Minneapolis hip hop artists Atmosphere have released a free on-line album titled Strictly Leakage. I have not listened to any of Atmosphere’s other CDs but some have told me this release is a bit different. The most prominent thing I noticed about Strictly Leakage is that it is more than good hip hop, it’s downright funky which is a emotion that is conspicuously absent in a lot of today’s rap music. The opening track “YGM” has a James Brown funk thing going and that retro 60s soul influence pretty much remains throughout the entire session. I can see Mr. Brown dancing in his grave during “Get it To Get Her”. Add Slug’s original and usually outrageous lyrics and you have a first rate party album. I also like “That Not Beef, That’s Pork”, “Little Math You” and Slug’s ode to junk food and pharmaceuticals “The Things That Hate Us”. But if you want a certified adrenaline rush, you have to hear the super cool “Road To Riches”. Atmosphere has a good chance to be one of the handful of rap groups I listen to on a regular basis.

Strictly Leakage is available in 192kbps MP3. If you enjoy the music, support the artists by buying their CDs. I plan to buy one or two.

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