underground hip hop

There are, at least, four artists known as Atmosphere: 1) An American alternative rap band. 2) A Polish rock band. 3) An Italian disco group. 4) A Vietnamese metal band. 1) The Minnesota underground hip-hop group was formed around 1994. At its creation, the group was called "Urban Atmosphere". Unlike many hip hop groups, Atmosphere provides its own live instrumentation, usually consisting of bass guitar and drums.

There is more than one artist with this name: (1) Pedestrian (AKA The Pedestrian) is the pseudonym of rapper James Brandon Best. Possibly the least well known of anticon's co-founders, his first release, the 12" "The Toss & Turn", wasn't issued until 2004, though he had made several appearances on compilations and was part of one-off groups Stuffed Animals & Object Beings. Pedestrian's full-length debut, Unindian Songs, Vol. 1, came out in 2005. Asides from guest spots on records by other anticon accomplices such as Telephone Jim Jesus and Themselves, he has not released anything since.

The current moniker for the artist previously known as Del tha Funkee Homosapien, used now for a number of years on his last few album releases, compilation and guest appearances. He is also a member of Hieroglyphics and Deltron 3030.

The Nextmen are critically acclaimed DJs and producers working with a range of hip-hop artists. Dom Search (aka Dominic Betmead) and Brad Baloo (aka Brad Ellis) often express a funk and reggae influence, and they have worked with many urban artists from the UK, US and Jamaica. The two members also run their own independent record label, Custom Records, a joint venture with Fat City Records. Their name is a reference to the Afro-American term "next man", which is explained on Urban Dictionary and can be heard in use in the song Find A Way (lyrics at OHHLA.com).