After making waves with his debut album Scum and the seven-track Civil Disorder, Rat Boy has teamed up with Tim Armstrong for his new project Internationally Unknown. The 12-track collection is released via Parlophone and Armstrong’s Hellcat Records label. Rat Boy first found Armstrong’s punk/hip-hop band The Transplants in his father’s record collection, and subsequently delved into his back catalogue with Rancid and Operation Ivy. Separated by 30 years of age and the Atlantic Ocean, Rat Boy and Armstrong sound like the very definition of an odd couple. But they immediately connected on their first phone call, through a shared love for mixing the visceral energy of punk with hip-hop beats. In many ways, it’s hardly surprising: both musicians share similar influences and often reflect on their upbringing in their lyrics. The pair met in Los Angeles and immediately captured three demos on their first day together, with members of The Interrupters backing them on bass and drums. Rat Boy has diverse influences which echo, at various points, The Clash, Beastie Boys, The Prodigy, Rebel MC, Green Day and Run DMC. Standout tracks include the title track which contrasts manic verses with an anthemic downtempo hook; the aggy street-punk rush of opening track Chip on my Shoulder; and the experimental production that underpins No Peace, No Justice, which also features a one-take improvised verse from Armstrong.
LP - Heavyweight Vinyl.
After making waves with his debut album Scum and the seven-track Civil Disorder, Rat Boy has teamed up with Tim Armstrong for his new project Internationally Unknown. The 12-track collection is released via Parlophone and Armstrong’s Hellcat Records label. Rat Boy first found Armstrong’s punk/hip-hop band The Transplants in his father’s record collection, and subsequently delved into his back catalogue with Rancid and Operation Ivy. Separated by 30 years of age and the Atlantic Ocean, Rat Boy and Armstrong sound like the very definition of an odd couple. But they immediately connected on their first phone call, through a shared love for mixing the visceral energy of punk with hip-hop beats. In many ways, it’s hardly surprising: both musicians share similar influences and often reflect on their upbringing in their lyrics. The pair met in Los Angeles and immediately captured three demos on their first day together, with members of The Interrupters backing them on bass and drums. Rat Boy has diverse influences which echo, at various points, The Clash, Beastie Boys, The Prodigy, Rebel MC, Green Day and Run DMC. Standout tracks include the title track which contrasts manic verses with an anthemic downtempo hook; the aggy street-punk rush of opening track Chip on my Shoulder; and the experimental production that underpins No Peace, No Justice, which also features a one-take improvised verse from Armstrong.
LP - Heavyweight Vinyl.