase. The album features an appearance from fellow rapper Brother Ali. "Trying To Find A Balance" was used on the video game Tony Hawk's Underground 2.

2005: You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having

Atmosphere's fourth album, You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having, marked a change of direction from the sound of the previous two albums, focussing on a style that is rawer than their other work. The album was released on October 4, 2005, and reached number 66 on the Billboard 200, as well as topping the Independent Albums chart. A limited-edition bonus disc was released, featuring collaborations with Brother Ali, Blueprint, Grayskul, Boom Bap Project, MF Doom, Felt, P.O.S., and I Self Devine. The album’s opening track, "The Arrival," features on EA Sports' Fight Night Round 3.

2007-2008: The Seasons EPs and Strictly Leakage

Throughout 2007 and 2008, the duo released four EPs continuing their Sad Clown Bad Dub series: Sad Clown Bad Summer 9, Sad Clown Bad Fall 10, Sad Clown Bad Winter 11, and Sad Clown Bad Spring 12. The EPs were particularly popular with their Minneapolis fanbase, who picked up on the many local references throughout the tracks. The song "Sunshine", from the Bad Summer EP, was released as a single and became popular among the band's core fan base, eventually becoming a live show staple. In late 2007, Atmosphere released the mixtape Strictly Leakage as a free download through Rhymesayers Entertainment.

2008-2009: When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold and Leak at Will

On April 22, 2008, the band released the album When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. The album is seen to be a quintessential example of Atmosphere at their best; Ant’s production is synthesizer focussed and Slug began leaning into his storytelling style of rapping. The track "The Waitress" features singer-songwriter Tom Waits, who performs guitar and beatboxes. Their highest-charted record yet, the album reached number five on the Billboard 200 and number 13 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.

The following year, Atmosphere released another free EP, Leak at Will, which contained seven new tracks.

2010: To All My Friends, Blood Makes the Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs

To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs, a compilation album of their most recent EPs, was released in September 2010. It reached number two on iTunes top 10 album downloads during the week of September 11, 2010, and received positive feedback from both fans and critics alike.

2011-2014: The Family Sign and Southsiders

The Family Sign was released in 2011, Atmosphere’s sixth studio album and their first in three years. The album debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200 and also reached number three on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number two on the Independent Albums chart.

On July 2, 2013, Atmosphere released a new single, "Bob Seger". This was followed by "Bitter" on March 10, 2014. Southsiders, their seventh studio album, was released on May 6, 2014, and reached number eight on the Billboard 200. As with their previous album, it reached number three on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number two on the Independent Albums chart. The single "Kanye West" was released on April 8, 2014.

2016-2018: Frida Kahlo vs Ezra Pound, Fishing Blues, and Mi Vida Local

Throughout 2016 and 2017, Atmosphere released seven new songs: "Finer Things" (feat. deM atlaS), "This Lonely Rose" (feat. Blueprint and Aesop Rock), "My Best Half", "Salma Hayek", "Trying to Fly" (feat. Eric Mayson), "Fireflies" (feat. Grieves) and "Windows "(feat. Prof). These were compiled to make the EP Frida Kahlo vs Ezra Pound.

On August 12, 2016, they released the album Fishing Blues, featuring guest appearances from rappers Kool Keith, MF Doom, The Grouch, Aesop Rock, and deM atlaS, as well as artists Kim Manning and I.B.E. It was preceded by the single "No Biggie". The album hit number 22 on the Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Mi Vida Local was released on October 5, 2018, and was supported by the lead single "Virgo", as well as an accompanying 35-date album tour with supporting acts Lioness and Dem Atlas.

2019-present: Whenever, The Day Before Halloween, and Word?

On November 8, 2019, Atmosphere released a new single, "Bde Maka Ska", along with tour dates for 2020. The track is the lead single from their 10th studio album, Whenever, which had a  surprise release via Rhymesayers Entertainment on December 13, 2019.

"Blotter Acid Reflux Syndrome" was released in September 2020 as the lead single of the album The Day Before Halloween, which was released on October 30, 2020.

Atmosphere’s most recent album, Word?, was released on October 8, 2021.