Atmosphere — When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That S*** Gold

The hip-hop band Atmosphere has always been an anomaly in music. It doesn’t play by the rules, have a set style or beg for acceptance like the carbon copy rappers on BET, yet it is one of the most consistent mainstays in the hip-hop game.

Hailing from Minneapolis, Minn., Atmosphere has quietly built an independent hip-hop record empire in Rhymesayers Entertainment. After releasing Strictly Leakage, a compilation album that was downloadable for free on the Internet last fall, Atmosphere carries its anticipation over for its newest release, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That S* Gold.

The album’s themes cover many aspects of life including prostitution (“Skinny”), insecurity (“You”), and addiction (“Puppets”).

Taking a different route on “Dreams,” Atmosphere highlights the problem of single mothers in America.

The story is set up through Slug’s words when he rhymes “Known on the scene, the jail bait queen / Had the first baby, barely 18 / Father of the child was after one thing / When the daughter came the dad was unseen.”

The track ends without a clear solution to the story, and we’re left with the line, “Sometimes it can seem so cold / Do what you gotta do to cope.”

This storytelling tactic in Slug’s lyricism is also substantial in the reminiscent yet touching record “Yesterday.”

Like a lost letter written to his passing father, Slug realizes his impact as he raps, “You disappeared but the history is still here / That’s why I try not to cry over spilt beer / I can’t even get mad that you gone / Leaving me was probably the best thing you ever taught me.”

With a more laid-back approach, “Wild Wild Horses” plays on the false love in many relationships. Slug lays out the situation presented with the rhymes, “Every night he’s out doing who knows whom / While she cries alone like a new show tune / Last call’s past is he coming home soon / Or is he gonna run away with the dish and spoon?” Ant’s production here is near flawless, where trumpets give it a dreamy effect.

The album is solid in presentation, and the themes it touches on during its 55 minutes are distinct. Other artists would be lucky to have an album of this quality many years, and many records, into their career. For Atmosphere, it’s just further proof that success (lemons) is what you make it (gold).