Over the holidays, Atmosphere released a quasi-LP called Strictly Leakage on their website, for free. No, not Radiohead pay-what-you-want free - just free. Here: see for yourself.
Atmosphere featured prominently in my introduction to so-called “indie” hip-hop. Emcee Slug and producer Ant (the most successful ponytailed beatsmith of all time) were among the first hip-hoppers to really catch my ear. “At” and I have mostly gone our own ways for several years… until last week. Almost any free, legal album is worth downloading in my mind. This one is definitely no exception. Strictly Leakage is great for first dates, crappy houseparties, or to play in the backround while you google yourself again.
It’s also good for waking up, driving, walking, working out, and a lot of other things.
In short, I enjoy this release a great deal. It’s not the sort of stuff that blew my teenage mind on Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs. Slug’s lyrics there are meditative and emotional by turns, and the whole mess is really powerful stuff. Here, Slug is significantly more upbeat, showcasing the wit and sarcasm that epitomize his style. A few trademark candid moments are present, as in “You Played Yourself” when Slug recalls in passing his nervousness at playing with a live band, but these tracks are mostly about partying, being a rapper, human foibles, and picking up on women. Most emcees who focus on those topics struggle to keep my attention, but somehow it works here. Slug’s offbeat sense of humor and generally unique point of view keep it interesting.
This is more of a party record than anything else Slug and Ant have released to date. The beats are clean, funky, and infectious. This is some of Ant’s finest production work, with “Crewed Up” - a crew piece showcasing some (mostly less prominent) Midwest rappers - leading the way. Several songs are clear tributes to 80s and 90s hip-hop, including the final track: a re-conception of Kool G Rap’s “Road to the Riches” (originally released in 1986).
The strong chemistry between Ant and Slug is what really makes this record. Ant’s beats fit Slug’s lyrics and overall persona perfectly, and it’s obvious that the two had a great deal of fun putting these pieces together. Interplay between emcee and producer, which is wholly absent on far too many hip-hop records, makes it obvious how closely they work (for example, see the track “Get It to Get Her”).
If you’re an experienced Atmosphere listener, you’ll pretty much know what to expect from Strictly Leakage. There’s nothing too artistically groundbreaking here - just a really solid, fun record that will keep your head nodding and bring a smile to your face.
Read more new album reviews from Listen In.
Cross-posted to Newsvine.com.
© 2007 Evan Mix for Listen In. Some rights reserved.
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