Slug understands Tucson.
That's what Sean "Slug" Daley, rapper for indie-rap act Atmosphere, is saying from his home in the Twin Cities area.
Daley said he's made a lot of good friends here, and he appreciates the lack of superficiality Tucson exudes.
"It reminds me of where I live," Daley said. "There's not a lot of industry agenda going on. People present who they are to you, and that goes a long way with a person like me."
Consisting of Daly and beat-maker ANT, Atmosphere has become possibly the most successful independent rap act of this decade, largely because of Daley's Everyman, self-deprecating storytelling.
Daley's lyrical career has seen him move from virtual emo-rap — surrounding the bitterness of a broken heart — around the turn of the century to a more fictional, character-driven approach on Atmosphere's last album, 2008's "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That S--- Gold."
People are also reading…
Atmosphere is touring to promote the re-release of what might be considered its breakthrough album, 2002's "Godlovesugly," and Daley said you can expect to hear songs you've never heard live, such as "Hair" and "Saves the Day."
Daley said he tried to roll out other obscure "Godlovesugly" tracks for the tour, but the song "Vampires," in particular, is impossible for live performance.
"Not only that, but the song sucks," Daley said in his typically honest manner.
Daley thinks about 75 percent of Atmosphere's audience is made up of people from small American towns, which Atmosphere makes a special effort to play.
"Your bigger rappers don't go to Omaha (Neb.) or Boise (Idaho)," Daley said,"but we do go there, so that's where the seeds get planted and grow from."
We talked to him a little about expectations for this tour.
You describe your music and your fans as blue-collar. What do you make of your job as an entertainer out on tour given the state of the economy right now?
"The funny thing is, I don't know necessarily that this economic downslide is bad for entertainment. I think people are going to look for more things to take their minds off their problems. People are going to drink more, and people are going to take in more art, in situations like this. Which definitely plays into my job: Everywhere I play, alcohol is being served.
"I don't know how it fits with what I do yet. I haven't fully grasped that. I'll probably figure it out once it's over. I'm not worried about it affecting my job. I'm worried about it affecting my Mom."
True, but do you feel like you need to take people's minds off their problems?
"I don't know if it's my place to take people's minds off of it. I just think it's my place to try to dialogue it. How to reconcile what's going on in the world with what I do, so the show we give isn't just here to take your mind off of it, but it's also here to help me — and possibly the viewer — navigate what's going on.
"Rap has always been that way to me. It's never fully just been about a good time. There's always been moments of trying to implant information or conversation into the good time."
If you go
• What: Atmosphere in concert with P.O.S., Los Nativos and Attracted to Gods.
• When: Friday at 8:30 p.m.
• Where: Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.