Back in the early aughts, Atmosphere (MC Slug and DJ/Producer Ant) and Sage Francis were at the forefront of independent hip hop, touring, grinding out shows, while the world around them was in political and social upheaval. Atmosphere was rapping about the struggles of the working class everyman, the down and out who continually put both feet on the ground each day in the hope that things would get better. God Loves Ugly (2002) spawned massive hits with “GodLovesUgly” and “Modern Mans Hustle”, Seven’s Travels (2003) bridged personal with “Trying to Find a Balance” and “National Disgrace”, and You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having (2005) strikes a balance between despair and indifference and hope with “Pour Me Another” and “Little Man.” At the same time, Sage Francis was penning his own politics and personal struggles with Personal Journals (2002) and A Healthy Distrust (2005). Anti-establishment and strikingly independent, both Atmosphere and Sage Francis have remained free from corporate distribution and corporate dilution, starting their own labels (Rhymesayers and Strange Famous Records, respectively). But that was fast 20 years ago.
Fast forward to 2025, and Atmosphere and Sage Francis are back on the road together, with similar upheaval in the background and new political & personal music out and on the way. Currently touring the 20th anniversary of You Can’t Imagine…, Atmosphere (headlining) and Sage Francis (direct support) took to the stage at The Rialto Theatre in Tucson, Az to a nearly sold out house. With standing room only in the general pit area, and almost every seat packed in the balcony, it was clear that there is still a need and a desire for spitfire lyrics aimed at the government and at the heart. One of the most charged moments in the show came halfway through Sage Francis set when he launched into a snippet of “America, Fuck Yeah!” from Team America, and blended it into “Makeshift Patriot,” which he wrote and released in reaction to the popular media’s reactions to 9/11. With a nation being split in twain by politics, Sage Francis’ stance is clear, and so was that of the crowd, with the entire house going near silent before voices launched as one into the opening lines of the song railing against false pretense faux patriotism. Other standout tracks were “Sealion” and “Slow Down Ghandi”. Sage ended the night with “Damage (Non-Prophets)”, which got the crowd rev’ed up and ready for Atmosphere to step on stage.
Atmosphere took to the stage and immediately launched into the aptly titled track 1 “The Arrival” from You Can’t Imagine…. With the tour in support of the albums 20th anniversary, every track got played with some additional commentary (“I lied, no THIS track is my favorite from the album” before launching into “Musical Chairs”) and laughs. With the album itself clocking in at under an hour, that left plenty of time for Slug and Ant to dig into their archives and pull out favorites from across their discography. Stand outs include the aforementioned “GodLovesUgly,” “Fuck You Lucy” and “Flicker”. Despite at times being derided as merely “emo hip hop”, Atmosphere’s distinct blend of working-class themes and social politics lends itself well to Slugs penchant for mischief making, having fun, and slinging hope through the muddied waters he raps about. One thing is certain about both Atmosphere and Sage Francis’ stage presence: the chaotic smiles and mischievous, rueful glints in their eyes rarely left their faces while on stage, both spitting rhymes and driving home the messages written decades ago which are still prescient to this very day.
Sage Francis photos
Atmosphere Photos
