Atmosphere’s Winter Carnival covers sweeps through Los Angeles

The Novo became a party for devoted hip hop heads as Atmosphere brought their Winter Carnival Tour to a completely sold-out Los Angeles crowd. There has always been an unspoken understanding at hip hop shows: attendees are there to live and breathe lyricism, craft over clout.

This show felt personal for those who grew up in the scene, too.

It was a throwback lineup, stacked with artists who helped shape independent hip hop as we know it. And judging by the crowd, I was not the only one who felt that way. Opening the night was Mr. Dibbs. A deejay is always the backbone of hip hop and Dibbs’ turntablism had heads nodding, from the GA floor to the upstairs balcony.

Up next, Kool Keith’s unpredictable set brought out friends like Denis Deft, Ced Gee, and DJ Berlin. It was an eccentric and completely unique performance filled with quirky, yet classy fits — very on-brand for Kool Keith. The crowd rapped along to cult favorites and cheered on his show girls before the night hit a turning point for R.A. The Rugged Man’s set. With DJ Lala on the one’s and two’s, his quick bars and breath control were fascinating, able to effortlessly switch between high-speed and slower storytelling flows. R.A.’s stage presence is unmatched with the GA floor getting out of control.

Sage Francis then brought a whole other level of intensity.

His cerebral storytelling pulled the crowd inward, listening to his lyricism. You’ll almost never see a packed venue stand quiet, but it was quite mesmerizing and comforting. Sage Francis was vulnerable, raw, and a cherry-topper to the final act.

When Atmosphere finally came on, the room went crazy. You can see Ant behind the elevated deejay booth in the fog, while Slug’s magnetic presence was unequivocal. The music this night wove between eras, from classic staples to newer material. Atmosphere will always be one of those duos that will never go out of style: Ant’s immersive and bass-heavy production always hits powerfully live, while Slug captivates with impassioned delivery. If you’ve ever experienced an Atmosphere show first-hand, whether at an intimate venue or at an open-air festival, you’ll know the speakers vibrate through your core.

Nights like this are everything; every artist on the bill represented a different facet of underground hip hop. Atmosphere‘s Winter Carnival Tour might be a wrap, but don’t sleep on another show if they come back to a town near you.

Photography by Celeste Basich

Share this article

or