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'RATKING': The voice of the new New York
RnB/Hip Hop | Wednesday 12th December 2012 | Jake
RATKING are a hip-hop collective coming out of Harlem, New York City, and are made up of members: Wiki, Hak, Sporting Life and Ramon. They are a new acquisition to XL Recordings and released their debut EP, WIKI93, in November of this year and have already done shows in Europe and their homeland of America.
They are fronted by the 18 year old Patrick “Wiki” Morales, he is the main vocalist for the group and takes charge on nearly all of the 7 tracks on their first release.
The track ‘Wikispeaks’ is probably the first thing many of you have heard from this group and it is very very New York, not the New York of early Wu-Tang or Nas on Illmatic, but a new New York, Wiki’s commentary on events such as 9/11 and the recession will hit home for many listeners.
The video was shot by Creative Control and fits the tracks lyrics and feel very well, you really get a taste of what life is like in the Big Apple for the post 9/11 generation.
They have been dubbed “New York’s answer to Odd Future”, and it’s quite easy to see why, with his punchy lyrics and quick, aggressive delivery, lines such as “N****s gotta peep, the way I speak. Hit my peak, hitting L’s, till I sleep. Drinking 40’s ‘till shorties forget that Wiki’s sweet. Kicked out the crib roam the city streets. Think I’m pretty weak, ‘cos I’ve seen some shitty weeks? It’s about time Wiki speaks, it’s about time Wiki freaks.” make this very apparent.
The production on the EP is all handled in house by producer ‘Sporting Life’ and the beats are quite reminiscent of UK Grime, with the choppy, off centre beats and machine drum snare hits.
Definitely a group to look out for in 2013 and beyond.
Jake @BAKEJENT
