Often recognized as one of the most consistent and prolific duos in independent hip-hop, Atmosphere hit a stride of extraordinary output from July 2007 to April 2008, even by their own standards. Within those 9 months, they released a full-length album, four EP's, and a 42-minute mixtape of exclusive material, altogether totaling 48 new songs released, all while they were consistently touring as well. This rapid-fire string of releases introduced some of their most popular songs to date and showcased their dynamic range, from moody and reflective, to upbeat and optimistic, to a boom-bap throwback style of rap, the latter of which was most prominently displayed on the mixtape. Introduced on Christmas Day 2007, the mixtape was a "gift" to fans in the form of a free download, aptly titled Strictly Leakage – a nod to both eschewing standardized industry practices in favor of giving the music away, and to another prominent album title from the era that inspired them and perhaps more specifically, these recordings.
Strictly Leakage surprised fans and critics alike, not just because the download invite appeared in their inbox without warning, but also because the project sounded so uniquely different from Atmosphere's typical recordings. Ant was digging deep into the funk & soul crates, favoring samples over live instrumentation, and producing tracks that sounded as if they were birthed alongside late '80s and early '90s hip-hop classics. Slug was rapping with a renewed passion, yet somehow sounding more casual and carefree delivering endless wordplay with more technical rhyme patterns than other Atmosphere projects. Together, they created 13 exclusive songs that sounded as if they were just having fun making them, without the pressure of any album expectations – undoubtedly as rewarding an exercise for themselves as it was for the listeners.
Early on, Strictly Leakage had been pressed on a limited run of vinyl and CD, but it wasn't long before they sold out, and fans were left chasing streams and digital files in order to hear the project. Finally, the project returns to vinyl LP and CD, made available for retail distribution, so fans everywhere can own and appreciate this unique chapter in Atmosphere's story.
