The release of Atmosphere's newest music video probably couldn't have been better timed for hometown fans.
Due to take over the Palace Theatre on Friday and Saturday night – only their second time at St. Paul's new music hub after helping inaugurate the historic space last year – Minneapolis hip-hop gurus Slug and Ant dropped their clip for "Drown" just a day ahead of these special shows. Their two opening rappers for the pair of gigs, Dem Atlas and the Lioness, are both featured on the track, as is another rising Twin Cities wordsmith I'm guessing we'll also see, Cashinova.
Filmed with low-lit, black-and-white imagery by Minneapolis filmmaker Tomas Aksamit, the clip for "Drown" matches the dark, stark tone of the song – and really is emblematic of the bulk of Atmosphere's latest record, "Mi Vida Local."
It's by far the most chill and contemplative-sounding LP in the group's canon. Slug seems to be facing his middle-age years with the same weariness and worry brought on by the news and turmoil of the day, though he still squeezes in some fun here and there, too. It should make for an extra-interesting hometown set this time around, and a good fit for the intimate vibe of the Palace. These probably aren't the kind of songs Slug will pull out of his hoodie to liven up the summer vibe at the next Soundset fest.
Tickets ($30) are still available to Friday's show and have been newly released to Saturday's, which had previously been sold-out. DJ Keezy of Klituation party-starting notoriety also performs each night (8 p.m. show time).
