I might have a few cents to throw in about Atmosphere, the time I interviewed Slug, the state of independent hip-hop and other topics, but seeing as how I have an article due for Jake for the Synthesis weekly…here’s the part where I copy and paste an entire press release.

ATMOSPHERE TO PAINT THE NATION ON FALL TOUR
Atmosphere’s Fall tour embarks on September 10th in the US.

Atmosphere are ready to “Paint The Nation” and will do so by playing over 50 shows across the US this Fall in support of their new album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. The trek kicks off September 10th in Fargo, ND and includes festival dates including Monolifth in Denver, Street Scene in San Diego, Edge Fest in Phoenix and KFMA Fall Ball in Tucson. The full lineup of the “Paint The Nation” Tour is Atmosphere featuring special guests Abstract Rude, Blueprint and DJ Rare Groove. The first leg of the tour is below and the second leg will be announced next week.

Atmosphere killed it on the Late Show with David Letterman this past Wednesday night, check out the performance of “You” featuring backup vocals from P.O.S. here:

Atmosphere's sixth studio album When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold debuted at #5 on the Top Billboard Top 200 in April and has now scanned almost 120,000 units and is the fastest selling Atmosphere record to date. Atmosphere was MTV's 52/52 "Artist Of The Week." back in May (you can watch clips on Atmosphere's MySpace). Atmosphere headlined the first ever Soundset Festival in Minneapolis this past May that featured the very best in independent Hip Hop. Soundset sold over 12,000 tickets. The first single off the album, "You" is getting heavy airplay across the country and is currently climbing the Alternative charts thanks to rotations at KROQ/LA, INDIE 103/LA, 91X/San Diego, KNDD/Seattle, KVGS/Las Vegas, KITS/San Francisco, KEDJ/Phoenix, KROX/Austin, KWOD/Sacramento, KCCQ/Des Moins, KFMA/Tucson, WLUM/Milwaukee, Sirius, XM and Music Choice among others. Look for the music video for "You" to hit in the beginning of September. Atmosphere has now performed "You" on Conan, Letterman and is booked for Jimmy Kimmel's outdoor stage on Wednesday, September 24th.

"As a front-man, the charismatic Slug has matured into one of hip-hop's best performers." LA Times

First Leg of the "PAINT THE NATION" Tour Ft. Atmosphere & Special Guests Abstract Rude, Blueprint and DJ Rare Groove
**Bold are festival dates w/just Atmosphere
Wednesday 10-Sep-08 Fargo, ND The Venue
Thursday 11-Sep-08 Sioux Falls, SD Sioux Empire Expo Center
Friday 12-Sep-08 Omaha, NE Slowdown
Saturday 13-Sep-08 Denver, CO Monolifth
Monday 15-Sep-08 Boise, ID Knitting Factory
Tuesday 16-Sep-08 Missoula, MT Wilma Theater
Thursday 18-Sep-08 Eugene, OR McDonald Theater
Friday 19-Sep-08 Sacramento, CA Empire
Saturday 20-Sep-08 San Diego, CA Street Scene
Sunday 21-Sep-08 Bakersfield, CA the Dome
Monday 22-Sep-08 Santa Cruz, CA Catalyst
Thursday 25-Sep-08 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern
Friday 26-Sep-08 Las Vegas, NV HOB
Saturday 27-Sep-08 Phoenix, AZ Edge Fest
Sunday 28-Sep-08 Tucson, AZ KFMA Fall Ball
Tuesday 30-Sep-08 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
Wednesday 1-Oct-08 New Orleans, LA Tipitina's
Friday 3-Oct-08 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution
Saturday 4-Oct-08 Orlando, FL Firestone
Monday 6-Oct-08 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
Tuesday 7-Oct-08 Ashville, NC Orange Peel
Wednesday 8-Oct-08 Richmond, VA Toads Place
Friday 10-Oct-08 Baltimore Ram's Head
Saturday 11-Oct-08 New Haven, CT Toad's Place

MySpace: www.myspace.com/atmosphere
Label: www.rhymesayers.com

If you haven’t realized, we have a tab on our page entitled ‘Sweeps‘.  Roll on over to check out some of the free stuff we’re giving away.  We’ve got hot shwag from Shwayze, CSNY, Sick of Sarah, Def Leppard, Atmosphere, a bajillion graphic designers… really, the list is huge.  This stuff is laying in a giant, well kept mound on Ms. Nickel’s desk, and she’s fed up with it.  Go check it out, sign up and win!

Here’s a little something Video Matt and I put together for you. It’s story time, kids! Today I’ll be reading a story by Sean Daley and Anthony Davis of Atmosphere that comes with the special edition of When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold. Enjoy!

For your copy of WLGYLYPTSG, simply click here and the iTunes store should open in a new window.

I’ve never even heard of the Rothbury Festival, but I’ll be damned, my favorite boys Ant and Sluggo from Atmosphere are playing it! As well as: (in alpha-fricken-betical order which was a biatch, fyi, you’rewelcomeverymuch)…

311 + A3 + ATMOSPHERE + BASSNECTAR + THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS + BETH ORTON + BETTYE LAVETTE + THE BLACK KEYS + BOOMBOX + BRETT DENNEN + BROTHER ALI + BUSDRIVER + CITIZEN COPE + COLBIE CAILLAT + CRYSTAL METHOD DJ SET + DAVE MATTHEWS BAND + DEAD CONFEDERATE + DEREK TRUCKS AND SUSAN TEDESCHI SOUL STEW REVIVAL + DIPLO + THE DISCO BISCUITS + DJ REKHA + DJ ROOTZ + THE DRESDEN DOLLS + DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS + THE DYNAMITES FEATURING CHARLES WALKER + EMMITT-NERSHI BAND + EOTO + ETOWN RADIO SHOW + FLOSSTRADAMUS + FOUR FINGER FIVE + GREENSKY BLUEGRASS + THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS + GOGOL BORDELLO + GOV’T MULE + INGRID MICHAELSON + JJ GREY & MOFRO + JAKOB DYLAN AND THE GOLD MOUNTAIN REBELS + JOHN MAYER + THE JUAN MACLEAN + KELLER WILLIAMS WITH MOSELEY + DROLL & SIPE + KYLE HOLLINGSWORTH BAND + LOTUS + MEDESKI MARTIN AND WOOD + MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD + MICKEY HART BAND FEATURING STEVE KIMOCK AND GEORGE PORTER JR. + MIKE GORDON + MODEST MOUSE + MOTION POTION + OF MONTREAL + PANJEA WITH MICHAEL KANG + PERPETUAL GROOVE + PHIL LESH AND FRIENDS + PNUMA TRIO + PRIMUS + RAILROAD EARTH + RODRIGO Y GABRIELA + SAGE FRANCIS + SAM BEAM OF IRON AND WINE + THE SECRET MACHINES + SLIGHTLY STOOPID + SOJORN + SNOOP DOGG (!!!!!) + STATE RADIO + STEEL PULSE + STS9 + TAJ MAHAL + TEA LEAF GREEN + THIEVERY CORPORATION + TRAMPLED BY TURTLES + THE WAILERS FEATURING ELAN + WIDESPREAD PANIC + YARD DOGS ROAD SHOW + YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND FEATURING JON FISHMAN + ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA

The music festival revolution goes down July 3rd through the 6th in Rothbury, Michigan. Getchur tickets here.

Had to take down Atmosphere’s When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold lyrics… “shoulda known” better, I s’pose. But here’s something I can replace it with: the “Shoulda Known” video, a teaser single from the album due out April 22nd. Pre-order it here.

i <3 sean and my bf’s jealous.

I was surfing YouTube, looking for footage on Slug (man of my dreams) when I found this highly educational video. So here, Internet. Learn something.

I don’t understand why this isn’t considered porn. Just ‘cuz it’s an animal other than human? Isn’t it kind of arrogant to think that our sex is so sacred that it shouldn’t be readily available for every perv? Speaking of pervs… you can view my live yahoo channel here.