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Atmosphere
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You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
Rhymesayers Entertainment
Release: 10/04/2005
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Rated:
Review by:
Alana Yorn
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Hard to believe it's been eight years since emcee Slug (Sean
Daley) and Ant (Anthony Davis) formed Atmosphere and
released their debut album Overcast. This
album pioneered Midwest rap by defining Minneapolis hip-
hop. Atmosphere gradually spread the word on their music,
selling it out of vans hand to hand. (If you happen to have
Sad Clown Bad Dub II, hold onto it, it's an
out-of-print collector's item.) They, along with their
Rhymesayers Collective label made a name for Twin Cities
rap. This underground culture is known for using free styling
clever lyrics to explore emotions and put out an anti-gangsta
message.
After a major label (Interscope, Sony and Warner Brothers)
feeding frenzy, they showed their punk rock roots by signing
with Epitaph in 2003. Their fourth studio album,
Seven's Trails, put them at the top of the niche
underground independent rap genre. Whether he wanted the
title or not, Slug had been crowned king of this new genre
known as emo-hop.
You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
hooked me from the first track, "The Arrival." The beats and
rhymes pay tribute to Cypress Hill and LL Cool J, and the
song ends in a musical montage that highlights Ant's
production skills. "Watch Out" mentions KRS-One and Big
Daddy Kane and also takes jabs at modern acts with "I must
be gettin' old cuz the base sounds ridiculous." Track five,
"Say Hey There," really earns the emo title, confronting
dysfunction and drama. Again Ant makes good use of his
skills by blending in a "churchy" harmony and mixing up
tempos. Echoes of The Supremes can be heard in the
background vocals throughout the album, but especially on
"Pour Me Another." "Angel Face" gets a little too preachy for
me, but "That Night" won me back by boldly taking on the
subject of repeat offender child molesters. The last track,
"Little Man" is heartfelt on the passing of the torch between
father and son, rivaling the poignancy of Cat Stevens'
"Father and Son."
With the earnestness of someone much younger, Slug has
the musical range and influences of someone much older
than himself. Hopefully this gangly Minneapolis kid-turned
rap star will take hip hop to many more weird and
interesting places. And if he gets his wish to collaborate with
Tom Waits, I'll be first in line at the record store. |
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