Episode 178: Slug from Atmosphere

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Sean “Slug” Daley of Atmosphere is a proud son of Minneapolis whose devotion to that city shines through not only in his music, but also in the label he co-founded in large part to help bring shine to his city’s scene, Rhymesayers.

Atmosphere started when Daley was in high school (see above), but the group really started making waves in the early 2000s, with the release of music that would be collected on the album Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs.

The introspective, personal songs on Lucy Ford and follow-up projects like God Loves Ugly and Seven’s Travels struck a chord with a huge audience, and Atmosphere’s constant touring, of a kind much more akin to rock bands than rap acts, helped the group’s following grow to a point where they received airplay on MTV2, performed at large festivals, and received serious attention from big record labels. Rhymesayers, meanwhile, released well-regarded projects from the likes of Brother Ali, Eyedea and Abilities, Blueprint, MF DOOM, and many others.

Atmosphere’s latest album, released this past August, is Fishing Blues.

Tracks featured in this episode:

1. Atmosphere, “Onemosphere”
2. Atmosphere, “1597”
3. Atmosphere, “Scapegoat”
4. Atmosphere, “If I Was Santa Claus”
5. Atmosphere, “Guns and Cigarettes”
6. Atmosphere, “Sound Is Vibration”
7. Atmosphere, “Party For the Fight to Write”
8. Atmosphere, “Don’t Ever Fucking Question That”
9. Atmosphere, “The Woman with the Tattooed Hands”
10. Atmosphere, “F’@k You Lucy”
11. Atmosphere, “Pour Me Another
12. EPMD, “So Wat Cha Sayin’”
13. Felt, “Employees Of The Year”
14. Ice Cube, “Better Off Dead”
15. Atmosphere, “Trying To Find A Balance”
16. Mobb Deep, “Shook Ones, Pt. II”
17. Atmosphere, “Always Coming Back Home To You”
18. Ice Cube, “Once Upon A Time In The Projects”
19. Atmosphere, “GodLovesUgly”
20. Ice Cube, “Jackin’ For Beats”
21. Atmosphere f/ Mr. Dibbs, “Jackin Yo Freaks”
22. Atmosphere, “Body Pillow” (Live)
23. Atmosphere, “Hungry Fuck”
24. Atmosphere, “Sad Clown”
25. Atmosphere, “Trying To Find A Balance”
26. BACKSTAGE WITH ATMOSPHERE
27. Public Enemy, “Night of the Living Baseheads”
28. MC Shan, “Jane, Stop This Crazy Thing”
29. Slick Rick, “The Moment I Feared”
30. LL Cool J, “Fast Peg”
31. LL Cool J, “You’re My Heart”
32. LL Cool J, “I’m That Type of Guy”
33. LL Cool J, “One Shot At Love”
34. LL Cool J, “Big Ole Butt”
35. LL Cool J, “Two Different Worlds”
36. Atmosphere, “It Goes”
37. Atmosphere, “Hair”
38. Atmosphere, “Little Man”
39. Atmosphere, “Angelface”
40. Atmosphere, “Get Fly”
41. Atmosphere, “Me”
42. Atmosphere, “Trying To Find A Balance”
43. Atmosphere, “GodLovesUgly”
44. Kanye West, “Heartless”
45. Kid Cudi, “Pursuit of Happiness (nightmare)”
46. Ultramagnetic MC’s “Traveling At The Speed Of Thought (Remix)”
47. De La Soul, ”Millie Pulled A Pistol on Santa”
48. Eyedea & SLUG on the Wake Up Show
49. Atmosphere f/Eyedea, “The Stick Up”
50. Smokeout Festival October 16, 2010 San Bernardino, CA
51. Eyedea, “Freestyle 3”
52. Eyedea - Collection of freestyles
53. Face Candy at the Acadia Cafe
54. Felt, “Gangster Ass Anthony”
55. Felt, “Dirty Girl”
56. Felt, “Suzanne Vega”
57. The Diplomats, “Dipset Anthem”
58. Aesop Rock, “9-5ers Anthem”
59. Atmosphere, “Give Me”

Show notes:

1. Forbes, “Rhymesayers At 20: An Oral History”
2. Boston Phoenix, “Lady killer: Slug finds the romance of rap”