NYC rap group Ratking have officially bid farewell to the warm summer, and are preparing for their winter hibernation with their latest video for the song Arnold Palmer. The song, off their latest jaunt 700 Fill released via Bitorrent, talks extensively about the summertime and bittersweetly reminisces on the days spent outside soaking up the sun.
The video depicts the Ratking crew outside mixing up lemonade in the warmer summer months. The group itself consists of MC’s Wiki and Hak, as well as producer Sporting Life. The group manages to capture that elusive punk/hip hop mix perfectly encapsulated by early OFWGKTA work, where the goofy elements blend perfectly with the DIY nature of their music. As they dance around, drinking Lipton’s ice tea with a bunch of their skater friends, the most important thing about the video seems to be that they are having fun.
The beat isn’t perfect, neither are the lyrics, or the production, but there are very few groups that are convincing in the fact that they are enjoying themselves, and when done right, it’s completely infectious.
The mish-mash collection of stoner/skater ideas from Wiki, with the clinical and analytical nature of the production from Sporting Life, as well as the pseudo-academic and philosophical maturity of Hak all blend together into one goddamn entertaining summer jam that represents everything right about DIY music. And while America transitions into winter, in Australia I look forward to alienating my non-hip-hop-loving friends by playing this song at an obnoxious volume while the sweltering sun burns us to a crisp.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhuTokeGWX0]
In one of the biggest collabs of this year, four of the game’s most exciting names have joined forces it seems. There is not a lot of information at all about this apparent release, apart from it turning up on Know Wave’s Gully Type radio show, but it can be all but 100% confirmed that there is a collaboration by Kelela, Skrillex, Clams Casino and Ratking‘s Hak floating around somewhere on the interwebs.
Of course, the ripped file of this has now been taken down, but you can still stream the whole show below (fast forward to about 1:21:10 if you can’t wait).
Whilst Clams Casino (who has also recently been working with Danny Brown) and Skrillex have been regular additions to the festival circuit for a while now, Kelela and Hak have been keeping to themselves a bit. News like this only raises more questions than it answers, but it can only mean good things to come in the (hopefully) near future!
The Ocean Party, Deluded
Bassist Mark Rogers cuts a rug in the backstreets of Fitzroy, Melbourne to what is one of the most impressive tracks on one of 2014’s most impressive albums. The Ocean Party are going from strength to strength these days, but maybe what they didn’t even know they were missing lies in the mystery man at the end of the clip? Catch them on tour soon!
A-Trak, Push ft Andrew Wyatt
One of my favourite dance tracks of last year has seen A-Trak return to his rightful spot on top after a little break. Featuring the undeniably striking and captivating vocals of Miike Snow‘s Andrew Wyatt, this is piano-house at it’s banging best! The clip gets weird with some pretty crazy scenes of young high society, and is actually perfectly suited to the track. A-Trak recently told The Fader, “I also really wanted a tiger and a squid, I was very specific about that.” Classic A-Trak.
RATKING, Snow Beach
Landing in Australia very soon for Laneway Festival, RATKING have done it again with their latest clip for Snow Beach. Braving the freezing cold (20 degrees Fahrenheit, people), the boys take us on a tour of NYC including the deserted beach. Known for their ability to push the boundaries with their captivating and demanded music, Snow Beach is one of the best songs off their 2014 album So It Goes. TOASTIIIIIIING!
Total Giovanni, Can’t Control My Love
I can’t stop raving about this group, and their latest clip is just adding to my argument that Total Giovanni are one of the most exciting groups to come out of Melbourne in 2014. The film clip for their second track, Can’t Control My Love centres around a group of bad boys getting up to no good, with things not sitting right with the youngest member. When they pick on a young girl – the object of the young boy’s affections – things take a turn for the better thanks to the disco breakdown in the new track. Also, a moment of respect for Total Giovanni’s cameos and the outfits they’re wearing.
POMO, Back 2 U
POMO is on the same label as Kaytranada (HW&W Recordings), and performs alongside HudMo, Giraffage and SpazzKid, so he must know what he’s doing! His first ever music video off his debut 8 track EP, The Other Day, is stunning, with beautiful imagery of professional high diving. However, things get really trippy as the scene begins to warp and melt until it’s completely unrecognisable. The song is catchy as all hell too, and shows there are big things to come from the Canadian producer!