Headshots: Se7en

Released in 2005 as a 2-CD product, ‘Headshots: Se7en’ is made up of two sources of Atmosphere-related projects: the first 21 tracks are a remastered release of a cassette-only album released in 1999 as the original ‘Headshots: Se7en’. This was recorded following Atmosphere’s 1997 debut album, ‘Overcast!’ and features almost exclusively Slug (whose alias is Sep Seven). It was made as a homage to the cassette-exclusive mixtape series called ‘Headshots’ which Atmosphere used as a vehicle throughout the 1990’s to gain credibility in the rap game even while sticking to their Minnesotan roots. Basically, here, Slug was providing both a solo ode to the now-finished series of ‘Headshots’ tapes while also showcasing his near-virtuoso underground MC abilities. There are small features from Mr. Gene Poole, Beyond, and Eyedea, but Slug dominates. Several references are made to tracks from ‘Overcast!’ including sequels to fan-favorite ‘Multiples’ and the instrumental-only ‘@’. ‘Headshots: Se7en’ acted as a bridge between the Atmosphere rap duo composed of Spawn and Slug showcased on ‘Overcast!’ to the ‘Lucy Ford’ tapes which came out in 2001 and made Atmosphere into essentially a one-man platform for Slug accompanied by Atmosphere’s producer Ant. On this 2005 CD-remastered release, however, the Rhymesayers decided to also provide a following 10-track ‘best-of’ release of records culled from the original ‘Headshots’ cassette-tapes. Although Slug makes appearances on every one of these ten tracks, a number of other rappers from the Dynospectrum and early Atmosphere collectives are also represented. With this proper CD release, these early Headshots-tracks have found a much wider audience than they would have otherwise.