Ratking (group)

Ratking
Origin New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Years active 2011–present
Labels HXC, XL
Website Official website
Members Wiki
Hak
Sporting Life
Past members Racerra
Ramon

Ratking is an American hip hop group from New York City, consisting of rappers Wiki and Hak, and producer Sporting Life. Formed in 2011, to date they have released one EP, Wiki93 (2012), one album, So It Goes (2014), and one mixtape, 700 Fill (2015).

History

The group formed in 2011.[1] At this time they were based in Harlem.[2]

The group derives their name from the mythical and legendary animal known as the Rat king (folklore) which is actually a group of rats who have become conjoined by their tails via ice/ freezing, blood, dirt, horse hair, mucus, or other possibly binding substances found regularly in rat's habitats.

In March 2012 the group consisted of Wiki, Hak, Sporting Life, and Racerra.[2] In October 2012 the group consisted of Wiki, Hak, Sporting Life, and Ramon.[3] Wiki and Hak were MCs, and Sporting Life and Ramon were producers.[3] Ramon also produced the group's visuals.[4]

They released their debut EP Wiki93 in November 2012.[3] It was based on 1993, an earlier mixtape produced solely by Wiki,[1][4] which he released in October 2011.[2] 1993 was inspired by Suicide and Wu-Tang Clan.[2] The group were signed by British label XL Recordings following 1993, and they re-released it as Wiki93 through their Hot Charity imprint.[5]

By April 2014 Ramon was no longer with the group.[6] At this time they were based in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn.[5]

They released their debut album So It Goes in 2014.[6] It was produced by Sporting Life and engineered by Young Guru.[5] The album's title was inspired by Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five.[1][7] The album featured collaborations with King Krule, Salomon Faye, and Princess Nokia.[6]

They have performed with Skepta and toured with Death Grips and Earl Sweatshirt,[6] as well as Run the Jewels and Despot.[1]

In January 2015 the group announced that their second album 700 Fill would be released in January or February 2015.[1] It was released for free via BitTorrent in March 2015.[8]

Musical style

Their music has been described as "left-field hip-hop",[1] and the group themselves have stated they wish to reinvent rap music.[9] In addition to being inspired by rap and hip hop, the group has also been inspired by punk rock, and has "many and diverse influences, from Animal Collective to Suicide."[3] Wiki's solo EP 1993, later re-released as Wiki93, was inspired by Suicide and Wu-Tang Clan.[2]

Members

Wiki, real name Patrick Morales, is half-Irish and half-Puerto Rican; he is from Manhattan.[3] He was 18 in October 2012,[3] and 21 in November 2014.[1] Wiki is considered the group's leader,[5][7] and the group "mainly [focuses] on the high, nasal flow of Wiki."[3] Wiki has been compared to Eminem, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Yelawolf.[3] Wiki has stated that he is a fan of punk band the Ramones, as well as Wu-Tang Clan and rappers Cam'ron (his "number one"), Big Pun, Juvenille, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and Buckshot.[2] He is also a fan of punk band Germs and has a tattoo of their motto "NOGOD" across his chest.[3] He was in a hardcore band called Homo-Thugs in high school.[5] His nickname is derived from Wikipedia,[2] and he is also known as Wiki One Eyebrow.[2][7] Wiki has dated Wavy Spice, who collaborated on their debut album So It Goes.[5][6] Wiki is missing his front teeth after he was punched in a random attack.[5] Wiki's mother is a psychotherapist, and his father is a securities lawyer.[5] His parents separated when he was young.[5] Wiki is a childhood friend of director Christine Choy's son.[2] Wiki and Hak are also childhood friends, since second grade.[5]

Hak was originally an art student who did not like music; he was encouraged to perform by Wiki.[6] His real name is Hakeem Lewis and he was 20 in November 2014.[1] He is a native New Yorker.[5]

Sporting Life is also known as Sport; his nickname derives from his love of basketball.[6] His real name is Eric Adiele and he was 33 in November 2014.[1] Sporting Life is originally from Virginia and moved to New York in 2005.[5] Sporting Life met the other members at a downtown park jam.[7]

Discography

Studio albums
EPs
Mixtapes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Prashanth Kamalakanthan (November 24, 2014). "RATKING: Gritty, Grimy Hip-Hop That Totally Grows on You". Mother Jones. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Insanul Ahmed (March 28, 2012). "Who Is Wiki?". Complex. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Paul Lester (October 1, 2012). "New band of the week: Ratking". The Guardian. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ruth Saxelby (January 8, 2013). "King Krule selects Ratking". Dazed Digital. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 Cole Rachel (April 22, 2014). "Ratking: Here Is New York". The Fader. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Sam Wolfson (April 11, 2014). "Ratking: 'We're a rap group but we want to be part of the culture of punk'". The Guardian. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Jackson Connor (March 27, 2014). "Spring Arts Guide: The Once and Future Ratking". Village Voice. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  8. ↑ "NYC rap crew Ratking release surprise album 700 Fill on BitTorrent". FACTmag. March 5, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  9. ↑ John Calvert (January 15, 2013). ""We don’t need hip-hop artists, we need thinkers willing to take chances": New XL signings Ratking plot the reinvention of rap". FACTmag. Retrieved March 8, 2015.

External links