Patrick Morales’ (born in 1993) ethnically diverse background, distinct nasal tone, and rugged dexterity have brought his artistry to the forefront of New York hip-hop. (His father is Puerto Rican and his mother is of Irish descent.) Since splitting from his original group “Ratking” in 2015, Morales a.k.a. Wiki has released two solid individual projects. The group’s divide could be attributed to a creative stall, yet Wiki has not allowed this minor obstacle to hinder his soaring progression.
No Mountains in Manhattan
After acquiring an illustrious individual deal with XL Recordings, Wiki immersed himself within an entirely new realm of New York hip-hop. His dynamic reappraisal of self may be observed throughout the cohesive unit that is the project titled, “No Mountains in Manhattan.” NMIM debuted on August 25th, 2017 with a booming guest feature from Ghostface Killah and incredible production features from the likes of Kaytranada and Earl Sweatshirt. Wiki stepped out of his comfort realm and tried his own hand at production on this project by engineering back rhythm for the song “Nutcracker.”
Whereas, Wiki’s previous project “Lil Me” highlighted singular vignettes, this recent ouput highlights Wiki’s lyrical output and encompasses the city as a theme for a well-oiled machine amidst the nonexistent mountains in Manhattan. This artist represents the grittiness and grind that surrounds the exterior of New York within absolutely every facet. No place in the world can compare to New York City and Wiki’s constant craving of humanity combined with universal contact further exemplifies this concrete fact.
The city builds character(s)
The trope that this project consistently iterates relies upon the city and its relationship to solidified character. The city is an unusual character in and of itself, all the while, the city persistently builds character via unpredictable dilemmas and scenarios.
Wiki unpacks the backpack of problems that many city denizens often encounter in extensive depth. With the city completely serving as the epicentre for this setting-based album, Wik provides his audience with a blend of nostalgic sounds and seclusive samples that are rejuvenated through totally refreshing lyrical engagement.
Prior to this album, Wiki came to terms with the need to fully devote his complete effort to individual advancement and dragging himself from out of the depths of the underground .
“For me, I wanna be able to pick the art, I wanna pick the beats; I wanna be able to work with other producers.” (Wiki)
New York to the core
Wiki’s sound reeks of loud NY flavor and his heralded voice cleverly connects those who experience disjunction and struggle as a byproduct of New York living. Wiki amalgamates sounds that intertwine generations and his album symbolizes the turning point between underground and finding relatablility.
Certainly, for some time Wiki will remain firmly cemented within the underground scene of New York hip-hop. Fact of the matter is, the distinction between mainstream and underground simply comes down to monetary functionality. As long as the content output is authentic and the lyrical submissions are pure, fans will continue to consume the music they desire to ascertain, regardless of popularity and/or clout.
As Wiki seeks momentous solutions to temporary problems, his audience receives an improved collection of songs that display unmatched intellectual brilliance. Wiki’s unfiltered approach and raspy reactionary tales contribute to the significant appeal that he has garnered within the buzzing dominions of New York.
Constant juxtaposition
As a character, the city can be absolutely aloof and downright unsympathetic. The apex of Wiki’s relationship with the city can be described as a contradiction of symbiotic and discordant. Certainly, Wik benefits from the cultural icons, hip-hop roots and constantly bustling environment that New York incorporates. But, the city’s dividing nature that survives through process of elimination and cut-throat conditions provides a fair share of dissonance as well.
“No Mountains in Manhattan” entirely explores and encapsulates genuine New York imagery. The album glides smoothly through the heights of rhythmic peaks and fully represents the New York City as a ‘cauldron’ of cultural ideals and innovative original thinkers. Through reflection and rumination, Wiki formulated a pristine timeless work of art that landed him on the radar of several important individuals within the game.
By smoothly blending frequencies of the past with remnants of the present, Wiki thoroughly celebrates New York’s unmistakable diversity. Strikingly, the onslaught of patient delivery Wiki utilized resembles that of a major cinematic production. This album must be dissected and digested layer by layer and undoubtedly sounds resoundingly different and unique with each listen.
To hear how Wiki elucidates his metaphorical prowess, check out “No Mountains in Manhattan” available on every major streaming platform.
