Growing Up with Wiki

A couple of weeks ago, my iPod died. I had been using it earlier that day, when suddenly the next song queued up, I heard a sort of crackly, staticky sound, and it was done. The screen worked, the click wheel was clicking, but no sound played—kind of important for a music player. I’m still a big proponent of iPods, and the parts are (relatively) plentiful and (relatively) cheap, but the last of these were manufactured about 20 years ago—no wonder they’ve got occasional hiccups.

It took me a few weeks to get it sorted out, but two tries later, and we’re back in business now. In the meantime, I went back to using my phone for music, which meant a return to mostly playlists. It didn’t have to be this way, I could’ve kept up my album listening, but it’s funny how quickly we fall back into our old ways; or at least I do.

All this to say, I’ve had some catching up to do, which I’ve just started to dip my toes into, starting with Wiki’s Ancient History.

Ancient History, by Wiki14 track albumWikiHarvey Cliff

I’m an OG Wiki fan. I was listening to Ratking when I was in high school, at the time not aware that the rapper I was listening to was basically my age. I’m happy to rep my hipster cred—I was listening to artists like Wiki, Denzel Curry, and Odd Future while driving around late weekend nights at 16, well-before any of them had hit the mainstream. Frankly, I wonder how I knew about them. I guess word just got around for kids back then.

In a way, I’ve grown up alongside Wiki, watching the music he’s making progress alongside his career, and while he’s never reached the same level of mainstream stardom of someone like Kendrick Lamar (who I’ll admit I was late on), he now sits comfortably as one of the best rappers out there, a veteran at just 32. When did we get so old?

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I can’t really say the same for any artists in any other medium. I’ve played and continue to play music, but it should be obvious to readers that I’m much more connected to fiction and photography—yet there aren’t any novelists who come to mind in the same way. There are a lot of authors I’ve read over a long periods of time—such as Murakami—but it’s not quite the same (if anything, it’s shocking I feel I have so much common ground with someone in such a different generation, of a different culture than me; maybe it shouldn’t be).

Perhaps it’s just that I don’t know many novelists in their early thirties.

There’s a lightness to albums, to music. I guess I can’t say for sure, I’ve never tried, but it seems like it’s a lot easier to write a 2-3 minute song than it is to plot out and write a book (and once you’ve made it, you can just post it online; not quite the same for books, even if the technology is there). Of course, music brings the potential for coolness, fame, money, in a way that I think everyone knows books don’t. I dunno, maybe I’ll be the one to change that.

Wiki’s on something like his seventh album, while I’m still yet to make my debut. I’ve got to work harder, and frankly Wiki’s an inspiration across his lyrics and his career.

Despite this, it's only on this album that Wiki seems ready to start appreciating what he's accomplished.

Wiki's always felt reflective, even when he was 18 or so as a member of Ratking. He's always felt like he was trying, even if he wasn't being the person he wanted to be. I think this is one of the things I've always found relatable about his lyrics. Here he is on 2011's "Piece of Shit":

I just need me a grip, but it's kinda tough Because I don't believe in shit

And then here he is 10 years later, on "All I Need":

Fuck love, it's myself I need to get in touch with It's my health I need to get on top of

He's been through struggles, notably with alcohol, as he talks about on Ancient History 's track "Bourbon." He's had to fix himself up. His career's almost as old as my iPod; no surprise he's gathered some bumps and bruises.

Now, 15 years after that first verse, here he is on "One Time":

Am I satisfied? Looking down the valley on top of the mountain that I climbed Then I fell Stumbled hard as hell Sat inside Patronize my whole life But Patrick tried The whole time No lying Hold it together Pat, no crying

Across the album, he seems to finally realize he's arrived somewhere; but he isn't sure if it's where he wants to be. But even in the course of the album, he's taking steps towards where he wants to go, reinventing himself as he reflects on his past. He's rewriting his story by telling it. It's a reminder that we're all a work in progress; nothing's finished even if it's out in the world.

Here he is on "Park":

The days lost? I say I couldn’tve Prayed for a more beautiful way to start this day off … then just laying in the park

I'm not where I want to be yet, but I've done a lot; maybe more than I give myself credit for. Maybe it's okay to just appreciate how far you've come.

Anyways, the new album is good, really good. His lyrics are as thoughtful as ever, and the album features a star-studded roster of contributors, from MIKE, Navy Blue, Your Old Droog, and more. Give it a listen if you’re so inclined.

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