Before getting into this, it’s worth noting that, to me, Atmosphere represents the dregs of whatever underground rap stuff has become over time. There’s no reason apart from my distaste for its lyrical content. That’s it. Too bad they’re hugely famous instead of serving me some fries with my ninety-nine cent burger.

You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having (Rhymesayers, 2005)

Frankly, I didn’t want to enjoy this album, because I don’t enjoy Slug.  And apart from Lucy Ford and Overcast, I can’t claim to have enjoyed this group too much.  I did by chance see Slug and Mr. Dibbs perform at Warped Tour two years ago and was impressed enough to stand and watch for most of their set, but Slug tends to become bothersome to me.  On this release, he seems even more conscious of the line that he walks as an independent rapper.  Basically, at this point of his career he can decide what happens to him next.  He already has releases distributed by Epitaph and no doubt there has been major label interest.  So, in addition to his required thirty or so minutes of rapping about girls and situations that he’s had to work through which have left him indelibly scarred, he ruminates upon his career and those decisions.  Ant’s beats sport a great deal of piano and easily sound more pleasing in concert with Slug’s voice than those from Seven’s Travels or God Loves Ugly.   “That Night” stands out as sounding nothing like any other track on this album, while there are some booty dance tracks that stand out for more dubious reasons.  The last track, directed to his son, contemplating events that occur around him is endearing in a way that all the songs on all the albums about girls were never able to conjure.  This slab, without question, is Slug maturing, looking in different directions and improving his craft.

Seven’s Travels (Rhyme Sayers Entertainment, 2003)

I don’t know what an emo-rapper is.  I do not sit down and listen to “God Loves Ugly”, the last full length by Atmosphere.  And I do sit down to enjoy “Overcast” and “Lucy Ford”, a collection of previous singles.  Let’s not say that older is better.  Let us say that old is different than new.  This group has continued to change over time.  That’s what good groups/bands/acts do.  Still, while “Seven’s Travels” is more listenable, as well as more diverse than “God Loves Ugly”, it doesn’t rival the collection of singles.  The songs on the new slab, “Seven’s Travels”, are built around the concept/fact of travel show-biz folk.  I’m sure that Slug traveled and entertained/enlightened/amused, but the focus of the work still seems to be based around women.  All music is based upon the love song; Blues are based on love songs, RNB, Soul, Hip-Hop all.  From LL Cool J all the way to Slug (mc) and Ant (producer), it’s there.  The album sports some good raps; “National Disgrace” and “Shoes” (which uses “My Addidas” as a brief, but appreciated intro). Good, layered, poly-rhythmic beats like “Apple” are inevitably enjoyable, but not, unfortunately, ground-breaking.  If you were a fan, you still should be.  And Slug, there is only one store in my town that sells 12 inches too.