WELCOME TO MN TOUR feat. ATMOSPHERE
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ATMOSPHERE
The first hip-hop act to put the Twin Cities on the map, Atmosphere has grown into one of the most accomplished MC/producer duos around. Between Slug and Ant, they've released seven albums, 13 Sad Clown tour albums and various side-projects like Felt - amounting in well over a million units sold. And along the way have performed to sold-out crowds everywhere from modest sized venues in their hometown to colossal festivals in Japan. Since releasing their 1997 debut, Overcast!, Ant's ASR-born melodic beats and Slug's open book and observational style of rapping continues to evolve into hip-hop that's more honest - more textured.
RHYMESAYERS :: MYSPACE :: FACEBOOK :: TWITTER
In the three years since Atmosphere's dropped a full length record on the world, they were far from stagnant, staying at the top of their game in every respect. For the better part of two years, Atmosphere toured the globe in support of their critically acclaimed - and #5 Billboard Top 200 charting - album, When LIfe Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. And in their "spare" time, the group returned home to Minneapolis in 2009 to record their 2010 double EP, To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy, an homage to their friends. In 2011, Atmosphere took that feeling one step farther with The Family Sign, a tribute to their true extended family: their fans, their loved ones, and each other.
The Family Sign was written early in 2010, and as they sat down to record the record, the Family grew a few times over. In the studio, Atmosphere was joined by long time touring musicians Nate "The Guitar Man" Collis (guitar) and Erick Anderson (keys). At home, 2010 also saw the addition of two real-life children to the Atmosphere family, further inspiring the writing process and the concept, and title, of the album. The Family Sign comes from a place well refined and firmly planted, from a universal perspective. It's about being okay with losing friends and strengthening your bonds with others, celebrating the person who's been the most positive in your life, your kids, your homies, leaving the people you need to behind, and bringing the ones you love with you. It's about your family, your time and the time you have with them. It's about living and dying. It's the truth about family, that it comes from loyalty as much as biology. It's about breaking down your perceptions of family and really appreciating the people who've made you who you are and continue doing so. The Family Sign is Atmosphere's most personal and intimate album yet; it involves and engages the listener like never before. Slug's signature voice weaves in and out of Ant's ASR-born production, Nate Collis' bluesy guitar riffs and the sound of Erick Anderson's unmistakable keys giving The Family Sign a fresh, unique edge without sacrificing Atmosphere's signature sound.
KILL THE VULTURES
KILL THE VULTURES vocalist Crescent Moon and producer Anatomy moved from Minneapolis, MN to NYC in September 2001 at the age of 19 with the now disbanded hip-hop group, Oddjobs. They spent the next few years learning the ropes by touring with groups like De La Soul, DJ Shadow, Talib Kweli, Atmosphere, Lyrics Born, Buck 65, Brother Ali, and Zion I, as well as headlining several tours. They also released records and toured as part of the Third Earth hip-hop crew, whose other members were Jean Grae, Mr. Len of Company Flow, Masterminds, Jugganknots, and Sub-Conscious.
BIG QUARTERS
"Medium Zach" and "Brandon Allday" Bagaason are Minneapolis‐based hip‐hop producers, performers and educators ‐ as well as founders of the Mexican‐American rap‐duo Big Quarters. Big Quarters' self‐produced debut album Cost of Living earned recognition as Best Hip‐Hop of 2007 by Star Tribune and Popmatters.com.
MaLLy
Being invited to play Soundset can act as a barometer of who in the local rap scene is really pushing themselves and their craft forward. Each year a few up-and-coming artists get the chance to rock the same stage as certified legends, and MaLLy not only got the opportunity to play the festival this year, he also witnessed Slug wearing one of his T-shirts during Atmosphere's closing performance. "There's only a few things I could see ever making me cry, but looking at it and just watching it happen, I almost cried," MaLLy recalls.
BK-ONE
BK-One's love of music has been a lifelong affair. From an early age, he studied classical piano and jazz theory, taught himself to play the vibraphone, and began collecting records. Before he was old enough to get into clubs, BK was touring the country as a vibes player in a jazz band and experimenting with multiple genres alongside local music veterans. After moving to Minneapolis in 1996, BK wasted no time finding a place for himself in the local Hip Hop scene. He helped to start one of the city's first independent Hip Hop radio shows and put his record collection
