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.
Sportswear
Rat boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that don't matter cause me and you are always into something
Whether it be riding home drenched in the freezing cold
Or entering town where the postboxes now say sold
(Ooh, Aah, Ooh, Aah)
Stop stop stop stop stop I won't stop it
Sitting in the backseat with that worn out interior
Blatantly looked down on by all our superiors
Ed Hardy jeans, with broken dreams stitched in between the seams
That Boy in a bivvy looks about 13 trying to sell sticks claimed to be weed
Laugh out loud for you and your wannabe crew
In your bodywarmer Nike and bad attitude
I'm not being rude but you've already got babies with two different ladies
How do you want to be viewed?
And while you're out getting screwed, stewed and tattooed she's on her own
Trying to get your baby some food
Ed Hardy jeans, with broken dreams stitched in between the seams
That Boy in a bivvy looks about 13 trying to sell sticks claimed to be weed
Live in sportswear but they never go running
Staying in
Always burning watching porn
Brain numbing
Lack of motherly loving from a young age so they can say they never got nothing from anyone
Cliché!
(I'm sitting on the curb while my mates rolling a fag, I'm fucking hurting, so bored)
Ed Hardy jeans, with broken dreams stitched in between the seams
That Boy in a bivvy looks about 13 trying to sell sticks claimed to be weed
(I've got enough money in my pocket, and you ain't, yeah)
The song “Sportswear” by Rat Boy presents a reality of a generation that lives in sportswear, but never really get to engage in sports. It starts with a feeling of anxiety in the singer’s stomach but, as always, he is up to something with his comrades. They are riding home in the middle of a really cold weather. The song mentions that the postboxes in town are now sold, probably referring to the privatization of public properties.
Rat Boy then takes us through a series of observations about the people he sees around him. There is a boy looking about 13, trying to sell sticks that are claimed to be weed. And there are people wearing Ed Hardy jeans, which he describes as having broken dreams stitched in between the seams. He then goes on to laugh at their bad attitudes while wearing Nike bodywarmers. He talks about a guy who already has babies with two different women, while his woman is at home, trying to provide for their child.
The song then goes on to criticize modern society where people live in sportswear but never go running or do sports. Instead, they spend their time inside, burning and watching porn, which numbs their brains. Rat Boy points out that they lack motherly love from a young age, which is why they always say they never got anything from anyone. In the end, Rat Boy is sitting on the curb, while his mates are rolling a cigarette. He talks about battling mental health, being broke but not caring, and having enough money in his pocket while others don’t.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a funny feeling in my stomach
Despite feeling uneasy, I'm content with always being up to something with you
But that don't matter cause me and you are always into something
My discomfort is irrelevant because we are always engaged in something together
Whether it be riding home drenched in the freezing cold
We endure extreme temperatures on our way home
Or entering town where the postboxes now say sold
We notice that the world around us is constantly changing
Stop stop stop stop stop I won't stop it
I won't back down or give up
Hand me your car keys I'll try and unlock it
I'll take the opportunity to try my hand at something new
Sitting in the backseat with that worn out interior
We're always relegated to second-class status
Blatantly looked down on by all our superiors
Everyone above us shows disdain for our social status
Ed Hardy jeans, with broken dreams stitched in between the seams
Our clothing choices reflect our unfulfilled aspirations
That Boy in a bivvy looks about 13 trying to sell sticks claimed to be weed
We see a young boy resorting to selling fake drugs to make a living
Laugh out loud for you and your wannabe crew
We ridicule those who try to emulate or surpass us
In your bodywarmer Nike and bad attitude
We judge others who wear popular clothing brands and display bad behavior
I'm not being rude but you've already got babies with two different ladies
I don't mean to offend, but your actions show a lack of responsibility
How do you want to be viewed?
Why don't you think more carefully about your reputation?
And while you're out getting screwed, stewed and tattooed she's on her own
You're out living recklessly while leaving your partner to fend for herself
Trying to get your baby some food
She's struggling to provide basic necessities for your child
Live in sportswear but they never go running
They wear athletic clothing but don't engage in physical activity
Staying in
They choose to remain indoors
Always burning watching porn
They spend their time watching pornography
Brain numbing
This activity serves to numb their minds
Lack of motherly loving from a young age so they can say they never got nothing from anyone
They attribute their problems to not receiving motherly love, in order to avoid responsibility for their own actions
Cliché!
This is a common excuse and not a valid one
I'm sitting on the curb while my mates rolling a fag, I'm fucking hurting, so bored
I'm feeling distressed and disconnected from my peers
Ed Hardy jeans, with broken dreams stitched in between the seams
Again, our clothing reflects our unfulfilled dreams
That Boy in a bivvy looks about 13 trying to sell sticks claimed to be weed
We see this young boy trying to make money by selling fake drugs
I've got enough money in my pocket, and you ain't, yeah
I'm able to afford certain luxuries that you cannot
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JORDAN CARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind