Minneapolis rap group Atmosphere returns to St. Louis tomorrow with a promising night of hip-hop at the Pageant.
Outspoken lyricist Slug, who got his start selling tapes outside hip-hop shows, cites KRS-One as a main influence, noting that he perfected the style of talking to you instead of talking at you.
Also on the tour is producer/MC Evidence, who will drop his Rhymesayers debut album, Cats & Dogs, next month.
Atmosphere's great sixth LP, The Family Sign, was released earlier this year. Give it a listen on Spotify.
I caught up with Slug as he prepared for the current tour, called "Family Vacation".
RC: Did anyone specific introduce you to rap as a youth?
Slug: It was just my peer group in the neighborhood. It was easy to grow into because kids are influenced by other kids. Break dancing became almost like baseball for us. It developed into a love for rap as I got older.
RC: Tell me about the new album.
Slug: (It's about) how I see world right now, as a 38-year-old person. I'm not rapping about the things I did at 25, like trying to understand women and whiskey. Now I'm just cool with letting it fly -- and not drinking as much whiskey!
RC: Do you have specific places you go that are conducive to writing?
Slug: I do. My producer Ant and I write in his basement or my basement or my back porch. 95 percent of all our material was written in one of those three places. The other 5 percent could have happened anywhere.
RC: Do you have any STL memories?
Slug: I've played hella shows there at places with names I can't even remember anymore. It's always a relevant stop for us. I've had a very long-standing relationship with Vintage Vinyl also.
RC: Do you have any advice for up-and-coming underground rappers?
Slug: My advice is don't take no advice from anybody! The marketing techniques keep evolving. What I did wouldn't work today. Create something new and you'll be able to own it.
The Family Vacation Tour featuring ATMOSPHERE
with Evidence, Blueprint, Prof and DJ Babu
8 pm Wednesday, The Pageant, $22 adv/$25 dos
