Who are RATKING? I imagine a few of you are asking that. RATKING are a young hip hop group from New York, consisting of Wiki, Hak and the man on the boards Sporting Life. Wiki is the main dude in a sense, he spits the most rhymes with his fast paced, gnarly style of delivery. Hak is a much more mellow character who doesn't spit the same as Wiki but shares deep, introspective thoughts that immediately earn respect. Hak and Wiki are around the same age - 20. Sporting Life is an some what odd 32 years of age, odd only because of the difference but age is irrelevant when you're talking musical chemistry. 'So it goes' is their first album, check out '1993' if you've got the time.

RATKING have no dream, ambition or desire of mainstream success. Their music is a mash up of anything and everything between British grime and house to jazz and funk. 'So it goes' epitomises all these sounds. Sporting Life does a fantastic job of detailing what RATKING is all about, he finds an awesome mix of noise and musical composition. He lays the foundation for Wiki and Hak to tell their stories, while also adding to and enhancing the experience. Most of the tracks on 'So it goes' follow the above mix, but showcasing his ability Sporting also throws in some fast paced latin funk cross with duff duff for 'Puerto Rican Judo' - it's quite awesome to witness the differences and similarities in sound.

When thinking about what to write, I would usually try to pick out a few different things. However, the main thought I got from listening to this album is how good a job these guys do at telling you THEIR story of New York. They aren't gangstas, they're not from the projects so they can't tell you that story ... they are however general street kids who just cause a general ruckus.

Their passion for New York is unquestioned, but the paint it in such a grimey, real life way that it's hard to not like it. After listening to this a few times, I feel that I understand even more about New York. Both Wiki and Hak offer you stories and thoughts on their experiences within New York, their experiences within the mad scramble that is New York.

A few golden bars include

"Tourists came, try to escape, admire the place, visit the Empire State
I prefer a roof, stoop, fire escape" - Snow Beach (Wiki)

"This ain't 90's revival, its earlier, its tribal revival
Before you learned from a Bible, you learn from your rivals
Whose urgence was liable, to merk em' and leave em' in piles" - Protein (Wiki)

As with a youngster, there are plenty of questions asked about both themselves and the world. These guys aren't too macho to expose their problems or insecurities and share a curiosity that isn't found in everyone. If you're searching for something a bit different, if you have an open mind about your musical tastes then give 'So it goes' a run. You may find yourself struggling to keep up with everything or you may find yourself sharing their curiosity. I'd advise you to be curious and let them take you on a journey.

"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" - So it goes (Hak)