Today we’d like to introduce you to Ratarue.
Ratarue, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My father was a Drummer and Comedian. He had a studio in the house and my younger brother and I would play around in his studio. I had a Fisher Price Tape Recorder and would make songs and audio adventures with it. I have two cousins that very notable Musicians. Andrew Woolfolk, of Earth Wind and Fire, and Darryl Woolfolk who is currently on tour with Gladis Knight of Gladis Knight and the Pips. I watched BET Rap City religiously, as well as Yo MTV Raps. I started freestyling, making up lyrics and rhymes in an improve manner, while transferring city busses, on my way to my Mom’s work, after school. Through Skateboarding, I. met several other kids interested in the quirky abstract Hip Hop I was interested in. Some of the kids bought two turntables and a mixer and DJ on the weekends. I would get on the mic and freestyle with them. I was involved in several groups that made a name for themselves in the early 90’s but since I had a scholarship to play college Soccer was dedicated to staying focused in that. Later, after a very short professional Soccer carrier, I decided to work on Music full time. I produced demos and collaborated with Friends. I would do verses on peoples songs and would get to record with them. I scratched money together, bought beats, and would book studio time. I release my first album Odd Augmentation, Inc. in 2009. I have since been studying Music Theory and now write my Music, with no samples. My song Steam was noticed by Happy Mag, a publication out of Australia, and has garnered over 30k plays on Spotify.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It is definitely a struggle. Not a “I have two kids and need to figure out a way to keep the lights on” type of struggle but a struggle, non the less. After any hiatus it is hard to build an audience, especially if you are trying to do something different. Austin is a really great city, for many reasons. It is just a matter of getting out there and promoting yourself. My approach to Music is a bit different, after teaching myself Music Theory. I did have a teacher but I still approached it, in Hip Hop perspective. I dug for Music Theory books based on what I thought the greats would have studied. I would go to Antique shops and pick up books that looked antiquated it. I treated it like searching for Vinyl Records. Trying to find gems amongst the dust and forgotten.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a lyricist, Emcee, and Composer. I am trying to tell my story. I hope people can relate. I have always been know for running in circles with brilliant lyricist and I am just one of them that is still currently doing it. The only thing that sets me apart, at this time, is that I write original Music, to go along with my approach to lyricism. That is in regards to my peoples in Hip Hop. I have befriended many Jazz, Classical, African Musicians now, as well. It is cool to be in close proximity with some really next level thinkers and doers in this city that make such amazing contributions to Music and Art.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
The dedication to Art, especially now, is risky. It seems there are so many people with vested interests to disable the means for artist to scrape by, let alone thrive, to just be artists. There is no Ambassador of the Arts, in the United States.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ratarue.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ratarue/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ratarue/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Ratarue
