RAT BOY - INTERNATIONALLY UNKNOWN
Album Details

U.S. Release Date: January 25, 2019

E.U. Release Date: January 25, 2019

Label: Hellcat/Epitaph

Recording Year: 2018

UPC/EAN Code: 45778053469

INTERNATIONALLY UNKNOWN

RAT BOY

About INTERNATIONALLY UNKNOWN by RAT BOY

After making waves with his debut album SCUM and the seven-track CIVIL DISORDER, RAT BOY has teamed up with Tim Armstrong to produce his new album titled INTERNATIONALLY UNKNOWN. The 12-track collection is available now 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 catalog with Rancid and Operation Ivy. RAT BOY had repeatedly mentioned his admiration of Armstrong in interviews, which led to the L.A. punk veteran discovering the young Essex upstart.

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 at Armstrong’s Shiprec Studios where he had just finished producing The Interrupters latest album and immediately captured three demos on their first day together, with members of The Interrupters backing them on bass and drums. Not only did they have chemistry but they had a wealth of unorthodox creative ideas, such as chopping up live drums before filtering them through an old tape machine or RAT BOY playing Armstrong’s left-handed guitar upside down.

The momentum was such that the project was entirely written and recorded during three visits, which amounted to a total of two months’ work. RAT BOY’s live band joined him in Los Angeles, while other collaborators include former Aggrolites bassist J Bonner and The Interrupters’ vocalist Aimee Interrupter. John King of The Dust Brothers (Beastie Boys, Beck) also contributed production.

“I wanted to do this completely differently because ‘SCUM’ took so long, and I was learning the whole way through making it,” says RAT BOY. “I wanted to make something more personal and raw, which reflected me more. I was trying to find that sweet spot between hip-hop and punk, and Tim really understands that stuff. I’ve never really spoken to anyone else who love hip-hop and punk like I do.”

The result is twelve tracks which amplify RAT ROY’s rabble-rousing riot act to a new level. He’s drawing on diverse influences which echo, at various points, The Clash, Beastie Boys, The Prodigy, Rebel MC, Green Day and Run DMC.

@RATBOY

Set design go crazy on last night in soho

See Original

@RATBOY

I want to make rat boy music like the first mixtape again

See Original

@RATBOY

Recording the first mixtape in my bedroom sometime in 2013. https://t.co/xWxpzjUIVJ

See Original

Artist Bio

RAT BOY

RAT BOY

Shall we take a little trip to Essex? It’s east of London but it’s definitely not east London, the land of Blur, Depeche Mode, The …

Read All

Contact

Listen

YouTube

@RATBOY

If I was a richman Id still count my change 1 2 3 4 5 6 quid give a small tip then wave goodbye 👋 https://t.co/SLfUSQJrdx

See Original

@RATBOY

12 songs ready for mix @pizza4liam @HARRYT666 #####lowlife should we drop a bonus track on soundcloud next week!???????

See Original

@RATBOY

Trying to get the mixtape on ltd vinyl is proving difficult ah

See Original

@RATBOY

If I was a richman Id still count my change 1 2 3 4 5 6 quid give a small tip then wave goodbye 👋 https://t.co/SLfUSQJrdx

See Original

@RATBOY

12 songs ready for mix @pizza4liam @HARRYT666 #####lowlife should we drop a bonus track on soundcloud next week!???????

See Original

@RATBOY

Trying to get the mixtape on ltd vinyl is proving difficult ah

See Original

@RATBOY

Set design go crazy on last night in soho

See Original

@RATBOY

I want to make rat boy music like the first mixtape again

See Original

@RATBOY

Recording the first mixtape in my bedroom sometime in 2013. https://t.co/xWxpzjUIVJ

See Original

@RATBOY

My dads in blink 182

See Original

@RATBOY

Parks and rec is good for the office comedown

See Original