(Rhymesayers)
With mainstream hip-hop growing more out of touch with each glossy release as independent rappers bottleneck their way into irrelevance, the Minneapolis-based Rhymesayers record label-along with several other purveyors of fresh and original hip-hop-stands out as rap containing, gasp, honesty.
As the foundation, core and everything else of the Rhymesayers, Atmosphere has carried the torch for this subgenre of \emo"" rap for the better part of a decade. His following is large enough to catch the attention of Interscope and several other record labels, which have repeatedly tried and failed to sign the group.
With producer Ant's minimalist production as a guiding metronome, Atmosphere's strength has always been rapper Slug's abstract, unabashedly honest and resonant rhymes dealing with his frustrations with women, life and himself. In a genre built upon the MC's confidence in outdoing other MCs, Slug certainly does not lack belief in his rapping skills. Unlike the vast majority of other MCs, however, he is also able to achieve a rare level of depth not commonly seen in hip-hop.
On Atmosphere's latest, , Slug addresses many of the same insecurities and ex-girlfriends, but with a much better understanding of how to carry an entire album. While previous Atmosphere albums suffered from too much filler and songs only Slug could possibly understand, narrows its focus and is an intensely satisfying listen from top to bottom. This is not to say that Slug's vague rhymes are not at times confusing, because some songs-""Bird Songs Why the Caged I Know"" is a prime example-are simply impossible to interpret. Even so, Slug is at all times able, in an almost Thom Yorke-like fashion, to engage the listener purely by the mood of the song.
On ""Reflections,"" the closest Atmosphere will ever come to a club song, Slug bounces all over Ant's ascending and descending guitar and piano chords, playfully scolding a girl he meets at a bar for being interested in him: ""Do you really think you want to get to know me better? / Don't you see the drama? / Don't you feel the pressure? / Don't get me wrong / It would be my pleasure to sing a song that could remove your shoes and your sweater."" With equal parts sarcasm, self-doubt, hope and excitement, Slug perfectly captures the conflicting emotions present.
While Slug keeps the momentum going and establishes a sense of focus that is certainly welcome, the biggest and most pleasant surprise of the album is Ant's significant improvement behind the boards. Unlike his adequate but underwhelming production of the past, Ant provides a funky, soulful and imaginative sonic canvas for Slug to paint on. From the adrenaline-filled opener ""Trying to Find a Balance,"" to the wild western flick-inspired ""National Disgrace,"" to the slick, acoustic guitar-laced ""Always Coming Back Home to You,"" Ant's production is finally on par with Slug's rhymes.
With Slug his usual messed-up, but intriguing self, and Ant at a creative high point, Atmosphere has never sounded this good. Check for this group Oct. 27 at The Orpheum Theatre, 216 State St.
