Atmosphere At The Komedia
Published 6th Jun 2008 by Chris Challis

Atmosphere, American underground indie rap artists Ant and Slug, appeal not only to die-hard hip hop heads but also to indie rockers and punks, having recently signed to seminal punk label Epitaph - proof that Ant's ASR-born melodic beats and Slug's open book and observational style of rapping continues to evolve into hip-hop that's breaking down barriers.

Eleven years after becoming the first hip-hop act to put the Twin Cities on the map, Atmosphere has grown into one of the most accomplished MC/producer duos around. Between Slug and Ant, they’ve released six albums, 11 Sad Clown tour albums and various side-projects like Felt — amounting in well over a million units sold. And along the way have performed to sold-out crowds everywhere from modest sized venues in their hometown to colossal festivals in Japan.

As Rolling Stone once gushed about Slug, “This Minneapolis indie rap hero has potential to spare, delivering taut, complex rhyme narratives with everyman earnestness.” Or as the Village Voice once wrote of Ant, “His dusty grooves are hooky and R&B-informed, and even when they back up Slug's most maniacally depressed rhymes, they never feel heavy-handed.”

While Slug’s name has become synonymous with introspective rap, the new revelatory recording process with Ant inspired the MC to open up his subject matter well beyond his own life. In fact, brand new album When Life Gives You Lemons… is entirely based around fictional narratives that deal with societal issues – many, which revolve around the theme of parenthood.

Support comes from special guest Brother Ali.

ATMOSPHERE visit Komedia on Thursday 19 June at 9pm. Tickets are £10 adv available on-line or from the Box Office on 01273 647100 (booking fees apply).

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