Originally formed in 1993, Atmosphere boasts a career of steady success as an independent hip hop group. Over 17 years the collective has survived various incarnations to the present lineup which includes Slug (rhymes) and Ant (producer/tour DJ) and touring band Nate Collis (Guitar) and Erick Anderson (keys).

Together, Slug and Ant's discography includes 6 full-length albums and a horde of EP's. Characteristically, Slug’s rhymes are centered on real-life, troublesome issues such as relationships, substance abuse, and financial hardship. Ant’s mellow production balances the seriousness of the lyrics, delivering honest rap music in intelligible ways that Average Joes everywhere can connect with.

I recently spoke with Atmosphere emcee Slug about his group and what’s on the agenda for a late summer string of concerts. Atmosphere's To All My Friends Tour stops at The Vogue Friday, Sept. 10.

NUVO: Tell me about the Atmosphere double EP this tour is supporting.
SLUG: It drops on 9/7 and will be available at all the stops on the tour. We’re releasing this one without running it through “the machine.” So, no Best Buys and no Targets. But some small towns don’t have record shops, so we’ve made it available for download online as well. We just wanted to take it off of the mainstream. We’re in a decent situation as far as indie rap goes. So with the type of success we’ve seen, we’ve got to keep experimenting. I see it as the responsibility of someone like myself to try new shit and see what works, so that the next generation of rappers has some history to use and act upon.

NUVO: How will this tour be different than the last? Will it draw on material from the span of Atmosphere’s life, or will it concentrate on a particular era/album of your career?
SLUG: Last time we did a lot from God Loves Ugly and [When Life Gives You] Lemons [You Paint That Shit Gold]. We’ll still have some songs from those albums but we’re also working on another new record that we’ll play from to try out [new songs] live and see how they need to be amended to make them work better. Some from Overcast. There will probably be something from every record.

NUVO: You’re touring with Blueprint?
SLUG: Blueprint and I have been friends since 1998. We met in Columbus, Ohio. He is a very honest, talented rapper. He has a unique way of articulating complex issues. He’s able to take an idea you wouldn’t expect a rapper to talk about, but then translate it in a way that rap listeners can understand. Kind of like a fucking diamond in the rough. Art in general is about communication. Someone who can really communicate — that’s amazing.

NUVO: On your last stop in Indianapolis, you spoke, on a personal level, about concertgoers recording live performances and then exploiting the recordings on the internet. Do you still have the same thoughts and feelings?
SLUG: When I was kid, we used to trade tapes. I bought all these records and had the b-sides, so I would record them on tape and share with my friends. But I shared those tapes with my friends, not everyone in the world. It was personal like, “Because I think you’ll like it and because I care about you, I want you to listen to this.” Not, “I’m trying to be cool and have something that nobody else has.” I understand the validation people get from screaming, “Hey! Look what I’ve got!” I’m not against that. But a live show is personal. You paid for it. This is yours. Respect that.
It’s especially bad when people leak an album early. There’s a real problem with that. All the anticipation is lost and it’s sad when that happens. It’s like sneaking into the closet and looking at all your birthday presents before they’re given to you.

NUVO: When I was at the last Atmosphere concert in Indy, I ran into some high school kids sitting on the steps outside of The Vogue. They were so dedicated to your music that they were listening from the backdoor because they weren’t old enough to get in the club. What do you have to say to them and others like them who can’t get into age restricted venues?
SLUG: Is the show at a 21+ club again? Damn. I didn’t know that. Is Luna still around? I’ll have to see if I can get something set up.
For the fans who can’t make it into the show: keep your head up. We all have to wait; that’s just how it is. But don’t use that as a reason to be cynical, angry, or frustrated. Use that time to see another show or write a song. Put that energy into creating something of your own.

NUVO: How do you feel knowing that young ears are listening to your harsh, brutally honest, and real lyrics?
SLUG: [Since the birth of my son] I’ve been slowly trying to figure out how to communicate in a way that is still real and harsh without necessarily glorifying the bullshit. I do speak on mischief, but let’s be honest — kids understand mischief. I also show consequences, not just, “Hey let’s party and have fun.”

Slug stayed true to his word, and our suggestion: Atmosphere will stop at Luna Music Midtown (52nd and College) for an all-ages meet & greet from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Expect a low-key vibe. Copies of the tour-only double EP To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EPs will be available.