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Minnesota’s Atmosphere is back on the hip-hop scene with its sixth studio album, The Family Sign, which comes three years after releasing the popular When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That S**t Gold.

Slug (Sean Daley), the emcee and Minneapolis-native, joins with producer Ant, guitarist Nate Collins and keyboardist Erick Anderson to form the successful indie-rap group.

The 14-track album has already reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200, an impressive climb up the charts after its release on April 12. The album has a completely different vibe from the group’s previous work, and it is clear that Slug is headed in a new direction artistically.

Their 2008 release, When Life Gives You Lemons…, was filled with catchy hooks and forceful beats; however, Slug is much more laid back on The Family Sign.

The Family Sign touches on serious topics like domestic abuse, familial issues and the loss of close friends. Slug has never been shy about exposing touchy subjects in his music, yet the latest album is more expressive than ever.

It is evident that the album is close to Slug’s heart, and the artist gives all of himself when rapping his lyrical poetry on tracks that deal with life’s painful and emotional realities.

Slug’s shares his personal experiences through somber acoustics and soft piano notes, yet tracks like “My Key” and “I Don’t Need Brighter Days” are so fluid and tranquilizing, it’s easy to zone out when listening to them.

“She’s Enough” offers one of the only upbeat tracks on the album, where Slug’s lyrics about a silly crush are reinforced with addictive beats. “Just For Show” reminds listeners of the familiar Slug, yet there are little to no signs of the lively and energetic songs like “You” and “Sunshine” on their previous albums.

Although The Family Sign is something you might find yourself listening to when studying, rather than getting pumped to for a night out, Slug is reminiscent of Eminem. He evokes strong emotions amongst his listeners through his music, while pointing out issues that are often untouched by rappers of his time.