The Minnesota underground hip-hop group Atmosphere represents the duo’s Twin Cities roots, incorporating introspective rhymes, creative storytelling, and classic production. Sean Daley (Slug) and producer Anthony Davis (Ant) have built up a devoted, grassroots following with prolific output, collaborations, and consistent touring. Unlike many hip-hop groups, Atmosphere provides its own live instrumentation, usually consisting of bass guitar and drums. While Slug is the stalwart perfectionist, Ant persists as his healthy foil, finding beauty in sonic flaws. Much of Slug’s songwriting agony stems from his need to translate things he relates to into universal messages – which is why even after all these years, Atmosphere remains relevant to the rap game.