Available now. Not quite the release that started it all for Slug and Ant, but the one that solidified their standing as indie hip hop's best selling group. First released in 2002 on Fat Beats Records, "God Loves Ugly" gets the deluxe reissue treatment courtesy of Rhyme Sayers, with the bonus DVD of the fan-favorite "Sad Clown Bad Dub 4," which hasn't been available for years, as well as an MP3 download card of the album included with the vinyl!
May 6 street date. While Southsiders is a celebration of the group's fortitude, it is also a deeply introspective, and sometimes conflicted, work. "It's a natural progression from the last record, The Family Sign, which was about growing my family," says Slug, now a father to three, who finds himself contemplating mortality. "I'm starting to think, 'What is post family man? What am I supposed to rap about now?' I'm sticking to my roots, rapping about what I'm doing, what I think about. This record is much like the other ones a very detailed look at my life."
May 6 street date. While Southsiders is a celebration of the group's fortitude, it is also a deeply introspective, and sometimes conflicted, work. "It's a natural progression from the last record, The Family Sign, which was about growing my family," says Slug, now a father to three, who finds himself contemplating mortality. "I'm starting to think, 'What is post family man? What am I supposed to rap about now?' I'm sticking to my roots, rapping about what I'm doing, what I think about. This record is much like the other ones a very detailed look at my life."
OCTOBER 23 STREET DATE. Packaging includes plastic LP jacket, custom obi-insert, and a free digital download card. Quantities are limited, and this will not be available again! The Sad Clown Bad Dub series is back, except this time happy? Originally released as a limited promo CD only, Atmosphere’s The Fun EP (Happy Clown Bad Dub 8) is re-packaged and reformatted on vinyl for the first time ever in this 12" smiley face picture disc. Featuring 8 tracks from Slug and Ant, including bonus track "Pretty Broad" as well as alternate versions of "Say Hey There" and "Panic Attack" off of the critically acclaimed 2005 release You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having.
December 9 street date. In the months leading up the new album, Fishing Blues, Atmosphere released a total of seven digital singles. Much to the surprise of their fans, none of these singles appeared on the album, and they remained available only as digital singles… until now. Now packaged together as Frida Kahlo vs. Ezra Pound, these singles are available for the first times as a limited edition 7” boxset and on CD. Featuring guest appearances from Aesop Rock, Blueprint, Grieves, Prof, deM atlaS & Eric Mayson. This 7” boxset contains seven different 7” vinyl, each song featuring individualized artwork by Dave Quiggle printed on full-color vinyl jackets, surrounded by a custom printed hard slipcase including a free digital download card. Each record contains the original track b/w the accompanying instrumental. Guaranteed to be the perfect Holiday gift for any Atmosphere fan. The CD includes all seven tracks, packaged in a slim custom printed digi pak with photos by Dan Monick & illustration by Dave Quiggle. Cover sketches by Kevin MxDermott.
December 9 street date. In the months leading up the new album, Fishing Blues, Atmosphere released a total of seven digital singles. Much to the surprise of their fans, none of these singles appeared on the album, and they remained available only as digital singles… until now. Now packaged together as Frida Kahlo vs. Ezra Pound, these singles are available for the first times as a limited edition 7” boxset and on CD. Featuring guest appearances from Aesop Rock, Blueprint, Grieves, Prof, deM atlaS & Eric Mayson. This 7” boxset contains seven different 7” vinyl, each song featuring individualized artwork by Dave Quiggle printed on full-color vinyl jackets, surrounded by a custom printed hard slipcase including a free digital download card. Each record contains the original track b/w the accompanying instrumental. Guaranteed to be the perfect Holiday gift for any Atmosphere fan. The CD includes all seven tracks, packaged in a slim custom printed digi pak with photos by Dan Monick & illustration by Dave Quiggle. Cover sketches by Kevin MxDermott.
May 15 street date. For over 20 years, Atmosphere have pursued the underbelly of what it means to be human with a rabid curiosity. Ant's dusky production has provided the pulse for Slug's evolving and matter-of-fact pen. As Slug transitioned from throwing-up-in-the-backseat-raps to holding-hands-when-you-cross-the-street-raps, Ant has grown to be a master of crate digging and unearthing the humanity of a drum loop. Thriving at the intersection of guttural and self-effacing, Atmosphere will go down as some of America's best archivists. On "Whenever", the duo continue to move in lockstep. Within the minutiae lie clues they're still struggling with mortality and the need to protect emotional energy, as on previous releases, but there's a quiet romanticism now, with Slug sounding - reluctantly - in love with life. And no other producer can pull truths out of a rapper like Ant fishes the blues out of Slug. The album breathes in the way only Slug and Ant could summon a collective breath. On "Whenever", the duo inhale panic and exhale greatness.
May 15 street date. For over 20 years, Atmosphere have pursued the underbelly of what it means to be human with a rabid curiosity. Ant's dusky production has provided the pulse for Slug's evolving and matter-of-fact pen. As Slug transitioned from throwing-up-in-the-backseat-raps to holding-hands-when-you-cross-the-street-raps, Ant has grown to be a master of crate digging and unearthing the humanity of a drum loop. Thriving at the intersection of guttural and self-effacing, Atmosphere will go down as some of America's best archivists. On "Whenever", the duo continue to move in lockstep. Within the minutiae lie clues they're still struggling with mortality and the need to protect emotional energy, as on previous releases, but there's a quiet romanticism now, with Slug sounding - reluctantly - in love with life. And no other producer can pull truths out of a rapper like Ant fishes the blues out of Slug. The album breathes in the way only Slug and Ant could summon a collective breath. On "Whenever", the duo inhale panic and exhale greatness.
March 12 street date. Initially written and recorded when Atmosphere and fledgling label Rhymesayers Entertainment were still making a name for themselves in the Minneapolis hip-hop scene, "God's Bathroom Floor" was an early standout for the group. Turning heads and drawing new fans in with Slug's introspective raps over producer Stress' hypnotic jazzy beat, the song was performed live frequently, becoming an audience favorite before ever appearing on an actual release. Even then, it was only a live performance they made available, and only on a limited mixtape they released in 1996. It would be another year before the 4-track studio recording would surface on Atmosphere's "Overcast!" EP, a collection of focus tracks promoting their debut full-length album, but "God's Bathroom Floor" never made it onto the album itself and slowly slipped into obscurity from there. Now, in celebration of its 25th anniversary, the original recording has been unearthed, remastered, and pressed on this limited edition 7-inch vinyl. Plus, in a nod to the song's original release as a live version, included is a new live performance of the song, recorded recently in Montreal, mixed and mastered exclusively for this special release.
October 8 street date. Following their last release, "The Day Before Halloween" - an imaginative, distorted-synth-driven concept album - Atmosphere returns with a refreshing new project, simply titled "WORD?". Steering back toward their signature sound, the album further highlights producer Ant's undeniable talents as the project leans into the classic boom-bap aesthetic, bringing a unique energy out of Slug's wisdom, wit and delivery. From onset, "WORD?" proves to be every bit an exercise in refining and advancing their craft as it is a harkening to earlier work. That is, while their releases have grown more broodingly cinematic, and increasingly concerned with the human condition and mortality, "WORD?" manages to reintroduce moments of levity and lightheartedness throughout, an approach seldom heard on their albums of late. Ultimately, "WORD?" pairs the breadth of Atmosphere's talents with the beauty of their growth, all while showing they still have a lot of fun in the process and don't mind letting the listener in on the fun as well.
October 8 street date. Following their last release, "The Day Before Halloween" - an imaginative, distorted-synth-driven concept album - Atmosphere returns with a refreshing new project, simply titled "WORD?". Steering back toward their signature sound, the album further highlights producer Ant's undeniable talents as the project leans into the classic boom-bap aesthetic, bringing a unique energy out of Slug's wisdom, wit and delivery. From onset, "WORD?" proves to be every bit an exercise in refining and advancing their craft as it is a harkening to earlier work. That is, while their releases have grown more broodingly cinematic, and increasingly concerned with the human condition and mortality, "WORD?" manages to reintroduce moments of levity and lightheartedness throughout, an approach seldom heard on their albums of late. Ultimately, "WORD?" pairs the breadth of Atmosphere's talents with the beauty of their growth, all while showing they still have a lot of fun in the process and don't mind letting the listener in on the fun as well.
October 22 street date. "Overcast!" marked the start of a storied career that still shows no signs of slowing. While Slug and original co-member Spawn's rhyme patterns and wordplay may have hinted at some of their influences, their creative songwriting and inventive concepts, paired with Ant's brooding and melodic production, made the album stand apart from its predecessors. Although widely considered an underground classic, the full-length "Overcast!" album was never pressed on vinyl until a limited edition pressing celebrating the album's 20th anniversary in 2017. Now re-packaged and produced for wider distribution, fans everywhere can add this re-mastered masterpiece to their collection. Celebrate Atmosphere's legacy of creative expression with the album that started it all!
October 22 street date. After being out of print for years, Atmosphere's fifth studio album, "You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having", returns on vinyl. Following the breakthrough success of their fourth album, "Seven's Travels", the group returned in 2005, showing impressive growth and inventiveness in their new compositions. Citing inspirations from a list of less-than-expected sources, including Tom Waits, Mark Lanegan, Shawn Phillips, Spoon, The Mars Volta, alopecia, Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, The Beauty Pill, infected wisdom teeth, Craig Finn, TV On The Radio, Australia, and I-94 East, among others, the album pushed boundaries without overreaching.
October 22 street date. Atmosphere have distinguished themselves from their peers by creating albums encompassing the entire spectrum of human emotion while tethering each piece to a central aural aesthetic. 2011's "The Family Sign" took this philosophy to new realms of solidarity with Slug metaphorically touching on themes of fatherhood, loss, love, disappointment and jubilation, and tailoring them to an instrumental framework that draws emotion out of the listener, skillfully composed by producer Ant. "The Family Sign" was evidence that hip-hop wields the ultimate potential to address and convey life's virtues and shortcomings. Finally, repackaged and repressed on 2xLP vinyl, just in time for its 10th anniversary, the album features two bonus tracks, "Millenium Dodo 2" and "Cut You Down", not available on the original version, plus an exclusive 7-inch vinyl inside, featuring two additional tracks from the same recording sessions, "By Your Side" and "Bar Food".
May 27 street date. Following the release of their debut album, "Overcast!", Atmosphere was already making waves in the underground Hip-Hop scene, attracting attention for their unique combination of content, styles and sounds. Although the group was suddenly smaller due to the departure of one member, Spawn, the buzz continued to grow, as did the creative output of remaining members Slug and Ant. Over the next 3 years, the duo recorded and released a flurry of unofficial Atmosphere CD's, tapes, songs and side projects, along with pressing and distributing a string of vinyl EP's, titled "Ford One", "Ford Two", and "The Lucy EP". These vinyl EP's were ultimately consolidated onto one CD as well, for the purpose of selling on tour and distributing to retail, becoming what most considered to be Atmosphere's official sophomore album, "Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EP's", more commonly referred to as simply "Lucy Ford". Now, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, the entire "Lucy Ford" album is finally available on 2xLP vinyl, for the first time in history.
May 5 street date. Atmosphere's new album, "So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously", opens with a gentler approach. A departure from the brute intros of earlier works, "Okay" seems to comfort and reassure the listener, with Slug rapping over one of Ant's most twinkling productions to date. Yet, there's still an unmistakable sense of uneasiness that sets in, evolving throughout the album, as Slug and Ant weave the listener through indistinct themes of insomnia and woe. Where previous albums in Atmosphere's catalogue emphasized the parts of life that carry the most meaning - family, brotherhood, purpose - "Realities" is an unnerving excavation of paranoia, perspective and positivism. The tension in these songs is palpable, but their presence is a testament to the hope that underpins them. Whenever the curtains might close, the music goes on.
May 5 street date. Atmosphere's new album, "So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously", opens with a gentler approach. A departure from the brute intros of earlier works, "Okay" seems to comfort and reassure the listener, with Slug rapping over one of Ant's most twinkling productions to date. Yet, there's still an unmistakable sense of uneasiness that sets in, evolving throughout the album, as Slug and Ant weave the listener through indistinct themes of insomnia and woe. Where previous albums in Atmosphere's catalogue emphasized the parts of life that carry the most meaning - family, brotherhood, purpose - "Realities" is an unnerving excavation of paranoia, perspective and positivism. The tension in these songs is palpable, but their presence is a testament to the hope that underpins them. Whenever the curtains might close, the music goes on.
August 4 street date. The "Sad Clown Bad Dub" series first started as a string of limited cassette tapes and CD-R's for Atmosphere to sell exclusively on tour. Since its inception in 1999, the series has seen over a dozen iterations in numerous formats, including rare 4-track demos, live recordings, a DVD of behind-the-scenes tour footage, a mixtape, 7" vinyl singles and more. To this day, one of the earliest volumes - "Sad Clown Bad Dub 2" - still remains one of the most celebrated and coveted installments from the series. Originally released in 2000, "Sad Clown Bad Dub 2" was a rather stripped-down DIY release - a simple CD tucked behind an illustrated cover with handwritten tracklist and liner notes. The recordings were equally as rough, consisting of a dozen raw 4-track demos that hadn't been treated to any sort of mixing or mastering. Generally considered an underground classic in hip-hop circles, "Sad Clown Bad Dub 2" is often mentioned as one of the standout releases in Atmosphere's extensive discography. It is a deeply introspective project that explores a range of complex thoughts and emotions, counter-balanced by occasional moments of darkly humorous sarcasm and wit.
August 4 street date. The "Sad Clown Bad Dub" series first started as a string of limited cassette tapes and CD-R's for Atmosphere to sell exclusively on tour. Since its inception in 1999, the series has seen over a dozen iterations in numerous formats, including rare 4-track demos, live recordings, a DVD of behind-the-scenes tour footage, a mixtape, 7" vinyl singles and more. To this day, one of the earliest volumes - "Sad Clown Bad Dub 2" - still remains one of the most celebrated and coveted installments from the series. Originally released in 2000, "Sad Clown Bad Dub 2" was a rather stripped-down DIY release - a simple CD tucked behind an illustrated cover with handwritten tracklist and liner notes. The recordings were equally as rough, consisting of a dozen raw 4-track demos that hadn't been treated to any sort of mixing or mastering. Generally considered an underground classic in hip-hop circles, "Sad Clown Bad Dub 2" is often mentioned as one of the standout releases in Atmosphere's extensive discography. It is a deeply introspective project that explores a range of complex thoughts and emotions, counter-balanced by occasional moments of darkly humorous sarcasm and wit.