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Rinse RATKING’s Take On King Krule’s “Octopus”

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October 21, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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Enjoy the next few weeks of RATKING before XL re-releases Wiki93 and the shitstorm of hyperbolic think-pieces and comparisons rains down upon us. They’ve already been called a “young OF” and really, what could be more off-base? The fact that Wiki93 is being remastered (much needed) and released on a label as respected as XL is kind of a mindfuck considering how raw these dudes are, but power to them. The hype machine revved its engine last week as the official RATKING remix of (similarly hyped) British crooner/producer King Krule’s “Octopus” hit the interwebz. Adding a simple drum pattern and some typical New York gulliness  to the saccharin original, the boys get all retrospective, spitting about the “rusty rumble in the drums” and “peddling dimes”. At this point, RATKING are pretty one-dimensional and re-releases and hype machine collaborations aren’t going to change that. The remix will be released on Rinse Records (which does get me a little wet). Stream below.

Hopping On The RATKING Bandwagon

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September 20, 2012
New Music
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I’ve been meaning to jump on the RATKING bandwagon for a minute now, but for one reason or another, haven’t gotten my shit together. Now I have the perfect excuse. For the uninitiated, RATKING is made up of NYC teens Wiki, Sporting Life, Racerra and Hak. Last year, they released the Wiki93 EP and garnered a good amount of blog hype, inciting people to rave about their looking back to the future approach to New York hip hop. Soon enough, XL Recordings snapped up the crew and the EP was promptly removed from the internet. In the months since, the group has simmered quietly below the surface, and although little new music has been released, their profile has quickly grown. In November, XL will re-release Wiki93 in a remastered format. For a taste of the re-release, stream “Wikispeaks” below. Hyperbole is the norm when a new, seemingly prodigious hip hop group comes around, especially one from New York, but it’s hard not to indulge with these guys. Just read Wiki and Sporting Life’s interview with Complex from back in March. The dudes just ooze confidence and maturity and are clearly the master’s of their own universe. Anyways, I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from these guys come November and that a cavalcade of “overrated/underrated” arguments will then ensue. In the meantime, enjoy the music.