So, here are my final thoughts on The Family Sign. Overall, I’m going to say this is an excellent album. However, it is very different from anything Atmosphere has put out before. I have been a follower of Atmosphere for years and years and years. The group essentially helped me to realized that rap can be introspective and intellectual, seeing as I grew up during the mainstream proliferation of gangster rap.
As Atmosphere has progressed, their work has become increasingly refined. Earlier releases leading up To When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold were more upbeat with fast-paced beats and high energy in general. While deep subject content was always a motif to Atmosphere’s albums, the recently introduced (and heavily used) guitar and other authentic instrumentals have really served to give said deep messages that much more meaning.
Enter: The Family Sign. True to Slug’s words, the album does revolve around deeply personal and introspective conversations. In short, a great deal of the humor that has previously interlaced the group’s work is now absent. But, that’s fine, even though the generally laid-back tone of the new album has an arguably negative emotional spin to it as well. The result, in my opinion, is a much more beautiful album.
Case and point, my two other favorite tracks from the album, “Became” and “The Last To Say”. See my other two top picks here.
I can already tell that this track will be the most underrated one on The Family Sign.
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Listen: Atmosphere – Became
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Listen: Atmosphere – The Last To Say
Go buy the whole album right hur.
