Photo via SoundCloud

Donning masks of subway creatures that dwell in NYC subways, it’s no surprise that UK punk/rap band RATS make music as gritty and murky as the subway system, as raucous as oncoming trains. A swift glance at their Instagram page shows promise of a free copy of their EP, so long as you DM them with your email. Early by the next day, the Welcome to Hell EP was lounging mischievously at the top of my inbox.

Genre fusion of hip-hop and punk has been commonplace since each genre’s conception, with the echoes of rebellion sat comfortably at the root of each genre. The collective voice of the counterculture- the diligent and unapologetic side-eyes directed at power structures and oppression- ring loudly in both types of music. Bands like Death Grips, HO99O9, and RATS do the fusion justice, by making sure both styles remain present and functioning as a track runs its sometimes short course; the Welcome to Hell EP, for example, runs around 11 minutes in length.

From “American Heroin” to “Bad Habits,” the band shows rigid knowledge of cultures and ideologies outside their own, and makes a point to be savvy, intrinsic, and deathly rapid in their delivery. “Do you wanna get f*cked up, or do you wanna get f*cked?!” they yell in “American Heroin.” In addition, while “Handstand” reverberates more of a rap structure than a punk one, the very last track in the EP, “Welcome to Hell,” shows RATS at their most abrasive. Their live performances seem to echo this same vibration. To see a live show evolve into a riot wouldn’t be a surprise; after all, they love their “bad habits.”

You can stream the EP above, and follow the UK band on Instagram and SoundCloud.

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The post Punk/Rap Band RATS Drop 10 Minute EP of Pure Havoc appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Digging around on the internet usually leads you to dark, sordid parts of the deep web (and usually a spiral of Wikipedia entries), but once in a while you’ll stumble on a gem. YouTube user Odd Davud has been quietly uploading rare Odd Future recordings over the past couple of weeks and they’re sonic throwbacks to the group’s darker, grungier days. Among the uploads is a 2010 outtake from Earl Sweatshirt called “Rats,” produced by Tyler, the Creator. The song is only 90 seconds and therefore likely was never finished, but it’s lo-fi, angry, and murky. We also have have a better quality version of Tyler’s demo called “Heart of Gold.” Check out everything below.

The post Listen to a Bunch of Old, Unreleased Odd Future Songs appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

This Belgian artist’s works show a new way to use a spray can and truly mix street art with fine art. ROA’s pen-like graffiti of animals on walls is reminiscent of Leonardo DaVinci’s anatomy sketches. For ROA, animals are, “an open theme … you can create your own story with animals.”  For his rodents he says that “to depict them totally out of proportion gives them a surreal quality. I really like the ambiguity of images and of implicit meanings.” ROA travels with his furry animals from European walls to the dusted, deserted and dry lands of Mexico.  Each time he tries “to insinuate ideas – not too obvious like mass media.”

The post Street Art: ROA, the DaVinci of the Streets appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.