The votes have been tallied and once again URB readers have made their voices heard. And how did 2012 flesh out in terms of your favorite artists? A rock solid mix of all-time favorites, current buzz-makers and a few veteran acts climbing their way to the top once again. Don’t call it a comeback — although it seems hip-hop dominated your world in 2012, while the rest of America was jocking EDM as the next big thing. Are MCs the new DJs, who are the new pop stars, already?

12. DOOMTREE

This seven-person collective from the Twin Cities has been on our radar for almost a decade, although it seemed like they’d forever be in the shadow of MPLS patriarchy Rhymesayers. Not that there’s anything but healthy competition between the two camps. And now, riding on win after win as a team, plus all-star performances from individual players Lazerbeak and Dessa, Doomtree has cracked our year end list for the first time. Looks like Minnesota is still the hip-hop capital of the Midwest.

]]> http://www.urb.com/2012/12/18/top-12-acts-of-2012-urb-readers-poll-winners/feed/ 0 http://www.urb.com/2012/08/30/b-dolan-asks-which-side-are-you-on/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=b-dolan-asks-which-side-are-you-on http://www.urb.com/2012/08/30/b-dolan-asks-which-side-are-you-on/#comments Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:44:44 +0000 Brett Uddenberg http://www.urb.com/?p=84009

From his open mic poetry days in NYC to ripping mics at the earth-shattering Church of Love and Ruin shows, B. Dolan has always used his platform and his art to rally against a host of evils plaguing modern man. Falling in line with the ethos of the Church festival, which recently celebrated its second year tearing through the northeast, Dolan’s “Which Side Are You On?” is a battle cry against small-minded hatred. Hip hop has been viewed as a homophobic art form for far too long. One need look no further than the Busta Rhymes interview clip featured in Dolan’s video for a taste of such ignorance. Along with the only footage of the arrest of Leslie Feinberg, a prominent transgender activist who tagged the Minneapolis City Jail is solidarity with Cece McDonald, Atmosphere‘s Slug makes a cameo marching alongside Dolan.

“Which Side Are You On?” is taken from Dolan’s House of Bees Vol. 2 mixtape, available now on Strange Famous Records. His Church of Love and Ruin tour, featuring Sage Francis on select shows, is currently making its way through the UK, with remaining dates listed after the video.

 SEP 1 – MILTON KEYNES, UK – CRAUFORD ARMS (B. DOLAN ONLY, EXTENDED SOLO SET)

Tickets and info: https://fan.musicglue.com/sale/saleproducts.aspx?productid=db6c264c-9dc1-4e3c-846e-de5d29863e9d&resellerid=cafb7dcc-52a5-477b-a7b6-a153d32238d8

SEP 2 – BRISTOL, UK – THE CROFT (B. DOLAN ONLY, EXTENDED SOLO SET)

Tickets and Info: http://www.bristolticketshop.co.uk/

SEP 3 - LONDON, UK - at “JAZZ CAFE”

Tickets and info: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=519713

SEP 4 - LIVERPOOL, UK - at “KAZIMIER”
Tickets and info: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_northwest&query=detail&event=519213

SEP 5 - BIRMINGHAM, UK - at “HMV INSTITUTE”
Tickets and info: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_midlands&query=detail&event=519030

SEP 6 - READING, UK - at “SUB89″ (ft. headlining set from SAGE FRANCIS)
Tickets and info: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/176740

SEP 7 - BRIGHTON, UK - at “Coalition” (ft. headlining set from SAGE FRANCIS)
Tickets and info: http://www.seetickets.com/Event/B-DOLAN-PRESENTS-THE-CHURCH-OF-LOVE-RUIN/Coalition/653799

SEP 9 - BESTIVAL - at Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight
Sage Francis, B. Dolan, Scroobius Pip all performing solo sets.
Tickets and info: http://www.bestival.net

]]> http://www.urb.com/2012/08/30/b-dolan-asks-which-side-are-you-on/feed/ 0 http://www.urb.com/2012/07/31/download-slug-of-atmosphere-kaleem-master-mind-idv-northern-lights/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=download-slug-of-atmosphere-kaleem-master-mind-idv-northern-lights http://www.urb.com/2012/07/31/download-slug-of-atmosphere-kaleem-master-mind-idv-northern-lights/#comments Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:15:42 +0000 URB.com http://www.urb.com/?p=83754

Sometimes a quality hip-hop track can give new life to the overplayed pop hit it samples. Other times it’s just an infuriating excuse to get said annoying pop song stuck in your head for another few hours. So which is it for “Northern Lights,” the new cut by Slug of Atmosphere and fellow MPLS emcees Kaleem and Master Mind iDV? We’ll let you know in a few hours if we’re still humming “We Are Young.”

Fun “We Are Young” from Nicole Olson on Vimeo.

]]> http://www.urb.com/2012/07/31/download-slug-of-atmosphere-kaleem-master-mind-idv-northern-lights/feed/ 0 http://www.urb.com/2012/02/21/watch-atmosphere-became/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=watch-atmosphere-became http://www.urb.com/2012/02/21/watch-atmosphere-became/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:56:29 +0000 URB.com http://www.urb.com/?p=66813 The moodiest tune off of Atmosphere’s 2011 album, The Family Sign, has been given an equally moody video, compliments of a collaboration between the Minnesota School of Business, MTS Digital Media Academy, Alex Horner Pictures, and Hickey Photography. Check out the mixed-media clip here, then go on to the making of video after the jump to be amazed at what you can do with an indie budget and some helpful friends.

[videoembed id='

Atmosphere - Became from MSB Richfield Creative Media on Vimeo.

']

[videoembed id='

Behind-the-Scenes Documentary of Atmosphere's "Became" Music Video from MSB Richfield Creative Media on Vimeo.

']

]]> http://www.urb.com/2012/02/21/watch-atmosphere-became/feed/ 0 http://www.urb.com/2011/08/02/10-lollapalooza-acts-you-cant-miss-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-lollapalooza-acts-you-cant-miss-2 http://www.urb.com/2011/08/02/10-lollapalooza-acts-you-cant-miss-2/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:36:18 +0000 URB.com http://www.urb.com/?p=62010

It must be August, it must be hot, and it must be time once again to head to Chicago’s Grant Park to celebrate Lollapalooza, the annual Midwest superfestival that packs somewhere arounf 100,000 people into the expansive Chicago waterfront to hear some of the world’s biggest acts along with a great many up-and-comers.

This year, the Lollapalooza brand is celebrating 20 years since it first hit America as a roaming daylong event—with bands such as Nine Inch Nails (who played in daylight!), Ice-T’s metal project Body Count, Siouxsee and the Banshees and Janes Addiction introducing the American people to the alternative nation. A gathering of tribes not really seen since the heyday of the ’60s.

We don’t expect to see as many mohawks or Rollin Band sun tattoos at Lollapalooza 2011, but there’s still plenty of great music to discover. Move ahead and check out URB’s 10 Lollapalooza Acts You Can’t Miss.

]]> http://www.urb.com/2011/08/02/10-lollapalooza-acts-you-cant-miss-2/feed/ 0 http://www.urb.com/2011/06/23/sonar-2011-barcelona/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sonar-2011-barcelona http://www.urb.com/2011/06/23/sonar-2011-barcelona/#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:01:33 +0000 Svein Brunstad http://www.urb.com/?p=61304 Barcelona is more than cheap hookers, robbers, pushermen, gypsies, cabdrivers who have no clue where they’re going and people who’re unable to give you directions. It’s also home to one of the most exciting and fresh music festivals in the world, city beaches, mind wobbling architecture and laidback romantic people.

Sonar is a pioneering festival that is unique in terms of its format and content: combining entertainment with artistry, the avant garde and experimentation, offering the major headliners in modern electronica and hybridizations with other genres – with an extensive line-up of emerging trendsetters in today’s music and new media art. The artistic program is divided between the concerts at Sonar by Day, and the major shows at Sonar by Night, which presents the leading names on the international music landscape. It’s been taking place in the third week of June since 1994, with close to a 100 thousand people enjoying the faultless program.

Here we present a few selected performances from this year’s vast program.

Sonar by Day Thursday 16.

Toro Y Moi started the ball on the Sonar Village main stage, with his sunny and psychedelic brand of Chillwave. He and his band made everybody get on their feet under the blue sky, nodding their heads to the soothing sounds. The whole affair appeared as a sponsored hip sunglass convention, or an ironic t-shirt contest. This was feel good bonanza, where most of the people had caught the hipster plague. I realized that Sonar has one of the most relaxed festival crowds I’ve ever experienced, but that probably goes hand in hand with the most openly use or abuse of drugs I’ve ever witnessed.

Nicolas Jaar performed with a full band in the Sonar basement Hall. Nico live is such an organic experience that you want to move to NYC and grow fair trade vegetables at a community garden. It’s atmospheric, jazzy and slow, reminding you of “Lily Was Here” with Dave Stewart & Candy Dulfer, in a good way. The place was packed like sardines, moist like a summer in Harlem and the air was thick with hashish. The crowd was slowly bumping with hands in the air waiting for the bass kick as the band progressed with bluesy House just below 100 bpm, pulsating and sexy like an Argentinian tango. Most of the material was from his latest album, but performed loose and playful like a group of jazz artists. A true Sonar highlight.

The Swedish KCRW darlings Little Dragon flaunted their flowery brand of jazzy pop and electronica, untraditional rhythms and painfully beautiful and vulnerable vocals on the Sonar Village stage. Singer Yukimi Nagano was hitting the drum pads and vibing out with her awkward dance moves. The bearded hippie crowd appeared to have arrived straight from Woodstock.

The Brandt Frauer Frick Ensemble performed their progressive style of jazz and House with both acoustic and electronic elements. The trio consisted of 11 members, competing with Nico about having the most passionate performance of the day. Their beautiful music still didn’t quite fill the Red Bull Music Academy stage – Sonar Dome, with the right vibes in the afternoon sunshine.

]]> http://www.urb.com/2011/06/23/sonar-2011-barcelona/feed/ 0 http://www.urb.com/2011/04/13/interview-with-slug-of-atmosphere/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=interview-with-slug-of-atmosphere http://www.urb.com/2011/04/13/interview-with-slug-of-atmosphere/#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:58:27 +0000 Elizabeth Lopez http://www.urb.com/?p=59499 During one of the hottest days in Los Angeles, I met up with Slug to talk about the new record “THE FAMILY SIGN.”

Check it out after the jump!

Over a third of the concert dates in Atmosphere‘s tour have already sold out so get on your tickets quick!

Twitter | @Atmosphere

]]> http://www.urb.com/2011/04/13/interview-with-slug-of-atmosphere/feed/ 1 http://www.urb.com/2011/03/09/grieves-lightspeed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=grieves-lightspeed http://www.urb.com/2011/03/09/grieves-lightspeed/#comments Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:08:24 +0000 URB.com http://www.urb.com/?p=58507 Grieves might be one of the younger guns in the Rhymesayer’s holster, but the 22 year-old MC from Brooklyn via Seattle is already nostalgic on this new tune talking about how life moves at, well, lightspeed. He’s also hitting the road non-stop with Budo from next week at SXSW all the way until August, including the Family tour with Atmosphere, Blueprint, Sab the Artist and DJ Abilities. You can check the tour dates after the jump.

03.17.11	Austin, TX	The Chuggin’ Monkey
	Copy Cats/Tinderbox Music Day Party – SXSW: Budo, Grieves 5 PM, FREE, facebook
03.18.11	Austin, TX	Copa
	SxSeattle Showcase – SXSW: Grieves, Budo 4:30 PM, RSVP at SxSeattle.com, get tickets
03.19.11	Austin, TX	Fader Fort
	Fader Fort – SXSW: Budo, Grieves 3 PM, get tickets | facebook
03.20.11	Austin, TX	East Side Drive-In
	Sunday Swagger Fest – SXSW: Budo, Grieves 11 AM, $25+, get tickets | facebook
04.02.11	San Bernardino, CA	NOS Events Center
	Paid Dues Festival 2011: P.O.S, Grieves, Budo, Musab 12 PM, get tickets | facebook
04.20.11	Columbus, OH	Newport Music Hall
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 7 PM, All Ages, $20/$22, get tickets | facebook
04.21.11	Munhall, PA	Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 7 PM, All Ages, $22/$25, get tickets | facebook
04.22.11	South Burlington, VT	Higher Ground
	DJ Abilities, Musab, Blueprint, Budo, Grieves, Atmosphere 7 PM, All Ages, SOLD OUT, facebook
04.23.11	Boston, MA	House of Blues
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 6 PM, All Ages, $20/$22/$30, get tickets | facebook
04.24.11	Philadelphia, PA	Electric Factory
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 7 PM, All Ages, $20/$22, get tickets | facebook
04.26.11	New York, NY	Terminal 5
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 7 PM, 16+, $25/$30, get tickets | facebook
04.27.11	Washington, DC	9:30 Club
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 5 PM, All Ages, $25, get tickets | facebook
04.28.11	Richmond, VA	The National
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 7 PM, All Ages, Tickets: $17.50/$20, get tickets | facebook
04.29.11	Asheville, NC	The Orange Peel
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 7 PM, 18+, $20/$22, get tickets | facebook
04.30.11	Birmingham, AL	Zydeco
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 8 PM, All Ages, $15/$18, get tickets | facebook
05.02.11	Austin, TX	Stubb’s BBQ
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 6 PM, All Ages, Tickets: $23.50/$25, get tickets | facebook
05.04.11	Tucson, AZ	Rialto Theatre
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 7 PM, All Ages, $22/$25, get tickets | facebook
05.05.11	Pomona, CA	The Fox Theatre
	DJ Abilities, Musab, Blueprint, Budo, Grieves, Atmosphere 8 PM, All Ages, SOLD OUT, facebook
05.06.11	San Diego, CA	House of Blues
	DJ Abilities, Musab, Blueprint, Budo, Grieves, Atmosphere 6 PM, All Ages, SOLD OUT!, facebook
05.07.11	Berkeley, CA	Greek Theatre
	DJ Abilities, Musab, Blueprint, Budo, Grieves, Atmosphere w/ Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz 6 PM, All Ages, $35, get tickets | facebook
05.09.11	Portland, OR	Roseland Theatre
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 7 PM, All Ages, $25/$28, get tickets | facebook
05.10.11	Vancouver, BC	Vogue Theatre
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 7 PM, All Ages, $30/$32, get tickets | facebook
05.12.11	Calgary, AB	MacEwan Hall
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 6 PM, All Ages, Tickets: $28/$31.50, get tickets | facebook
05.13.11	Edmonton, AB	The Starlite Room
	DJ Abilities, Musab, Blueprint, Budo, Grieves, Atmosphere 8 PM, 18+, $25, get tickets | facebook
05.14.11	Saskatoon, SK	The Odeon
	Atmosphere, Grieves, Budo, Blueprint, Musab, DJ Abilities 8 PM, $26.50/$30, get tickets | facebook
05.17.11	Boulder, CO	Fox Theatre
	DJ Abilities, Musab, Blueprint, Budo, Grieves, Atmosphere 7 PM, All Ages, SOLD OUT!, get tickets | facebook
06.24.11	Dallas, TX	Superpages.com Center
	Grieves, Budo 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
06.25.11	Houston, TX	The Showgrounds At Sam Houston Race Park
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
06.26.11	San Antontio, TX	AT&T Center
	Grieves, Budo 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
06.29.11	Las Cruces, NM	NMSU Practice Field
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.01.11	Pomona, CA	Pomona Fairplex
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.06.11	Bonner Springs, KS	Sandstone Amphitheatre
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.07.11	Noblesville, IN	Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
	Grieves, Budo 3 PM, get tickets | facebook
07.08.11	Detroit, MI	Comerica Park
	Grieves, Budo 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.09.11	Tinley Park, IL	First Midwest Bank Amphiteatre
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.10.11	Shakopee, MN	Canterbury Park
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.12.11	Darien Center, NY	Darien Lakes Fields
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.13.11	Mansfield, MA	Comcast Center
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.14.11	Moosic, PA	Toyota Pavilion At Montage Mountain
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.15.11	Mississauga, Ontario	The Flats At Arrow Hall
	Grieves, Budo 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.16.11	Montreal, Quebec	Parc Jean Drapeau
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.19.11	Milwaukee, WI	Marcus Amphiteatre
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.20.11	Cleveland, OH	TBA
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.21.11	Camden, NJ	Susquehanna Bank Center
	Grieves w/ Budo 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | rsvp
07.23.11	Uniondale, NY	Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
	Grieves, Budo 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.24.11	Oceanport, NJ	Monmouth Park Raceway
	Grieves, Budo 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.26.11	Columbia, MD	Merriweather Post Pavilion
	Grieves, Budo 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.27.11	Virginia Beach, VA	Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.28.11	Charlotte, NC	Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.29.11	Orlando, FL	Firestone Amphitheatre
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.30.11	West Palm Beach, FL	Cruzan Amphitheatre
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
07.31.11	Saint Petersburg, FL	Vinoy Park
	Grieves, Budo 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.01.11	Atlanta, GA	Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.03.11	Saint Louis, MO	Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.05.11	Denver, CO	Invesco Field at Mile High
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.06.11	Salt Lake City, UT	Utah State Fair Park
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.07.11	Phoenix, AZ	Cricket Pavilion
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.09.11	Chula Vista, CA	Cricket Amphitheatre
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.10.11	Los Angeles, CA	TBA
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.11.11	Marysville, CA	Sleep Train Amphitheater
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.12.11	Nampa, ID	Idaho Center Amphitheatre
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.13.11	George, WA	The Gorge Amphitheatre
	Budo, Grieves 3 PM, All Ages, get tickets | facebook
08.14.11	Hillsboro, OR	Washington County Fairgrounds

]]> http://www.urb.com/2011/03/09/grieves-lightspeed/feed/ 3 http://www.urb.com/2011/02/23/top-10-atmosphere-tunes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-10-atmosphere-tunes http://www.urb.com/2011/02/23/top-10-atmosphere-tunes/#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:01:06 +0000 David Ma http://www.urb.com/?p=58077

2011 marks Atmosphere‘s 18th year of repping Minneapolis hip-hop (and sad backpacker boys worldwide), and we’re still excited to hear new music coming from Slug and Ant. The duo are dropping their sixth album, The Family Sign, on April 12, and gave us the first taste, “Just For Show,” last night. So it seemed like a good time to look back on nearly two decades of Atmosphere’s best tunes. Consider it a primer of the young’uns, and a refresher course for the old heads.

10) ”My Songs”

Found on Sad Clown Bad Dub VII featuring an excellent ANT  beat. The guitar and the sped up vocal sample complete Slug’s tangential raps about “South Minneapolis”, “Benadryl and alcohol” and “your wife”.  Such sunny production.

]]> http://www.urb.com/2011/02/23/top-10-atmosphere-tunes/feed/ 5 http://www.urb.com/2011/02/22/new-atmosphere-just-for-show/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-atmosphere-just-for-show http://www.urb.com/2011/02/22/new-atmosphere-just-for-show/#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:19:15 +0000 URB.com http://www.urb.com/?p=58051 As we keep pointing out, Atmosphere has been leaning heavily on their hometown love lately, extensively touring in their homestate of Minnesota while naming their new album The Family Sign. Slug kept with the theme last night, debuting the album’s first single on local public radio station The Current. The tune is classic Atmosphere, with self-confessional lyrics about rejection over a tight and simple beat. If it ain’t broke…

[videoembed id='

Atmosphere - Just For Show by rhymesayers']

The Family Sign is due out on April 12 via Rhymesayers.

]]> http://www.urb.com/2011/02/22/new-atmosphere-just-for-show/feed/ 1