About Gangsta Rat

A rat in a baseball cap appears next to a ghetto blaster, showcasing recognisable attributes of NYC ‘90s hip hop culture. IPOW tag features on the wall behind the rat, referencing Pictures on Walls – Banksy’s main print publisher from 2003 until 2017.

Broader context

Banksy employs rats in his artworks as a means of addressing class inequality and questioning societal stereotypes, particularly those perpetuated by mainstream media regarding the urban underclass. Executed in Banksy's distinctive stencil style, the Gangsta Rat takes inspiration from 90s New York hip hop fashion. Adorned with a New York Mets baseball cap, ear piercing, and a lengthy chain, the creature embodies a collection of traits commonly associated with the realms of New York underground culture and hip hop music.

What’s unique about Gangsta Rat

The print represents one of the many unique ways in which Banksy’s works turn the ambiguous rat character into a symbol of contemporary social tensions. Banksy reproduced Gangsta Rat in the form of murals in Farringdon (2004), Old Street (2006) and New York City during his painting residency Better Out Than In in 2013.