Emo hip-hop duo Atmosphere transformed The Pageant into a place of vibrant energy on Jan. 3. The crowd, already exhilarated from the opening sets, buzzed with excitement while waiting for the main act to unfold.
Formed by rapper Sean “Slug” Daley and DJ/producer Anthony “Ant” Davis, Atmosphere has been making a name for itself in hip-hop since 1996. Since then, the group has released 13 studio albums and has appeared in collaborations with other well-known rappers such as MF DOOM and KRS-One.
St. Louis was the halfway point of Atmosphere’s “Winter Carnival Tour,” and the duo gave The Pageant an electric vigor that audience members are sure to remember.
Starting the night with the openers Sage Francis, R.A. The Rugged Man, Kool Keith and Mr. Dibbs, each set the stage for Atmosphere by connecting with the audience and giving energetic performances.
Beginning with “Locusts,” a song from their newest album “Jestures”, Atmosphere immediately connected with the crowd. Slug engaged with every member of the audience by telling everyone to put their hands up and dance together. He also presented many call and response opportunities, which made the crowd connect even more with the music.
A few songs later, the opening beat of “GodLovesUgly” played, and the crowd roared. The song is the duo’s second most-streamed song of all time, with over 23 million streams on Spotify. The entire crowd rapped the song word-for-word with Slug.
“GodLovesUgly” specifically explores themes of self-deprecation, insecurity, and embracing one’s flaws. The title and lyrics suggest that, despite being flawed or “ugly,” one is still worthy of acceptance.
These lyrics are just one example of how Atmosphere connects with their fans. Throughout the rest of the evening, it was clear that every audience member felt a connection to the songs performed — whether it was the group’s most played song, “Sunshine,” or a song from their new album, like “Sean.”
Performing 21 tracks and a three-song encore, Atmosphere commanded the stage at The Pageant, bridging the gap between the crowd of fans and the artists on stage. Atmosphere transformed the stage with an energetic performance, highlighted by powerful lyricism and a strong bond between the crowd and the musicians.
