After a five year absence, Atmosphere returned to our shores for an five-date tour that will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the best of 2017. In support of their 2016 album Fishing Blues, the Minnesota-born pair of Slug and Ant delivered electrifying live performances across the country, performing new music along with a cherrypicked selection of the greatest tracks from throughout their twenty year career.

Joining Atmosphere on tour was the equally brilliant Brother Ali, who, while in town, released a new single and announced his first album in five years. Not settling for just the opening slot, Ali also came out several times throughout Atmosphere’s set, making it that much more special.

One of the most beloved indie hip-hop groups ever, Atmosphere have stood the test of time, remaining relevant and respected for years beyond many of their peers. As co-founders of Rhymesayers, they have also released music from artists like Aesop Rock, Prof, deM atlaS, Dilated Peoples, MF DOOM and P.O.S, as well as hosting renowned events like Soundset festival – at which our own Horrorshow have just been announced as the first ever Australian act to perform.

Read our interview with Slug here, and check out all the photos from their Melbourne show below.

Brother Ali

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Images: Michelle Grace Hunder

It has been nearly five years since Rhymesayers’ Brother Ali released an album, and nearly four without any new music at all. That all changed today, with a brand new single and an accompanying video, Pen to Paper. Rumour has it that the rapper – who is currently in Australia on tour with Atmosphere – is about to announce his long-awaited new album.

Pen To Paper details what rhyming and hip-hop means to the rapper. He describes how writing rhymes is an escape: “The entire landscape of that blank page was mine/ Create a space to climb inside, escape the crazy times. He continues over the sharp piano and layered horns chronicling his life, including meeting his mentor KRS-One, discovering Malcolm X’s teachings, watching his fanbase grow, and being profiled by the US government while losing his sponsors (perhaps because of Uncle Sam Goddamn). As the video and his rhymes progress, the camera slowly zooms down a dark corridor until it get up close to Ali’s face where the message reads “Announcement Tomorrow.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbTCjpc0MRY

There aren’t too many more details, but label representatives confirmed “new Brother Ali album on the way.”

The news couldn’t have been better timed Brother Ali is currently on tour in Australia with label mates and Rhymesayers founders Atmosphere. Australian’s might be luck enough to be the first hear some more new Brother Ali. Touring details below.

Wed March 1: The Tivoli, Brisbane
Thurs March 2: Metro Theatre, Sydney
Fri March 3: 170 Russell, Melbourne
Sat March 4: Metro City, Perth

Tickets here.

Image: BrotherAli.com

Legendary Minnesota hip-hop acts Atmosphere and Brother Ali have announced a joint headline tour of Australia and New Zealand in February and March 2017.

Earlier this year, Atmosphere released Fishing Blues to critical acclaim, released on their own label Rhymesayers (also responsible for the likes of Aesop Rock, Blueprint and MF DOOM among others.) The unstoppable duo of Ant and Slug will be visiting Australia for the first time since 2012, and as an extra-special treat, they’re bringing along the equally legendary Brother Ali for the ride. This will mark Ali’s first trip since delivering an invigorating keynote address at Bigsound in 2015. Ali hasn’t dropped a full album since 2012, but we’re hoping that the news of a tour might come with a new track or two in the coming months.

As exemplified on Fishing Blues, Atmosphere have achieved something remarkable, something that many other hip-hop artists attempt, but often fail, which is releasing hip-hop that matures and ages at the same pace as the pair, without coming off as stuffy or stale.

Along with their Rhymesayers counterparts, Atmosphere and Brother Ali have been hugely instrumental in pitting Minnesota as a state as rich in independent rhymes as California or New York.

See full dates and details below. Tickets go on sale this Friday November 25 at 10am local time, with a Metropolis pre-sale kicking off tomorrow, November 25, at 10am local time. You can find tickets and more information here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ueCFLkJdA

Atmosphere & Brother Ali Aus/NZ Tour Dates 2017

Sat Feb 25: Powerstation, Auckland
Mon Feb 27: The Gov, Adelaide
Wed March 1: The Tivoli, Brisbane
Thurs March 2: Metro Theatre, Sydney
Fri March 3: 170 Russell, Melbourne
Sat March 4, Metro City, Perth

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Image: Supplied

Brisbane’s enormous annual music industry gathering, BIGSOUND, has today announced its first guest speakers for 2015. Former federal minister and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett is the most prominent name on a bill of highly-respected and influential music industry executives and other talent.

Garrett will give one of two keynote speeches at the gathering in September, with the other to be delivered by rapper and activist Brother Ali, who has recently spoken at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum and Princeton University. Ali has had the unique experience of living as the albino child of white Muslim parents in the American mid-west, and is sure to offer remarkable insight and perspective to his audience.

Joining them will be a plethora of music industry professionals from around the world.

BIGSOUND 2015 will be held from the 9-11 September. For more information, and to secure early tickets, visit the website.

 

BIGSOUND 2015 INDUSTRY SPEAKERS/BUYERS

Peter Garrett – Keynote  (AUS)
Brother Ali – Keynote (USA)
Ashanti Abdullah – Rhymesayers Entertainment (USA)
Alex Maxwell – Troubadour (USA)
Amy Morgan – Beggars Publishing / Glass Animals (UK)
Avery McTaggart – The Windish Agency (USA)
Ben Munro – Hostess (JPN)
Ben O’Connor – Chapter Music (AUS)
Eric Barleen – Another Planet Entertainment (USA)
Guy Blackman – Chapter Music (AUS)
Jacob Daneman – Pitch Perfect PR (USA)
Jacqueline Saturn – Harvest Records (USA)
Josh Moore – Bowery Presents (USA)
Julia Wilson – Rice is Nice (AUS)
Justin Sweeting – WME / Clockenflap (HK)
Laura Snapes – Freelance Writer (UK)
Lesley Olenik Golindo – Goldenvoice (USA)
Lio Kanine – Kanine Records (USA)
Lorrae McKenna – Remote Control Records (AUS)
Marshall Betts – The Windish Agency (USA)
Meg Helsel – Grandstand Media (USA)
Melissa Yong – Other Sounds / Village Sounds (SGP)
Meredith Fraser – Panache Booking (USA)
Paul Buck – Coda Agency (UK)
Phil Waldorf – Secretly Group (USA)
Rachel Cragg – Nettwerk Music Group (USA)
Robin McNicol – Superfly (USA)
Sat Bisla – A&R Worldwide (USA)
Talya Elitzer – Capitol Music Group (USA)
Tunji Balogun – RCA Records (USA)