“ICE is a bunch of pussy motherfuckers who wanna beat their wives. White supremacists aren’t taking over shit. Fuck ‘em. If you support ICE get the fuck out of this show, pussy.

This is a Hip Hop show, pussy.”

R.A. The Ruggedman - Columbus, Ohio January 26, 2026

The 2026 blizzard and ICE slowed Columbus for the week leading up into Atmosphere’s Columbus, Ohio’s Winter Carnival. Atmosphere is from Minneapolis. ICE invaded Minneapolis. ICE abducted people into for profit internment camps. ICE murdered US citizens. ICE harassed anyone attempting to speak English in Columbus.

I looked at Instagram. Atmosphere’s Columbus concert didn’t announce a canceling. I took the number 1. I walked from Nationwide into Promowest. Downtown Columbus pays someone for shoveling the sidewalks.

I walked into a room full of people who wanted a dope rap show, and someone yelling Fuck ICE. I missed Kool Keith and Mr. Dibbs because my neighborhood sidewalks weren’t plowed during my walk to the bus.

I arrived as New York Rapper RA The Ruggedman entered the stage. RA The Ruggedman is a rapper from NYC who is masculine. R.A. The Ruggedman was backed by DJ LALA who stood behind RA The Ruggedman’s name, and a Punisher skull. R.A. The Rugged Man rocked All My Heroes Are Dead. All My Heroes Are Dead is also the name of R.A. The Ruggedman’s newest album that features Slug of Atmosphere, Ghostface Killah, Immortal Technique, Vinnie Paz, Ice-T, M.O.P., Kool G Rap, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Onyx, Brand Nubian, Chris Rivers, Inspectah Deck, A-F-R-O, Masta Killa, and others. I wasn’t familiar with the new record but Ruggedman’s new songs sound like alpha-male New Yorkers didn’t feel emasculated by Ruggedman’s choice of beats.

After several songs, DJ LALA rocked a turntablist Routine. She scratched, relayed and blended “Who’s That Girl?” By Madonna.

Da Ruggedman rocked a couple other songs. Da Ruggedman called the women-beating ICE “white supremacist pussies.”

R.A. thawed the ICE and received ovations. Columbus, Ohio exploded with agreement with R.A.

DJ LALA dropped R.A.’s Uncommon Valor beat.

Ruggedman rapped about the human rights violations the American government committed against American soldiers during Vietnam. R.A. Da Ruggedman gave Columbus exactly what they wanted. R.A. then shouted our breakers in the room. R.A. jumped in the audience and rapped Definition of A Rap Flow while dancers boogied. R.A. played another couple songs, and left with the room cheering in approval.

Sage Francis was next. Sage Francis is a rapper from Providence who was best known for albums from punk label Epitaph. Sage, Atmosphere, and the Coup were an interesting Epitaph era because our country was angry at George Bush’s presidency. Underground Hip Hop hated George Bush.

I’d kinda forgotten about Sage Francis. Sage performed his Saul Williams’s spoken word rebellion channeled from someone who was once roommates with hardcore band Killswitch Engage over emotional dark instrumentals.

Sage’s organic culture combination found appreciation as our country yelled Fuck Bush. Columbus, Ohio is angry at ICE. Sage Francis’s presentation fit the mood. Sage discussed political history and then landed in 2026.

Sage said, “..in 2026…FUCK ICE. FUCK WAR. FUCK GESTAPO. FUCK NAZIS, FUCK ZIONISM. FREE PALESTINE, all day baby.” PROMOWEST erupts in applause. Sage rocked Drop Bass which is an older song that sounds like it was played after Non-Phixion from college radio.

Atmosphere headlined.

"We are Minneapolis. We Are From Atmosphere.”

Slug’s raps were backed by producer Ant, and a touring deejay. Ant added some sort of noise, dub effects on his beats. The dejay scratched and blended. Slug improvised with the backing sounds, and sequences.

Atmosphere played various new songs.

Slug said we should “keep your eyes on what’s going on in Minneapolis right now.”

Don’t let your eyes lie to you. Watch and learn from it. We are only 600 miles from Minneapolis right now. That expletive could happen here. Promowest West erupts…

“That happens here too man. It sucks.” yelled a man.

I thought about ICE terrorizing Dublin Scioto, Somalias employed Asians, Mexican cuisine and Arcadia. We know ICE’s upcoming invasion of Springfield will abduct Haitians because Trump lied about legal immigrants in a debate.

Slug continued, “It’s close.” A lady screams: “Fuck ICE.” Slug advised empirical observations from Minneapolis and discussing ICE amongst your community. Columbus, Ohio cheered in agreement.

Slug spent the evening discussing the incubation of Atmosphere’s creative process. Slug talked about building skills around rappers from the Minneapolis Hip Hop scene and later in the evening crafting songwriting in Ant’s basement.

Slug announce 2026 was the 25th anniversary of Atmosphere’s album, Lucy Ford. My favorite Atmosphere material is Overcast, Headshots, and Lucy Ford. Lucy Ford was the album Fat Beats in New York City distributed as two EP’s until the entire album was released via Rhymesayers.

Lucy Ford was released around 9/11 from Rhymesayers as Def Jux was making indie rap the sound of rebellion against George Bush’s surveillance and police state. In 2026, in the same evening, Slug discussed ICE invading Minneapolis. Atmosphere launched into Party For The Fight To Write which solidified Atmosphere and Rhymesayers place as Def Jux’s creative peers. Slug referenced Mobb Deep, Hip Hop literacy while rapping about community building.

Slug crooned into Don’t Ever Fucking Question That which is a love song to any lady that dates someone who is obsessed with Hip Hop creativity and reading books.

Slug followed with Lucy Ford’s Guns N Cigarettes which is an uptempo piano song.

Slug boasted the Atmosphere is bigger than Espo.

The graffiti writer in me pondered, “Is is possible for a backpacker to be bigger than Espo?”

I remembered being impressed Slug aspired such heights.

Slug then played Between The Lines which shows empathy for a policeman. Between The Lines is a special song because Slug’s genuine love for a policeman finishes a Black Panther promise for the cop if the cop participates in police brutality.

Atmosphere’s screen displayed “Abolish ICE” somewhere during Between The Lines.

Columbus, Ohio approved with loud applause. I was laughing about something, then saw ABOLISH ICE for a moment. Everyone in that room will remember seeing ABOLISH ICE January 26, 2026.

Lucy Ford reminded me of the humanity which was why Hip Hop was loved as a community alternative against Republican oppression and lies. Atmosphere delivered Slug’s goal: Everyone in the room smiled.

Several songs later, Atmosphere played Scapegoat.

Ant boosted the drums, and people sung Slug’s manifesto. I’ve watched a zillion Atmosphere shows. I haven’t seen Scapegoat with such an intense reception in Columbus. Atmosphere playing Scapegoat in Columbus, Ohio after the 2026 ICE raids connected with Columbus.

I spent the whole evening amused at Slug laughing at his own internal commentary. Atmosphere finished with their hit song.

People believed Hip Hop would outlast ICE.