This song hit hard back in highschool. Hits a little harder twelve years later in the warehouse.

I listened to this for the first time when I was 16 and I didn't really get it. Now I'm 30 and listening to it again and it all makes sense now.

Years ago my cousin turned me on to Atmosphere. She went into a coma on Xmas day. Today I learned she was declared braindead and is being taken off of life support. She is an organ donor, and will be saving others lives now. This was one of the songs we used to flow with together. This song now means the absolute world to me, and couldn't be any better. Respect.

I used to get blackout drunk to this song, thinking I would die to my alcoholism in my early 20s. I'm now 27 and haven't had a drink in almost 2 years :) I still love this song though!

Slug is evidence that rap can indeed be poetry. He’s a poet.

“The Only guarantee in life, is a life worth dying for. Cuz death don’t wait for no one, it’s sitting on your front door.” Best lyric ever!

i met slug when he was touring for god loves ugly .too young to get into the club i pressed my ear against the cold steel door after the show i busted out the tape recorder and we busted a rhyme in an alley..such a genuine person.and very easy to get along with..we helped him load up his tour van then he gave a bunch of merch for being a "SOLDIER" his words. lol i stood outside in -25c so i could meet him

This dude knows the struggle.

The older you get the more you appreciate this song 'cause you can finally start relating to it. And that's the beauty 'bout Atmosphere. The songs are timeless.

spent a long time in the pen for a felony. This man is the only rapper who has accurately captured the sorrow and feeling of the uphill battle that the struggle is. I respect him greatly. His songs outweigh all of these rappers of todays age by a long shot because his words have meaning. Its more than bitches, money, and drugs. Its the day in day out march to the end. The hard work and love that you put into something that you care about. This man is in all of us.

this is the realest rap song of all time and atmosphere is the working mans rapper he knows exactly how so many of us feel and is the true rap god

So many could learn from this song. Not just its lyrics, but its structure. Not often at all you run into hip-hop without any percussion, yet it flows so well

I'm in my 30's and This song hits harder than Asteroid that killed the Dinosaurs.

I used to listen to this song often with my best friend while we were drinking. We listened to atmosphere since about 2010. He died this past April due to organ failure from alcoholism. This is the first time I’ve listened to this song since he passed…rest in peace Blaise.

Its crazy the only beat to this is just the guitar, no snare or bass, so fucking epic.

Who still playing this in 24?

While all Atmosphere is great, this has been and will always been one of my favorite tracks.

Wish slug would write songs like this again. Use to be the best lyricist I'm the game

It would be too selfish to not spread Atmosphere around. I'm glad for ppl who come upon their greatness

A decade later, his words still hit a deep chord in me.

Some of the deepest lyrics you'll find in rap. Who else memorized them from start to finish?

I've been listening to this song for the last 3 hours.

I'm 47 YO. I was one of the first white kids in Hollywood to listen to rap. My cousin V gave me a grandmaster flash tape. My cousins helped import graffiti art from New York City to Los Angeles. V died injecting heroin.

the guitar tone in this jam is amazing.

You know a song speaks truth when you realize that you, or someone you know, is going through the exact same thing he raps about. The only way you can possibly put it the way he did, is if you have lived it.

So many positive comments ... i thank everyone here not judging the position many of us were molded into..so many quick to judge by my only pair of beat up shoes and dirty clothes , Red eyes Tired from the double shifts and cuts on my arms from working heavy labor.. Im only 20 soon to be 21 in a month and this is my Stuggle .my life you would not believe...i cant even believe the obstacles ive faced...but im here and im still fighting for the future of my better half and our family. i dont share this seeking pitty just wanted to share . i guess.. vent on a stressfull night... my older bro showed me this a few days before passing away a few months back. i miss you so much ruben... i know youre watching over me in heaven... ah bro sometimes giving up seems so easy...But i Cant! i refuse! my glass isnt half empty ,its half full..half full of water! half full of Atmosphere! Prayers go out to thoes living this reality ....youre not alone. "Dont give up the life many are struggling to hold on to" Roobs. July17, 1994-September 2, 2016

OG ATMOSPHERE#1

I contemplate very dark things, especially during these days- I look to Atmosphere to heal and keep myself awake for the next day. #StillNotThere #HopefullyOneDay

No matter how you wann put it Pac and Big will always be remembered, and thought of as legends. They did too much, were too skilled, and impacted too many ppl's lives not to become legendary. They're legends.

I remember a small performance back in 2001 at the ski resort bar in Duluth Minnesota at Spirit Mountain. It was Slug and Eyedea (Rest in Peace) putting on a show for about 40 people. It was amazing, glad to see Slug makin it .

I like it because he's not trying to compete with other rappers. He just has something to say.

Being that it's me, my wife, and my son in this situation this song hits now more then ever.

I remember being a young mom of 1 and thought I knew hard times when this dropped now that same shorty is now 16 and this song reallllllly is reflective of the times. Atmosphere so good for the soul

"The only guarantee in life is a life worth dying for, cause death don't wait for no one, he is sittin' on your front door." Awesome beat and lyrics.

Love this for the lower class... real shit .. Atmosphere brings the blue collar truth... lived it and respect to the man who can articulate the words to explain it... 2014 and still feeling this

Every single sentence is a carefully crafted work of art.

The one thing I’ve loved about atmosphere is slugs more or less life stories, the best part about him is how real and incredibly honest he is. My favorite rapper and hip hop artist, also the most heartfelt and amazing stories and passion in the comments in every video.

"These warehouse wages Kill the ends introduction Man I should have schooled it up When I was younger should have stuck to plan Always had the dreams of being more self assertive And my kids a teenager, now he needs the health insurance So break my body Break break my soul down Just another zombie walking blindly through your ghost town Pull up to the bar to politic and tap the power Ain't nobody really all that jolly at your happy hour But I don't want to go home yet So I'm gonna talk to my cigarette And that television set It doesn't matter what brand or station Anything to take away from the current situation No overtime pay no holiday Months behind on everything but the lottery Went around the corner guaranteeing that my car died Wifey having trouble trying to juggling both the part times My cup ain't close to filled up We trying to build up so we can have enough And when I finally get the colour Won't be nothing left to paint on A friend of mine tried to kill himself to the same song My better half is mad at making magic out of canned goods My tax bracket status gotta questioning my man hood My shorty got caught smoking weed at a concert And if I smack em everybody treats me like a monster My neighbors ain't doing much better And we making competition instead of sticking together Can't save no nest egg in fact this nest is rented In fact that rent is late, wait The money ain't here the raise ain't coming Just me and my son and that crazy woman And those bartenders this whole fucking country Got everybody swallowing that lunch meat Maybe we can speed up the process Kill me in my thirties in the name of progress Put me in the dirt and then change the topic Some time it seems like the only way to stop it Contemplate my departure date Doesn't take a lot to get a lot of us to talk this way Take a shot at me that's all I'm obligated for Apparently my only guarantee is a walk away The only guarantee in life, is a life worth dying for 'Cause death don't wait for no one Sitting on your front door The only guarantee in life, is a life worth dying for 'Cause death don't wait for no one Sitting on your front door"

my man, you don't know me at all but I'll always consider you a good friend and a prodigy of our generation. This song speaks to everyone who ever cared more about being a dad than their own selves.

Honestly the greatest MC to ever do it.

I understood this as a teen, I feel it as an adult 🔥💯

This song hits different now that I'm a little more grown. Thank you for being so relatable Atmosphere!

I’ve found all this underground hip hop it changed my life, it all started with me just listening to Tupac when I was 12 I’m 25 now I found atmosphere when I was 17

I come back to this song when I’m struggling as a father… it stops me from checking out when I need to

I love how I always come back to Atmosphere and it’s always so fresh and beyond relevant. You can feel this song in your soul. Peace. Enjoy the cypress hill tour guys

I saw him back in September. Energy was SO amazing. I'll remember it for the rest of my life.

I cant get enough of Atmosphere, this was the first group that inspired my hiphop and continues to inspire me and my music.

One day I would just like to sit over a cliff watching the ocean, feeling that breeze, and watch the waves crash along the rocks. While having my ear buds cranked up listening to this song thinking about life and how I'm living it.

Atmosphere are my favourite band these last few years, only wish I'd discovered them back at the start, instead of only around ten years ago. About the same age as Slug now, hoping I'll get to see them LIVE! one day. Somebody's amp is buzzing

The older we get, the more it all makes sense.

Plus his songs from Language Of My World are just Hip-Hop at its finest.

I love alot or music artists, but honestly I will never respect another artist as much as Atmosphere. No one sings about the modern mans struggle as well or deep as him. It helps me feel more close to him as an actual person

Love Slug but everyone forgets about DJ Ant. The track is fucking awesome.

Always come back to you, Slug.. And I'm always reminded life is mine to make great. That you alone determine your success. Thank you for the 10+ years you've been in my ears, head and life.

16 years later… gave me chills hearing this at 18…. The chills were worse from it at age 32, guess thats just the life experiences adding their 2¢

I ain't mad at no one to disturb no one like whatever in no type of way. I just forget been forgotten and forgiven and God bless you to.

Slug's lyrics always resonate with me in a way no other can match.

Just found Atmosphere and I wish I had known about him sooner. So unique. I love that he breaks the expectations of rap songs like Tech N9ne but even more so

atmosphere never got the recognition he truly deserved, hes in a realm of Nas, lord quas, rakim, eric b, prince paul

the roots are one of my favorite hip hop bands.. they have endless hits, 'what they do', 'water', 'stay cool', 'love of my life' those are some head bangers that will surely leave you going back for more

What a powerful song. I'm so glad I found Atmosphere

I graduated because of this song. This is your "wake-up call" song. Education is the only way to escape poverty.

Atmosphere is the the American peoples champion. So many of Slug's social observations hit the nail on the head. thanks

RIP Creeps Mcpeeps. Dankhouse will remember you forever homie.

2 scoops of whoop whoop to my hometown hero's atmosphere still the best and always will be.

Can't believe this came out 10 years ago! When this came out I was already listening to slug for 10 years + wow

this song has been stuck in my head for the last week. just bubbled up randomly after not hearing it in years.

My favorite Atmosphere song on my favorite Atmosphere album!!

Love this song.. and How I feel right now... Gonna rap along with this ... love ya slug.. still teaching me to keep it real

Strong message in this song! Been a fan since the late 90's and still listen to every album. I had the pleasure of catching 2 shows one in Houston and one in Austin with Brother Ali!!! Please come to San Antonio. 💚

Atmospehre, Grieves, Brother Ali and Aesop Rock is the best way to start. takes time fall for the genre. The song that made me fall for this kind of music is Atmosphere - The woman with the tattooed hands, i recommend that song very much!

I just lost a nephew today; he was the one that put me on Atmosphere and got me into hip-hop. Rest in Paradise buddy.

This song is to the many people who think hip hop is dead. It's more alive than ever.

Everybody who listened to this when it came out, knows exactly what he's talking about now.

Slug I dont know if youre ever going to see this but thanks for this song. Helped me through high school so much and im now 22. I ran into it after 2-3 years and it brought back all these memories

I listened to this in my early twenties and loved it now I listen in my mid thirties and I understand it...

Song is very reflective of what’s going on today

God's Bathroom floor is my personal favorite.. kinda relate much to my own life story too ... Big ups to Slug and Ant. You fellas save my life everytime I'm about to have a breakdown

I have alot of respect for you slug. Been listening to your music since I was a kid. It's surely helped me process the chemical imbalances and decline of humanity over the years. Hope you're keeping strong to this day.

So many like minded people here, its like I'm reading the artists from my music folder. @Melodyyrdz you have been given an infinite amount of music suggestion, everyone of these artists are timeless.

poet, rapper, artist.

Doesn't matter what brand or station anything to take away from the current situation

So many songs to relate to this guy. Been years of listening to this guy and memorizing every word he has to say. Love the new and old but this is the only song of its kind in his library. Needs to change that

This song always has me coming back. For years now.... Good old college years

This song is a must at every campfire. BEAUTIFUL!

For all of us that love Atmosphere and think they need more exposure, please request any of the KZfaq music react channels u watch to do their songs. It's a great way to get their music out to a new audience. Everyone that I play Atmosphere to, love it, but can't believe they have never heard of them. Let's help real hip hop artists get the love they deserve.

What i'm saying is he is someone who does what makes him money rather then be real, among many other things... why should he be the one who gets more props then the ones who can make you feel something deeper then wanting to be a party animal.

Dang I've been listening since I was 10 years old. Now In 28 and this song is spot on

this song man.......... thing song

Who else is here during quarantine?

Such a solid song. Working mans reality.

I can listen to this over and over without it ever getting old.

i fucking love this guy. his lyrics, his stories, his beats...the fact that he is true to his style and stays in the best place to be for rap...underground! can't wait to see him at summerfest! my inspiration as a writer myself :) June 28

So break my body, break break my soul down. Seen atmosphere last week and this song was to good! “Friend of mine tried to kill himself to the same song” crowd all yelled it still get chills

I am a big, hairy, bearded heavy metal stereotype. Slug can bring me to tears, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

thanks for all the suggestions, really a huge span of music to take in, and im enjoying the new feel. i definitely also suggest everyone to break out of your own genre comfort zone, its surprising how much you can discover.

man this video used to get heavy play on mtv2. miss those days.

Who could recommend some music that is along the same lines as this?

It's a song about being disappointed in yourself. Settling for what you have and desiring what you shouldn't. If you're a realist

Lighters in the air ❤