Atmosphere is definitely one of my favorite hip hop groups. Although, it’s not really a group as it is Slug’s rhymes on top of beats, or a live band. The latest album has Slug growing, as his lyrics still hit hard, but walk a sensibility that is really a portrait of his own personal battles, and stories of youth, as well as adult hood, without flashing gang affiliation, or whatever stereotype you can throw at him.
While, I do disagree with his use of profanity, I can’t help but be drawn to movement and rhyme, especially when the reason hits the heart. Here is the lyrics to the song “Shoulda Known” by Atmosphere…and be warned, there is profanity.
Naked in the bathtub
Sittin’ on the porcelain
Waiting for that little hurricane to pull your torso in
The water don’t run, just drips like rain
Still drips like a painkiller drips to the veins
Fill it up
With a bag of that happy stuff
Cause the way she runs out, you can tell she ain’t had enough
Good times goddess
My goodness
Goth finger nail polish autopilot foot prints
With a smile that’s stitched to the fabric of bedtime tales and
Keep them kids out of the attic
The mouth of madness
Loud and manic
The motive of the bird holdin’ south on the Atlas
Picture a hole
Put your hero in
Envision the gold
Now zero in
Been watching your night train track for the last few stops
With no desire to hop it
How did we end up in your apartment
Pocket full of gossip says this ain’t smart
When it’s all said and done, can’t hit restart
But I’ll be damned if I don’t wanna kiss you-
Hard
Shoulda known better not to fuck with’ you
Ain’t got nothin’ but too much to lose
Lost in the rush don’t know what to do
That drug got you like I want you
Shoulda known better not to fuck with’ you
Ain’t got nothin’ but too much to lose
Lost in the rush don’t know what to do
That drug got you like I want you
I’ve got a restraining order
Against Satan’s daughter
And I keep it at the bottom of this Jamison and water
And when we get there
You can sit there and stare
From behind your mascara and your thick hair
I’m aware of that pain you harbor
The same that gave game to the names you martyr
Apart from the details and substance and whatnot
I fuck with that hunger of love pistol gut rot
Bloodshot
Give me one shot, my shot
Propped up on enough talk to make time stop
The lines of chalk that benjamin might cop
Killed the illustrations on the neighborhood sidewalks
Then all of a sudden she got silent
Pupils like marbles, hide behind the eyelids
Get away sticks go limping hole place
The smile sucked up most of her face
Truly beauty the scene serene
And each criticism becomes redeemed
Swallow my words
No more judgment it’s true
Cause you look like what I feel like when I’m with you
Shoulda known better not to fuck with’ you
Ain’t got nothin’ but too much to lose
Lost in the rush don’t know what to do
That drug got you like I want you
Shoulda known better not to fuck with’ you
Ain’t got nothin’ but too much to lose
Lost in the rush don’t know what to do
That drug got you like I want you
So there is the story, put down in generic lyricism as is the custom to hip hop lyrics that are meant to sell records, but there is something deeper…if you allow it to be deeper, otherwise it’s just a regret and/or lament…here’s the video…also risky because it has lesbian tones, but there’s something intriguing about it as well. Once again, this may be nsfw.
If you like Atmosphere and would like to buy the latest record, “When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold” in the official sir jorge market store.
