Wiki93 is the first thing I’ve heard in the last decade or so that stamps itself firmly side by side with hip-hop’s legends of the late 80’s, early 90’s. If Mos Def/Beastie Boys/ODB happens to harmonise in a bar the familiar tune of ‘they just don’t make them like this anymore’ seems to commence. Well RATKING are my overwhelming rejection of that notion. Signed to Hot Charity/XL Recordings, many would say they’re punching but the indie kings have once again picked up a cracker.

Contradictions-are-us. Whilst this post hip-hop four-piece feeds a sweet dose of nostalgia, the undeniable efforts to pump that sound with some popping 21st century beats is clear. But as we know, old school is cool and the back-to-analogue trend is ever present in these guys production. Taking sounds from all different sides to the spectrum, they experiment with Of Montreal style synth, jumpy Suicide mannered beats and Jedi Mind Tricks type grooves.

Without knowing sweet f’ all about RATKING it wouldn’t take a genius to work out where they hang. Patrick ‘Wiki’ Morales takes the mic in this record hence the entitlement. He’s 19, from Manhattan and a self-confessed ‘upper-middle-class’ kid. He raps about what he knows ergo the content is teeming with NYC references. He talks about New York and it’s rap romance, from Jay-Z to Wu-Tang Clan and it’s raw. So god damn raw. The slightly pinched, slightly nasal tone to his vocals help render the classic feel of it all; paramount in standing out from the bunch.

I won’t spoil it for you, as I’m sure everyone will have an entirely different outlook but as far as drawing your attention to this fresh, raw, Harlem stinking band goes, I vote that you check it out. I get the feeling this is going to be one that you want to jump on early doors. Before the sheep arrive.
 

-Stan R