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

The “San Francisco” installment of the Paid Dues Festival, featuring Mos Def, Rakim, GZA, De La Soul and a grip of others, set for tomorrow in Berkeley (hey, close enough) has been cancelled. Here’s the release:

Guerilla Union and MURS 3:16 regret to announce that the PAID DUES INDEPENDENT HIP HOP FESTIVAL scheduled for Saturday, June 14 at the Berkeley Community Theatre in Berkeley, CA, has been cancelled due to matters beyond our control.

For fans who have purchased tickets to the show, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Refunds are available for ticket holders at the point-of-purchase.

Ahh, good old “matters beyond our control.”

Our friends over at Def Jux have themselves a fancy new website and web store, which launched today. Check out the press release below or just go lurk it for yourself here:

True to its pioneering nature, independent hip hop powerhouse Definitive Jux is relaunching its groundbreaking website and webstore, definitivejux.net, aka The Pharmacy, aka djRx, on June 2nd, 2008. In 2006, it became the first music website to offer simultaneous purchase of digital and physical merchandise in one shopping cart, and definitivejux.net’s continued cutting edge approach has helped carve the path to the future of fan-based online music retailing. It has now become a major part of the label’s platform to promote, market and sell a variety of offerings from the Def Jux roster, including Aesop Rock, El-P, Del the Funky Homosapien, Dizzee Rascal, Cage, and Mr. Lif. The site will be serving up a consistent flow of new content, both free and commercial, including exclusive material, live performance video and audio clips, images, ringtones, and more.

The site relaunch will feature brand new releases and several djRx exclusives. The fans have spoken and Def Jux has listened by posting Aesop Rock’s None Shall Pass Instrumentals & Accapellas, new videos by Dizzee Rascal and Hangar 18, live performances by El-P, and more. Upcoming releases will surface each week and slated first is an EP and video by The Mighty Underdogs (Gift of Gab & Lateef), a Del The Funky Homosapien remix by Aesop Rock, El-P instrumentals, brand new music by Mr. Lif, Dizzee Rascal, Cage, Rob Sonic, Chin Chin and more.

Not only is the site’s new design pleasing to the eye, but countless hours have been spent making sure each visit is as unique and user-friendly as ever. The company’s aim is to give fans a simple yet fulfilling experience while discovering and purchasing new music and merchandise from the Def Jux universe.

The store will also relaunch with fresh & exclusive merchandise items, featuring a design partnership with long-time Def Jux ally and super-legendary graffiti writer Phase2, originator of the ‘wild style’ technique. The debut of the DJX branded sneaker line will feature an original and custom Phase2 design, who also blesses the cover of the new Def Jux artist sketchbook. Additionally, new versions of classic Def Jux merch will be available as well as new designs, plus traditional bestsellers like hoodies and belt buckles. A line of branded download cards will also be introduced, allowing fans to download a bundle of special content, including audio, video and image files. These cards will be available with purchases of $25 dollars and above.

On the social media side, Definitivejux.net will be partnering with social music site Fairtilizer.com for a “Greatest Hits” fan competition, using Fairtilizer’s revolutionary music player. Fans will be able to create, submit, embed and vote for their favorite playlists, with the winning playlist pressed up on special edition vinyl by Def Jux, and the top vote getters receiving an assortment of special gifts and prizes. Details of the contest will be announced on the Def Jux and Fairtilizer websites in late June.

For the first time in its history, definitivejux.net will offer advertising opportunities for select brands to reach what has organically become a considerable online niche community, resulting in over 1 million page views per month with no concerted marketing.