Red Rat

Wallace Wilson (born 17 January 1978), better known as Red Rat, is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae artist renowned for his upbeat music, humorous style, and signature catchphrase, “Oh, no!” Born in Saint Ann's Bay, Jamaica, he grew up in a musical family; his father was a guitarist for Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, and two of his older brothers also became professional musicians.[1] Red Rat began performing at a young age, quickly gaining recognition for his lively stage presence and playful lyrical style. Red Rat’s debut album, Oh, No… It’s Red Rat (1997), included hits such as Shelly Ann, Dwayne, Tight-Up Skirt, and Cruise, the latter of which appeared in the film The Big Hit. The album was one of Greensleeves Records’ best-selling releases, cementing Red Rat’s reputation in the dancehall scene.[citation needed] He followed up with his second album, I’m a Big Kid Now (2000), which continued to showcase his versatility and mainstream appeal, leading to collaborations with artists including Treach of Naughty by Nature, Groove Armada, Kele Le Roc, and his cousin, Canadian rapper Dan-e-o. In the 2010s, Red Rat expanded into production and mentoring, taking a leadership role at Infinity Moguls Inc. and working closely with young artists such as Pascalle. He continued releasing music, including the socially conscious track Rise Up, Zimbabwe (2010) with ABRA, and the 2016 EDM/dancehall/moombahton fusion Higher featuring dEvolve, which quickly surpassed three million streams on Spotify. Throughout his career, Red Rat has maintained his signature energetic style while branching into new genres and international collaborations, keeping him relevant in the evolving dancehall scene.