miguel_myriad
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It is perhaps a testament to the widespread appeal of Minneapolis based hip hop duo Atmosphere that they were the first such act to sign to the punk/hardcore dominated label Epitaph. Atmosphere and Brother Ali play together for the "3 The Hard Way" Tour. Slug, Ant and Brother Ali will perform on stage together presenting a collaboration set in support of their latest albums. Brother Ali's, "The Undisputed Truth", and Atmosphere's, "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold". You'll find Slug and Ant's storytelling, song-writing and musicality at it's finest.
"One can feel Atmosphere loosening modern hip-hop from its moorings and yanking it into some weirder and far more interesting place." - ROLLING STONE
“After their last album went indie triple platinum, these guys got offers from every major label in the business, but the chose to sign to Epitaph just to prove how punk rock they are. Ant's got beats, Mr. Dibb's got skills, Slug's the nicest guy in the world and the ladies, they love him.” - Vice
POD Concerts presents
ATMOSPHERE AND BROTHER ALI
Support: Kids in the Hall, DJ Flip
Friday June 20th
CrawDaddy – Harcourt St – Dublin 2.
Doors – 11pm
Tickets €20 (inc. booking fee) available from Ticketmaster, Road Records, City Discs, Sound Cellar and usual outlets. www.ticketmaster.ie
www.myspace.com/atmosphere
www.myspace.com/brotheral#
ATMOSPHERE
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. Since releasing their 1997 debut, Overcast!, Ant's ASR-born melodic beats and Slug's open book and observational style of rapping continues to evolve into hip-hop that's more honest - more textured. And the praise for these Rhymesayers pioneers hasn't stopped flowing in.
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, When Life Gives You Lemons... is entirely based around fictional narratives that deal with societal issues - many, which revolve around the theme of parenthood. To accompany the release, the album comes with a 40 page hard cover book that includes a children's story by Slug in addition to all of the lyrics. And this was done in part to celebrate Slug's growth as a writer.
"This time around I really did force myself to try and write these stories as if I was writing a book or short stories and just trying to figure out how to put them into music," says Slug.
The song that got this whole album started is "In Her Music Box" - the tale of a young girl who sits in the back seat of her wannabe pimp of a father's car, absorbing the explicit raps she hears coming out of the speakers. The song is not so much about neglect as it is examining the dichotomy between a young, inexperienced father and his impressionable child. As Slug says of the track, "The main point of it was to look at and speculate on how children at that age learn the art of escapism that as adults sets up for self-medicating and self-abuse."
Another vital track on the album is "Shoulda Known," which also touches on parenthood in the context of examining poor decision making and how crucial it is to think beyond the present. With songs like these, Slug proves that his best work isn't necessarily the most revealing. And if you ask him, making an album with Ant completely comprised of fictional content sure helped get all of the real life characters from his former verbal journals off his back.
"Every record I put out you can guarantee there's going to be about five people that are going to call me and e-mail me and go, 'I can't believe you fuckin' said that on your record! I can't believe you fuckin' told people about that!' This time around, nobody can call me out on that."
BROTHER ALI
Brother Ali has no reservations in saying that he's "trying to be one of the greatest of all time" (on the Molemen track "Life Sentence"). Inspired by golden era legends like KRS-One and Rakim, this undisputed Master of Ceremony began rapping as a means of survival.
Growing up albino (colorless hair, skin and eyes, poor vision, and extreme sensitivity to the sun) in a world of cruel kids made it strikingly obvious to Ali that he needed a high-powered way to earn some respect and prestige among his peers. As a result, ever since elementary school he hasn't slowed down with his lyrical grind. In his rare moments of silence these days, if you catch his eyes, you'll notice that this Minneapolis denizen is rapping in his head. For Ali, hip-hop doesn't stop when he exits the studio or stage.
Around the turn of the millennium, Rhymesayers Entertainment couldn't overlook Ali's talent and drive when he submitted his self-produced demo, Rites of Passage. This rare, cassette-only effort features collections of rhymes, poems, and stories that he wove into his live sets. Its release help make him a welcome member of the RSE family alongside Atmosphere, Musab, and Eyedea and Abilities.
Before returning to the lab, Ali kicked his way onto the battle circuit and even wound up facing off with fellow RSE rep Eyedea at the 2000 Scribble Jam festival in Cincinnati. Ali beat battle champ Eyedea, but didn't take home the trophy. Nonetheless, the MC collected his props and headed back to the Twin Cities, ready to record his official debut, Shadows On The Sun.
By no means a mixtape act, Ali focuses his energies on making complete records that will stand the test of time. This became clear on Shadows, the album that left critics and hip-hop kids alike stunned. As the Village Voice raved, "When Ali raps...I can't do anything but sit and stare at my stereo, engrossed by the raw emotion and tricky wordplay." Released in the spring of 2003, this breakout effort produced by ANT of Atmosphere saw Ali present himself as a "modern urban Normal Rockwell" who's a "cross between John Gotti and Mahatma Gandhi." Indeed, Ali painted vivid portraits of inner city plight on the fiery single "Room With A View" and showed the world that you can stand your ground without always resorting to violence on the uplifting track, "Win Some Lose Some".
Since the release of Shadows, Ali has become just as revered for his performances, in which the MC takes audiences through heavy passionate ballads to high-energy crescendos and back. Among his 500-plus shows, Ali has shared stages with the likes of Atmosphere, Brand Nubian, Rakim, MF Doom, and Murs throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. And he hasn't been limited to playing clubs and concert halls as he has participated in renowned music festivals like Coachella, Sweden's Hultsfred and the Eurokeenes Festival in France.
Following the release of Champion in the spring of 2004, Ali ran into a number of roadblocks that halted his usually steady recording process. This included him parting ways with his wife, being homeless, and trying to secure custody of his son. Armed with a wave of stories to share, Ali recorded The Undisputed Truth, once again with ANT in his corner. Due out Spring 2007 on Rhymesayers, Ali's second full-length sees him dig deeper into his life experiences ("Walking Away") and political views ("Uncle Sam Goddamn") than ever before.
As he ponders, "How does it feel to have to walk away from a ten-year marriage with a child? You got a six-year-old boy and he's your life. How does it feel to look him in the eye and explain to him that you're breaking up his home? The music and the sound of my voice and the way I'm describing the situations and emotions involved should make you feel like you're in my shoes at that moment. That's The Undisputed Truth."
"One can feel Atmosphere loosening modern hip-hop from its moorings and yanking it into some weirder and far more interesting place." - ROLLING STONE
“After their last album went indie triple platinum, these guys got offers from every major label in the business, but the chose to sign to Epitaph just to prove how punk rock they are. Ant's got beats, Mr. Dibb's got skills, Slug's the nicest guy in the world and the ladies, they love him.” - Vice
POD Concerts presents
ATMOSPHERE AND BROTHER ALI
Support: Kids in the Hall, DJ Flip
Friday June 20th
CrawDaddy – Harcourt St – Dublin 2.
Doors – 11pm
Tickets €20 (inc. booking fee) available from Ticketmaster, Road Records, City Discs, Sound Cellar and usual outlets. www.ticketmaster.ie
www.myspace.com/atmosphere
www.myspace.com/brotheral#
ATMOSPHERE
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. Since releasing their 1997 debut, Overcast!, Ant's ASR-born melodic beats and Slug's open book and observational style of rapping continues to evolve into hip-hop that's more honest - more textured. And the praise for these Rhymesayers pioneers hasn't stopped flowing in.
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, When Life Gives You Lemons... is entirely based around fictional narratives that deal with societal issues - many, which revolve around the theme of parenthood. To accompany the release, the album comes with a 40 page hard cover book that includes a children's story by Slug in addition to all of the lyrics. And this was done in part to celebrate Slug's growth as a writer.
"This time around I really did force myself to try and write these stories as if I was writing a book or short stories and just trying to figure out how to put them into music," says Slug.
The song that got this whole album started is "In Her Music Box" - the tale of a young girl who sits in the back seat of her wannabe pimp of a father's car, absorbing the explicit raps she hears coming out of the speakers. The song is not so much about neglect as it is examining the dichotomy between a young, inexperienced father and his impressionable child. As Slug says of the track, "The main point of it was to look at and speculate on how children at that age learn the art of escapism that as adults sets up for self-medicating and self-abuse."
Another vital track on the album is "Shoulda Known," which also touches on parenthood in the context of examining poor decision making and how crucial it is to think beyond the present. With songs like these, Slug proves that his best work isn't necessarily the most revealing. And if you ask him, making an album with Ant completely comprised of fictional content sure helped get all of the real life characters from his former verbal journals off his back.
"Every record I put out you can guarantee there's going to be about five people that are going to call me and e-mail me and go, 'I can't believe you fuckin' said that on your record! I can't believe you fuckin' told people about that!' This time around, nobody can call me out on that."
BROTHER ALI
Brother Ali has no reservations in saying that he's "trying to be one of the greatest of all time" (on the Molemen track "Life Sentence"). Inspired by golden era legends like KRS-One and Rakim, this undisputed Master of Ceremony began rapping as a means of survival.
Growing up albino (colorless hair, skin and eyes, poor vision, and extreme sensitivity to the sun) in a world of cruel kids made it strikingly obvious to Ali that he needed a high-powered way to earn some respect and prestige among his peers. As a result, ever since elementary school he hasn't slowed down with his lyrical grind. In his rare moments of silence these days, if you catch his eyes, you'll notice that this Minneapolis denizen is rapping in his head. For Ali, hip-hop doesn't stop when he exits the studio or stage.
Around the turn of the millennium, Rhymesayers Entertainment couldn't overlook Ali's talent and drive when he submitted his self-produced demo, Rites of Passage. This rare, cassette-only effort features collections of rhymes, poems, and stories that he wove into his live sets. Its release help make him a welcome member of the RSE family alongside Atmosphere, Musab, and Eyedea and Abilities.
Before returning to the lab, Ali kicked his way onto the battle circuit and even wound up facing off with fellow RSE rep Eyedea at the 2000 Scribble Jam festival in Cincinnati. Ali beat battle champ Eyedea, but didn't take home the trophy. Nonetheless, the MC collected his props and headed back to the Twin Cities, ready to record his official debut, Shadows On The Sun.
By no means a mixtape act, Ali focuses his energies on making complete records that will stand the test of time. This became clear on Shadows, the album that left critics and hip-hop kids alike stunned. As the Village Voice raved, "When Ali raps...I can't do anything but sit and stare at my stereo, engrossed by the raw emotion and tricky wordplay." Released in the spring of 2003, this breakout effort produced by ANT of Atmosphere saw Ali present himself as a "modern urban Normal Rockwell" who's a "cross between John Gotti and Mahatma Gandhi." Indeed, Ali painted vivid portraits of inner city plight on the fiery single "Room With A View" and showed the world that you can stand your ground without always resorting to violence on the uplifting track, "Win Some Lose Some".
Since the release of Shadows, Ali has become just as revered for his performances, in which the MC takes audiences through heavy passionate ballads to high-energy crescendos and back. Among his 500-plus shows, Ali has shared stages with the likes of Atmosphere, Brand Nubian, Rakim, MF Doom, and Murs throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. And he hasn't been limited to playing clubs and concert halls as he has participated in renowned music festivals like Coachella, Sweden's Hultsfred and the Eurokeenes Festival in France.
Following the release of Champion in the spring of 2004, Ali ran into a number of roadblocks that halted his usually steady recording process. This included him parting ways with his wife, being homeless, and trying to secure custody of his son. Armed with a wave of stories to share, Ali recorded The Undisputed Truth, once again with ANT in his corner. Due out Spring 2007 on Rhymesayers, Ali's second full-length sees him dig deeper into his life experiences ("Walking Away") and political views ("Uncle Sam Goddamn") than ever before.
As he ponders, "How does it feel to have to walk away from a ten-year marriage with a child? You got a six-year-old boy and he's your life. How does it feel to look him in the eye and explain to him that you're breaking up his home? The music and the sound of my voice and the way I'm describing the situations and emotions involved should make you feel like you're in my shoes at that moment. That's The Undisputed Truth."
