He sent "The Mixtape" to various record companies and in response Drew McConnell (bassist for Babyshambles) arranged for Rat Boy to have a meeting with him, Cardy was subsequently signed to Parlophone in early 2015. In addition to this "The Mixtape" was featured in NME Magazine and played by radio stations including BBC Radio 1, Radio X and BBC Radio 6.
Rat Boy was added to the BBC Sound Of 2016 Longlist, an annual poll in which over 100 Music Specialists select artists they believe will be successful within the next 12 months. In December 2015, MTV released its Brand New for 2016, an annually released article and webseries containing artists to watch out for during the upcoming year. Rat Boy was shortlisted along with 10 other artists including Bonkaz, Jack Garratt and Rationale. He was also nominated for the Best New Artist 2016 by NME magazine, which he subsequently won, along with performing his single "Move" at the awards ceremony.
In April 2017, Cardy's song "Knock Knock" was sampled on Kendrick Lamar's song "Lust", taken from his fourth studio album, Damn. When he found out about the sample, he tweeted his appreciation for it.
On 11 August 2017 Rat Boy released his long-awaited debut album Scum. The album was initially released with 13 tracks, however a deluxe 25-track version was also released. The deluxe version included more than 15 minutes of skits, samples and interludes, as well as an extra song "Sad Sad" featuring fellow indie musician Mallory Merk. The album reached 15 in the uk album chart.
In December 2017, Cardy supported Liam Gallagher on his UK solo tour.
On 25 January 2019 Rat Boy released the studio album Internationally Unknown which was recorded in 2018.
Rat Boy featured on McFly's 2020 album, "Young Dumb Thrills" under a song of the same name.
Left 4 Dead
Rat boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know the rules
Coming round treating us dealers like fools
Pull my leg, end up dead
Cause i'm fed up of all the shit you keep talking Tony
Now he's called up from the couch for some money off his friends
Forehead sweating and the truth starts to bend
Knows he's gonna get hurt
Think of something to say cos' you've got to scarper
But hold on
I've got the right amount of money you said you need
I've just got to nip up the Co-Op it's just down the road I think they've got a working cash machine
(You don't have to pay for it there either)
But hold on
I've got the right amount of money you said you need
I've just got to nip up the Co-Op it's just down the road I think they've got a working cash machine
How did I just get away with that?
I'm never gonna pay that prick his money back
He's gonna try and see my debt you wanna bet?
But i'm not gonna let that happen
But he's never gonna find me you see
Run faster than Usain Bolt on speed
Oh what's that coming round the corner?
(Get in the back of the van!)
Didn't take too long
They kicked and punched your boy till he's on his knees
On his bruised knees
It's what happens when you don't pay fees
You get the shit kicked out of ya but cool beans
He was found the next morning, mum was mouring
His eyes they were bawling, falling in and out of a conscious state, it's an ill fate
You're lapping to play the best
Well not this time mate
Left him for dead
That's what the papers said
In a hospital bed
Through a tube being fed
[2x]
The song "Left 4 Dead" by Rat Boy talks about a guy named Tony who owes a lot of money to some dealers. The lyrics talk about how Tony is trying to come up with excuses and stories to avoid paying the debt. The singer of the song is trying to avoid the same fate and comes up with a plan to convince Tony that he has the money he needs but needs to go to the Co-Op to withdraw it from an ATM, giving him a successful escape from the situation. However, Tony fails to pay his debt and ends up getting brutally beaten up, leading to his hospitalization. The lyrics suggest that the singer is relieved that he avoided the same fate and feels confident that he won't be caught.
The lyrics of the song are a commentary on the dangers of getting involved in criminal activities and the risks of not paying debts. The song also sheds light on the desperation and fear that comes with being in debt to dangerous people.
Line by Line Meaning
Your debt just doubled in interest
Your debt has become twice the amount owed due to the added interest
You know the rules
You are aware of the consequences for not paying your debts
Coming round treating us dealers like fools
You are acting superior to drug dealers when asking for money
Pull my leg, end up dead
If you try to deceive me, it may result in violence
Cause i'm fed up of all the shit you keep talking Tony
I am tired of your excuses and lies regarding your debt
Now he's called up from the couch for some money off his friends
Tony is requesting money from his friends to pay off his debt
Forehead sweating and the truth starts to bend
Tony is nervous and beginning to tell lies to try and avoid paying his debt
Knows he's gonna get hurt
Tony is aware that there may be violent consequences for his failure to pay his debt
He knows he's gonna get merked
Tony knows that he may be killed for not paying his debt
Think of something to say cos' you've got to scarper
Tony is trying to come up with an excuse to leave quickly
But hold on
Wait a minute
I've got the right amount of money you said you need
I have the exact amount of money that you requested
I've just got to nip up the Co-Op it's just down the road I think they've got a working cash machine
I just need to go to the convenience store nearby to get cash from the ATM
(You don't have to pay for it there either)
I won't have to pay any fees for using the ATM at the Co-Op
How did I just get away with that?
How was I able to get out of that situation without any harm coming to me?
I'm never gonna pay that prick his money back
I have no intention of paying my debt to that person
He's gonna try and see my debt you wanna bet?
The person I owe money to is going to try and collect the debt, do you want to make a bet on it?
But i'm not gonna let that happen
I am going to avoid having to pay my debt
But he's never gonna find me you see
The person I owe money to won't be able to locate me
Run faster than Usain Bolt on speed
I will run very quickly to avoid being caught
Oh what's that coming round the corner?
What is approaching from around the corner?
(Get in the back of the van!)
Quickly get into the van to avoid being caught
Didn't take too long
It didn't take very much time
They kicked and punched your boy till he's on his knees
The person who owes money was physically assaulted until they were on the ground
On his bruised knees
The person was on their knees, which were bruised from the assault
It's what happens when you don't pay fees
This is what occurs when you fail to pay your debts
You get the shit kicked out of ya but cool beans
You will be beaten up, but some may see it as not a big deal
He was found the next morning, mum was mouring
The person who owed the debt was discovered the next day, and their mother was grieving
His eyes they were bawling, falling in and out of a conscious state, it's an ill fate
The person's eyes were crying and they were in and out of consciousness, which is a terrible fate
You're lapping to play the best
You think you are good enough to compete with the best
Well not this time mate
But not this time, my friend
Left him for dead
The person was left with the expectation that they would die
That's what the papers said
This is what was reported in the news
In a hospital bed
The person was admitted to the hospital
Through a tube being fed
The person was being fed through a tube due to their injuries
[2x]
Repeats the last message
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JORDAN CARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind