1) RATKING (styliz… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists with the name Ratking:
1) RATKING (stylized as RATKING) is an American hip hop group formed in New York City, New York in 2011. They are currently signed to HXC Recordings, as well as their independent record label Letter Racer Records. The group currently consists of rapper Wiki and rapper-producer Sporting Life.
They released their debut EP Wiki93 in November 2012. It was based on 1993, an earlier mixtape produced solely by Wiki, which he released in October 2011. 1993 was inspired by Suicide and Wu-Tang Clan. The group were signed by British label XL Recordings following 1993, and they re-released it as Wiki93 through their Hot Charity imprint.
They released their debut album So It Goes in 2014. It was produced by Sporting Life and engineered by Young Guru. The album's title was inspired by Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five. The album featured collaborations with King Krule, Salomon Faye, and Princess Nokia.
They have performed with Skepta and toured with Death Grips, and Earl Sweatshirt, as well as Run the Jewels and Despot.
In January 2015 the group announced that their second album 700 Fill would be released in January or February 2015. It was released for free via BitTorrent in March 2015.
On June 21, 2016, Hak announced his departure from Ratking, citing no ill feelings towards Wiki and Sporting Life, but saying the reason for his departure was feeling like he was being left out of the group and wanting to branch out into new possibilities with his music and art. Though, the same day, Wiki posted two vaguely cryptic tweets on his Twitter account possibly aimed towards Hak and his departure, saying "Ima make it clear. Bridges burnt are bridges burnt," and "The amount of times this dude fucked me over..." Also on the same day, amid rumors that Ratking had officially broken up, it was confirmed that Ratking would continue as a duo with Wiki and Sporting Life.
Their music has been described as "left-field hip-hop", and the group themselves have stated they wish to reinvent rap music. In addition to being inspired by rap and hip hop, the group has also been inspired by punk rock, and has "many and diverse influences, from Animal Collective to Suicide."Wiki's solo EP 1993, later re-released as Wiki93, was inspired by Suicide and Wu-Tang Clan.
2) Ratking is a hardcore / punk band from Perth, Western Australia. They released their first EP titled Wastelander on July 3, 2013, and their debut album Commonwealth released on July 15, 2014.
So It Goes
Ratking Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got the stoop as my throne
Brick and concrete stricken on me, with a raunchy ho swollen
No Rome throne golden
Only beige with a mix of grey that's the closest, much of my motion's
The Hudson a flowing
Carrying Russian locust, Irish locust, Puerto Rican locust
Get off the boat and seeking, to go kiss the golden streets, but
To get a home, to get it on, to get a grip, to get a life long bird
On a quite strong grip
Looking at your New York Giants with eyes that realize how high it gets
Business legitimate or you swiping shit, kind of like this Nikon lens
Stole it from a ho, she was high on meds
Brought it to Canal, now they buying it
Recycling it on some unlicensed shit
How could you put a, pu-put a price on this
City we surviving in, city we be vibing with
City I been living here my whole life, how could I be hyped on shit?
Six million trains to ride, choose one
Six million stories to tell, whose one?
There's plenty as many as pennies in the futon
Hidden, waiting, to be spitten once the crews gone (x2)
City got me working, got me doing service, don't deserve it
Witty, whittling, learning
Most this wood is probably burning
Most this wood is probably burning
How can you buy, sell the sky, warmth of the land
Spit where you want, nigga don't give a damn
Freshness of air, sparkle on the water
Eagles are our brothers, and flowers are our daughters
Thirst, desire dreams, pleasure sorrow
Sacrifices in depth blue shade grove taro
Where was it then it wasn't far though
Attach your attention to now, no not tomorrow
Air precious, same, same breath
The beast, the trees, the spore, the man, the rest
Rotten buffaloes on the prairie, no not the pain
White chief from Washington shot from trains
If all beasts were gone, life as one
Man would die from a great longing to sing
Cling to calls and fallen wings
Up to me, I'd spring to spring and fling this bling
Six million trains to ride, choose one
Six million stories to tell, whose one?
There's plenty as many as pennies in the futon
Hidden, waiting, to be spitten once the crews gone (x2)
City got me working, got me doing service, don't deserve it
Witty, whittling, learning
Most this wood is probably burning
Most this wood is probably burning
The lines "No need to be cooping it home, got the stoop as my throne" signifies the singer's ownership of their stoop as a place of comfort, solace, and refuge. The "stoop" stands as a threshold space between the private and public realms, where one can observe and also be observed, demonstrating the dichotomy of selfhood versus the social.
The notion of the Hudson river flowing through the city carries a symbolical weight as an embodiment of the city's organic state. The lines "Carrying Russian locust, Irish locust, Puerto Rican locust" can be interpreted as an illustration of the city's complex demographics, with all these various migrant identities contributing to the city's pulsing energy. The singer's shared domestic lifestyle and public vernacular usually characterizing the urban and dystopian hip-hop landscapes, centering on representing their roots, is also evident.
Starting with the lines "How can you buy, sell the sky, warmth of the land, spit where you want, nigga don't give a damn," the singer highlights the commodification of fundamental elements essential to living, like air and water, questioning the validity of capitalism. The lines "Where was it then it wasn't far though. Attach your attention to now, no not tomorrow" implore the audience not to take the present's luxury for granted and to be aware of the pressing environmental concerns to preserve such elements.
Overall, the song can be perceived as an ode to the vibrant city life, with all its faults and merits, driven by the artists' personal experiences and vivid imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
No need to be cooping it home
There's no need to stay home all day
Got the stoop as my throne
I feel comfortable sitting on the steps of my building
Brick and concrete stricken on me, with a raunchy ho swollen
I live in a rough area and sometimes encounter unsavory characters
No Rome throne golden
My surroundings are not glamorous like a king's throne in Rome
Only beige with a mix of grey that's the closest, much of my motion's
My environment is mostly dull and monochromatic, but it's all I've ever known
The Hudson a flowing
The river is always moving and changing, much like my city
Carrying Russian locust, Irish locust, Puerto Rican locust
My city is home to people from all over the world
Get off the boat and seeking, to go kiss the golden streets, but
Immigrants arrive in the city with dreams of success, but it's not always easy
No its, instead stop, still get hot off bedrock, accept home, left home
Despite the challenges, I still find joy in my city and the life I've built here
To get a home, to get it on, to get a grip, to get a life long bird
My goals are to find a stable home, establish myself, and find a long-lasting partner
On a quite strong grip
I am determined to achieve my goals and hold onto them tightly
Looking at your New York Giants with eyes that realize how high it gets
I admire the success of the football team and how it inspires the city
Business legitimate or you swiping shit, kind of like this Nikon lens
There are honest ways to make a living, but some people turn to stealing or other illegal activities
Stole it from a ho, she was high on meds
I witnessed someone steal from a vulnerable person
Brought it to Canal, now they buying it
The thief is selling the stolen item in the famous Canal Street marketplace
Recycling it on some unlicensed shit
The thief is reselling the item without proper authorization
How could you put a, pu-put a price on this
The city has a unique value that can't be measured in money
City we surviving in, city we be vibing with
Despite the challenges, we find a way to live and thrive in the city's unique atmosphere
City I been living here my whole life, how could I be hyped on shit?
I am proud of my city and don't need external validation to appreciate it
Six million trains to ride, choose one
There are countless paths to take in the city, it's up to you to choose
Six million stories to tell, whose one?
Everyone in the city has their own unique story and perspective
There's plenty as many as pennies in the futon
There are endless possibilities and opportunities in the city
Hidden, waiting, to be spitten once the crews gone (x2)
People have untold stories and experiences that they may not share until they feel safe
City got me working, got me doing service, don't deserve it
The city demands a lot from its residents and workers, but it's easy to feel like we don't get back what we put in
Witty, whittling, learning
Despite the challenges, I am always trying to improve and learn
Most this wood is probably burning
Many opportunities and resources in the city are being wasted or going up in smoke
How can you buy, sell the sky, warmth of the land
Some things, like nature, should not be bought or sold
Spit where you want, nigga don't give a damn
Some people have a careless attitude towards the environment and their impact on it
Freshness of air, sparkle on the water
The natural beauty of the city is something to be cherished
Eagles are our brothers, and flowers are our daughters
We are all connected to nature and should treat it with respect
Thirst, desire dreams, pleasure sorrow
People in the city all have their own goals, hopes, and struggles
Sacrifices in depth blue shade grove taro
There are hidden sacrifices that people make to achieve their dreams
Where was it then it wasn't far though
Sometimes opportunities are closer than they seem
Attach your attention to now, no not tomorrow
It's important to focus on the present moment and not just future possibilities
Air precious, same, same breath
We all breathe the same air and should appreciate its value
The beast, the trees, the spore, the man, the rest
We are all part of the same ecosystem and should treat it with care
Rotten buffaloes on the prairie, no not the pain
There have been times in the past when we did not treat nature with respect and are suffering the consequences
White chief from Washington shot from trains
Historically, the government has not always been kind to Native Americans and their land
If all beasts were gone, life as one
Without nature, humanity would not survive
Man would die from a great longing to sing
We are all connected to nature and it brings us joy and inspiration
Cling to calls and fallen wings
We should hold on to the beauty of nature and remember what matters most
Up to me, I'd spring to spring and fling this bling
If it were up to me, I would celebrate and appreciate the beauty of the city's natural environment
Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED
Written by: ERIC ADIELE, HAKEEM LEWIS, PATRICK MORALES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
theneedledrop
Keep it up, guys.
Squang
True melon
The Streets aka. Joshua
Then I'll be that #penpoint
The Streets aka. Joshua
@damán allaid yooo you got an essay out of reading all that?! All I got was this question, Sigmund Freud, ain't he that dude who got in trouble for those tigers??
Randy Johnson
cama2003 this is fact
Blind Mown
Ratthony Kingtano
y
Wiki's flow is honestly mind blowing, like the first verse in this song--the timing, the lyrics, the rhyme. How does someone even write something so masterfully crafted?
Jon Huffines
Practice
Teratoma 彡 Prod.
ratking was ahead of its time, still cant get over it tbh
DerrickHazeMusic
one of the best instrumentals ever produced.