Fresh Out The Gutter

Those of you familiar with Atmosphere probably find or have found comfort and refuge in Slug’s lyrical transparency at some point in your life. From early on in their career, the lyrical content in the music has been relatable to the listener. This is exactly where the group roots their success.

Joyful to dark instrumentation and lyrics full of questions, life lessons, personal confessions, and emotions is what Atmosphere has had to offer throughout the years. Even with all of that involved, it's still hip hop.

As was expected, the venue was sold-out for this Welcome to California Tour. It's not an often occurance that we get the duo on this side of town, so of course fans had to jump on the tickets quickly.

Atmosphere took the stage around 10pm and as the crowd roared at sight of Slug’s presence, he began to rap “Camera Thief” off the Southsiders album. There was no fancy grand entrance, no expensive stage scenery. The stage humbly displayed the name “Atmosphere” across the DJ table and a skull print U.S. geographical backdrop with California highlighted.

They proceeded to perform cuts off Southsiders and the latest project Fishing Blues. It wasn’t until maybe 20 minutes into the performance that they hit us with something off the older projects. “Godlovesugly” was one of the first reminiscent tracks that they did. Cameras went up in the air and the entire room was rapping along. We then heard “Modern Man’s Hustle” and when “Fuck You Lucy” came on it made it clear why we were all there appreciating such moment.

Slug took to the microphone shortly after and wanted to make a confession to the crowd. “I want to apologize,” he said, “because twenty years ago I didn’t give a fuck about you…[and] I want to thank you because you’ve been there for me through some hard times and I’m sure I’ve been there for you too.” The crowd cheered at the short speech.

For those of us who consume music primarily as a therapeutic outlet, those words resonated deeply. Yes, I was that girl who nearly shed a tear at the thought of it. At the thought of times the lyrics in songs like “Happy Mess”, “Modern Man’s Hustle”, “Yesterday”, “The Waitress”, “Dreamer” among countless others were the only comfort I could get. I know, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

It was such a great nostalgic feeling when the group visited tracks off 1997’s debut Overcast, Seven’s Travels, and When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. You could tell that most of the attendees were real fans because there was never a moment in which they ceased to recite word for word. There was even a young girl who was brought on stage and recited Spawn’s lyrics off their debut album.

The real beauty of this sold-out show lies in knowing there’s a special room in hip hop for someone like Atmosphere. When we think about it, it's a beautiful thing that these artists are able to reach a certain amount of success and loyalty to where they can live off this music without “selling out” and simply being themselves and being for the people.

Thank you Slug and Ant for the years of music and the memorable experiences at these shows. Until next time.

The album begins  with the intro “BLOOD.” where Kendrick comes upon a blind woman who he tried to help. In the midst of his kind deed, we come to find that the lady pulls a trigger on Kendrick and he dies within the story-line of this track. The question is asked, “Is it wickedness? Is it weakness? Are we gonna live or die?” The track ends with a snippet of a Fox News anchor criticizing Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” anthem in which he mentions police brutality. 

“DNA.” follows with Mike Will Made It on the production. The producer also takes credit for “HUMBLE.” and “XXX.” These are the hardest sounding tracks of the album in which we find Kendrick hyperventilated over the topics at hand.

“I got, I got, I got, I got Loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA Cocaine quarter piece, got war and peace inside my DNA I got power, poison, pain and joy inside my DNA I got hustle though, ambition, flow, inside my DNA”

Kendrick brings black culture and roots to a glorious forefront.

One of my favorite tracks off this album is produced by James Blake- “ELEMENT.” There’s something so enticing to the ego within the chorus of this track.

“If I gotta slap a pussy-ass nigga, I'ma make it look sexy If I gotta go hard on a bitch, I'ma make it look sexy I pull up, hop out, air out, made it look sexy They won't take me out my element..”

Lamar then proceeds to call out his so-called competition (lyrically there is none) by stating, “Most of y'all don't fade, most of y'all been advised Last LP I tried to lift the black artists But it's a difference between black artists and wack artists.”

Ohweee!

“LOYALTY.” featuring RiRi & “LOVE.” containing the sweet vocals of Zacari are my other personal favorites. Yes, yes, I know… I’m soft.

“XXX.” featuring U2 finds the emcee going in at the 1:20 mark and transitioning back into a laid back sound. You can hear Bono’s vocals right before Kendrick continues with the biblical references and our nation’s/society's current stance which circulate throughout the entire album.

9th Wonder reels Kendrick into a soulful hip hop instrumental on “DUCKWORTH.” where he brings himself back into the storytelling essence of hip hop.

By now, I’m sure all of you have read the theories and speculations regarding this album. To make a long story short, some seem to derive the thought that because of the project's underlying biblical references, Kendrick dies on the first track of DAMN. and the project was released on good Friday, that Kendrick might be “resurrecting with another new album on Easter Sunday.

Tweets from the TDE camp fueled the assumptions.

But what if I told you... that's not the official version..

— Sounwave (@SounwaveTDE) April 14, 2017

I guess we’ll just have to wait around today and find out.

-Stace Fresh

“And I really can't take it no more

I've been fighting temptations, my Lord

I'm young and I'm restless, and I really can't help it

I never felt selfish before

I've been living so reckless, I know

Tell me Lord, can you help me?”

On “Land Of The Free” Joey gives us a proposition for progress and consciousness.

“The first step into change is to take notice

Realize the real games that they tried to show us 300 plus years of them cold shoulders

Yet 300 million of us still got no focus

Sorry America, but I will not be your soldier

Obama just wasn't enough, I just need some more closure

And Donald Trump is not equipped to take this country over

Let’s face facts 'cause we know what’s the real motives”

Bada$$ gets a bit more blunt on “Y U Don’t Love Me? (Miss Amerikkka),” just in case it wasn’t clear enough, midway into the album he starts to give it to you straight with no chaser.

“Tell me why you don’t love me

Why you always misjudge me?

Why you always put so many things above me?

Why you lead me to believe that I’m ugly

Why you never trust me?

Why you treat me like I don’t matter?

Why you always kicking my ladder?

Why you never hearing my side to the story?

Never look me in my eyes, say sorry?”

This is an ode to the Black Lives Matter movement and the issues/concerns of our colored brothers and sisters.

ScHoolboy Q accompanies Joey on “Rockabye Baby,” while “Ring The Alarm” keeps the feature within the Pro Era family. J.Cole guests on “Legendary” behind a mellow-jazz fused instrumental.

In my personal opinion Styles P takes the win when it comes to best feature on this album’s “Super Predator” track. The track possesses a very peculiar New York sound reminiscent of the early 90s. Needless to say that a game veteran like Styles on this album is a humbling and exciting thing for hip hop today. The album closes out with an outcry for unity and justice on “Amerikkkan Idol.” The following lines summarize the purpose of this project as a whole.

“What the government is doing amongst our people is downright evil…

They want us to rebel, so that it makes easier for them to kill us

and put us in jails

Alton Sterlings are happening' every day in this country and around the world

The scary part, boys and girls

Is most of these stories don't make it to the news and reach mass consciousness

It is for sure time that we as a people stand up for acknowledgement

And accomplishment of what we call human rights

It is time to rebel, better yet, raise hell

I just want everyone to be cautious about how they go about it

Because this is all part of the government's plan and what they been 

plotting…”

All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ brings about the concept for justice, unity, pride, education, and most importantly awareness of what is going on in society and within our communities, specifically aimed at blacks in America, but not strictly confined to.

You know Blu (the rapper) once said “...my ex used to bump Xzibit and her favorite line was I be catching bitches while bitches be catching feelings Yet she don't want me tricking around See, she idolize the lifestyle but don't want none of it going down” This is exactly what that is. I don’t know why it’s so catchy to rap to “Lil mama, she wet like a boat Lil mama, she ready for war She ready for dick in her ass and her throat”- on this track. I got problems y’all. I love Rihanna but “RiRi” is a track I can do without. Sorry, after a week it did not grow on me. “Guwop” featuring Quavo, Offset & Young Scooter is another catchy track that I’m sure will make it’s way to the radio. “Harambe” is ape shit! Literally. You’ll understand when you hear it. “Webbie” is another one that needs to grow on me. “Pop Man” featuring Wyclef Jean is a banger though. The Caribbean vibes are back on this one. Apparently, a few days ago the track was changed to the name “Kanye West” which makes sense given the lines- “Chanel it up, Chanel it up She peacock wit the colors Middle finger, stick it up If you ain't never gave no fucks Get behind her, put it in her butt Then beat it up“