Atmosphere / Abstract Rude @ 930 Club

April 30, 2008 by Abby  Send to a Friend

all photos: Sexy Fitsum

It’s a good feeling when you’re standing in the line around the block for will-call and then the lady comes up and is like “anyone on the guest list? Come with me” and you get to be all “yo I’m on the guest list!” and all the kiddies go “oooohhh” as you pass by. Chumps.

Then it’s a bad feeling when you get to the guest list window and you go “I’m on the list” and the guy’s all “nuh uh” and you’re all “uh huh” and he’s all “step aside ma’am” while he calls the tour manager and you stand there trying to look casual and staring intently at your bberry like you’re doing something important but you’re really playing brickbreaker and praying you don’t get shut out like a chump.

Then it’s a pretty good feeling when the Rhymesayers manager comes out and like in a booming voice is all “they’re good” and hands you tickets and all the kiddies go “ooooohh” as you step to the front of the line. Chumps!

Abstract Rude came on just as I got inside. I think I enjoyed his set even more than the headliner. I didn’t know him, but I guess he’s from LA and he sounds real melodic and his rhymes are easy and fluid.

His lyrics traded off between political “I ain’t a democrat, I ain’t no republican/poor people get ignored by the government” to lines about party people and girls sexing him with skill all day and night. After a few songs, he goes “I hear they call DC chocolate city, they still call it that?” and looks out at the crowd. Then he turns to his DJ and goes “well I guess with us two here… maybe.” Its funny cause we’re white.

At the break, I went out and met up with friends who came to see the Atmosphere. Now, I once had an Atmosphere album someone burned me, don’t remember which, and I remember not thinking much of it and maybe even, kinda sorta, throwing it away? Which is regretful as I furiously searched for it Tuesday morning so I could give it another listen before the show. I remembered though thinking it sounded pretty nerdy, but I was deep into like nelly and paul wall at the time.

Atmosphere was alright. They sounded more together from what I remembered, like the songs were fuller with more layers and with choruses that sounded more distinct from the verses. Still pretty nerdy though, like on “God loves ugly.” Why is it the fate of white rappers that they either 1) try to adopt a completely foreign style, enjoy momentary popularity, then crash and burn (see Vanilla ice, Snow); 2) go the Eminem route and sound all nasally like they’re mocking their own whiteness in the face of a sea of Brooklyn accents. Or else 3) end up with a soul patch and a hyphenated genre, like “folk-rap” or “trip-hop.”

Ugh.

There were some good moments though, like on “Music box,” which is pretty deep but also gets your head bobbing. And in lieu of the obligatory break between last song and encore where we all have to stand around clapping and waiting while they leave for 2 minutes and come back like “surprise! You thought we were gone! But aw shucks you’re such a good crowd, we’ll do a couple more, special for you!” Slug goes “let’s just skip that pretentious bullshit” and they kept going.

The last two songs were slower and prettier, showcasing the deeply personal storytelling I guess they’re known for. Both off the new album, “When life give you lemons, you paint that shit gold,” they did “Guarantees” and “Not another day,” the latter a day-in-the-life tale of the urban poor and dejected.

And on that end note, some went on to St. Ex for yellow fever, and some (this one) bammed out to get some sleep ahead of the grind, today and tomorrow and the next day. Like a chump.

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