The Rat King: The Revolutionary Force of the Underground Hip Hop

Welcome to the one-stop platform for every fan of the ground-breaking hip hop group, Ratking. Diving into their innovative vision, music, influence, and beyond, we celebrate the revolution they sparked in the underground hip hop scene.

The Genesis of Ratking

Ratking emerged in the heart of New York City, a city renowned for its vibrant music scene and famous as the birthplace of hip hop. The group comprised three eclectic minds – rappers Wiki and Hak, and the genius producer Sporting Life.

Wiki, the energetic, wordplay-loving lyricist, had already made a name for himself in the underground scene before Ratking. Hak, on the other hand, brought an introspective and contemplative lyrical style, complementing Wiki’s energetic flow. The duo’s rapping prowess was boosted by Sporting Life’s experimental production, his beats often characterized by grimy sounds and unconventional structures. Their shared vision for a distinct, unique sound, coupled with a fervent desire to reinvent rap, led to the formation of Ratking.

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Reinventing Rap: The Rat King Philosophy

Ratking’s philosophy was always about pushing boundaries and challenging the norm. While their music could be broadly categorized as hip hop, the group resisted being confined by genre conventions. From the onset, they opted for gritty, distorted sounds, breaking from the polished beats popular at the time.

Sporting Life’s production often featured samples from a variety of sources – from jazz records to New York City’s ambient sounds. Meanwhile, Wiki and Hak’s lyrical content moved beyond the typical braggadocio of rap. Their verses touched on raw, unfiltered experiences of youth, capturing the essence of their city’s streets with an unerring authenticity. You can buy essays for sale on this topic.

Ratking's Discography

Ratking’s unique approach to hip hop struck a chord with fans, making their discography a treasure trove of boundary-pushing music. Their discography began with their debut EP, “Wiki93”, in 2012. This introductory release featured Wiki’s furious wordplay and Hak’s contemplative lyricism over Sporting Life’s distorted beats, immediately garnering attention in the underground hip hop community. Tracks like “Piece of Shit” and “Wikispeaks” stood out, presenting listeners with a gritty and raw image of their life in New York City.

However, it was their 2014 full-length debut, “So It Goes”, that solidified Ratking’s place in the annals of hip hop. The album, with its 11 powerful tracks, took listeners on a sonic journey through the labyrinthine streets of New York City. The title track “So It Goes” and “Snow Beach” garnered much acclaim, appreciated for their potent lyrical content and layered, atmospheric production.

In 2015, Ratking released their EP “700 Fill” as a free download, continuing their tradition of bucking industry trends. The project’s standout tracks like “American Gods” further pushed the boundaries of their sound, incorporating more diverse instrumentation and intricate soundscapes.

Ratking’s final release as a group was the EP “Flurry” in 2016, featuring more experimental production and introspective lyricism. Despite the group’s eventual disbandment, “Flurry” served as a testament to their artistic growth and unwavering commitment to reinventing rap music.

Each of Ratking’s releases represented a step forward in their quest to reshape the conventions of hip hop. Their discography is a testament to their groundbreaking approach to music, reflecting their ever-evolving sonic landscape and thematic depth. Today, their music continues to inspire, echoing their influence in the thriving underground hip hop scene.

Stridently Youthful: The Ratking Sound

Ratking’s music has often been described as “stridently youthful”. Their sound reflects the restlessness, confusion, and ambition of youth, encapsulating a variety of emotions – from rage to joy, from despair to hope.

Sporting Life’s gritty production, blending industrial noise with traditional hip hop beats, created a dense, chaotic backdrop to Wiki and Hak’s lyrics. The rappers, in turn, expressed the hopes and fears of their generation, bringing forth a sense of urgency in their verses.

Though Ratking’s active years as a group were relatively brief, the impact they left on the underground hip hop scene was profound and continues to resonate. Their avant-garde approach to music-making carved a distinctive niche in the landscape of hip hop, one characterized by a raw, unfiltered expression of urban life, something that was vastly different from the more polished and often formulaic mainstream hip hop of their era.

Their music was a clarion call to other artists in the scene, a testament that they could challenge traditional boundaries and experiment with their sound. Ratking’s influence is seen in the number of emerging artists who began exploring outside the box, incorporating elements from other genres, experimenting with lo-fi and distorted sounds, and writing lyrics that reflected a more authentic experience.

Industry critics frequently recognize Ratking as a seminal force in the 2010s’ underground scene. Publications like Pitchfork, NME, and The Guardian praised their innovative sound and fearless lyrical content. These reviews not only acknowledged Ratking’s artistic merits but also highlighted their wider impact on the music scene.

The ripple effects of Ratking’s influence can be felt in the next wave of underground hip hop artists. Artists like Earl Sweatshirt, JPEGMAFIA, and Denzel Curry have, in various interviews, cited Ratking as an influence in their music. In fact, Earl Sweatshirt’s 2015 album, “I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside”, showcased a raw and gritty sound that critics noted as reminiscent of Ratking’s style.

Furthermore, their impact transcended music. Ratking also made waves in fashion, particularly in the streetwear scene, with their unique, rugged New York style influencing trends and even inspiring collaborations with brands like Supreme and Carhartt.

In short, Ratking’s bold experimentation and their commitment to an authentic representation of their lived experiences left a lasting legacy, not only in the music they created but also in the doors they opened for future artists in the underground hip hop scene.

Ratking's Impact on Underground Hip Hop

Connect and Support Ratking

Though Ratking is no longer active, their music lives on, resonating with old fans and winning new ones. You can show your support by following their individual pursuits and buying their music and merchandise. The legacy of Ratking continues…