Atmosphere – Really (2025)
Thirty years in, and indie hip-hop legends Atmosphere are still shapeshifting. On ‘Really’, the venerated genre-defying duo, Slug and Ant, deliver an exceptional, subtle reinvention, balancing the weight of legacy with the daring of artists still exploring the edge of their sound. Plucked from their upcoming album, Jestures (due September 19th), ‘Really’ is a reminder that evolution doesn’t have to come with a loud bang; it can arrive in a quiet, measured reflection, layered with nuance, grace, and just enough absurdity to keep things interesting.
From the first few bars, it’s clear this isn’t nostalgia dressed up as progress. Ant’s production lays down a mellow groove that feels at once familiar and freshly uncharted. Built from soft-focus synth lines, chopped soul fragments, and delicate percussive textures, it’s a beat that breathes. There’s a meditative quality in its restraint, a sonic palette that invites you to lean in and listen rather than shout along.
Slug, ever the poetic griot, matches the tone with surgical precision. His verses are dense with lived-in wisdom, delivered with a casual confidence that sidesteps bravado in favour of existential clarity. On ‘Really’, he doesn’t posture, he unpacks. The song drifts through themes of emotional honesty, the disorientation of ageing, and the strange intimacy of relationships built on shared flaws. There’s a line between vulnerability and performance that few rappers walk this well, and Slug dances on it like it’s a tightrope and trampoline at once.
What makes ‘Really’ hit hardest, though, is its sincerity. In a genre too often addicted to immediacy, Atmosphere continues to build slow burners that linger. This track doesn’t chase virality; it invites connection. And as the lead-up to Jestures, it suggests that the duo isn’t content to rest on reputation. They’re still sharpening their tools, still chasing the next honest thing, still making music that knows your name before you even hit play.
With ‘Really’, Atmosphere offers a reason to keep listening. After three decades, that’s really saying something. We’re excited for the album as we expect it will be a strong addition to Atmosphere’s discography, showcasing their continued growth and musicality.
The accompanying video, directed by Melby, adds another layer to the song’s dissonant calm. Surreal and absurd in equal measure, it casts Slug in a surrealist action hero role: part John Wick, part The Rehearsal, part Jackass. The juxtaposition is perfect: where the song is internalised and quiet, the visuals are chaotic, highlighting the contrast between how life feels and how it appears. It’s a wink and a nod to the performative self, and yet another way Atmosphere reminds us they’re always in on the joke, even when they’re deadly serious.
Find out more about Atmosphere on their Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
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