Ratking (group)

Ratking
OriginNew York City, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active2011−2016
Labels
Past members
Websiteratkingnyc.com

Ratking (often stylized in all caps as RATKING) was an American hip hop group from New York City, which consisted of rappers Wiki and Hak, and producer Sporting Life. A leading force in the underground in the early 2010s, their music has been described as "stridently youthful",[1] and the group themselves have stated they wished to reinvent rap music.[2]

On June 22, 2016, Hak announced his departure, citing that the group "didn't see me for me", and self-released his debut solo album June.[3] This led to the group's indefinite hiatus with Wiki and Sporting Life also venturing into further solo works. Around the same time, Wiki had already formed a supergroup with Lil Ugly Mane and Antwon, called Secret Circle, which he recorded with until an unexpected disband in 2018.[4]

History

They released their debut EP Wiki93 in November 2012.[5] It was based on 1993, an earlier mixtape [1][6] which he released in October 2011.[7] 1993 was inspired by Suicide and Wu-Tang Clan.[7] The group were signed by British label XL Recordings following 1993, and they re-released it as Wiki93 through their Hot Charity (HXC) imprint.[8]

They released their debut album So It Goes in 2014.[9] It was produced by Sporting Life and engineered by Young Guru.[8] The album's title was inspired by Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five.[1][10] The album featured collaborations with King Krule, Salomon Faye, and Princess Nokia.[9] They have performed with Skepta and toured with Death Grips, and Earl Sweatshirt,[9] as well as Run the Jewels and Despot.[1] In January 2015 the group announced that their next album 700 Fill would be released in January or February 2015.[1] It was released for free via BitTorrent in March 2015.[11]

Musical style

In addition to being inspired by rap and hip hop, the group has also cited punk rock and "many and diverse influences, from Animal Collective to Suicide" as influences on their alternative style.[5] Wiki's solo EP 1993, later re-released as Wiki93, was inspired by Suicide and Wu-Tang Clan.[7]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with year released
Title Album details
So It Goes
  • Released: April 8, 2014
  • Label: HXC
  • Formats: LP, digital download, CD

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with year released
Title Album details
Wiki93
  • Released: November 2, 2012
  • Label: HXC
  • Formats: digital download

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with year released
Title Album details
700-Fill
  • Released: March 4, 2015
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: digital download

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
 US R&B
 US Rap
"Pretty Picture" 2012 — — — Wiki93
"Comic" — — —
"Piece of S**t" 2013 — — —
"100" — — — non-album single
"Canal" 2014 — — — So It Goes
"So It Goes" — — —
"So Sick Stories"
(featuring King Krule) 		— — —
"Cocoa '88" — — —
"Snow Beach" 2015 — — —
"Arnold Palmer" — — — 700-Fill

Members

  • Wiki - vocals (2011−2016)
  • Hak - vocals (2011−2016)
  • Sporting Life - production (2011−2016), vocals (2015)
Additional personnel
  • Racerra - production (2011−2012)
  • Ramon - production (2012−2014)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Prashanth Kamalakanthan (November 24, 2014). "RATKING: Hip-Hop That Totally Grows on You". Mother Jones. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Noisey Staff (2016-06-22). "Oh Shit, According to an Interview, Ratking Have Split Up". Vice. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  4. ^ "Wiki and Lil Ugly Mane Indicate Secret Circle Broke up over Antwon's Treatment of Women". Pitchfork. 21 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b Paul Lester (October 1, 2012). "New band of the week: Ratking". The Guardian. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Ruth Saxelby (January 8, 2013). "King Krule selects Ratking". Dazed Digital. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Insanul Ahmed (March 28, 2012). "Who Is Wiki?". Complex. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Cole Rachel (April 22, 2014). "Ratking: Here Is New York". The Fader. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c 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.
  10. ^ Jackson Connor (March 27, 2014). "Spring Arts Guide: The Once and Future Ratking". Village Voice. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "NYC rap crew Ratking release surprise album 700 Fill on BitTorrent". FACTmag. March 5, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.