Rats, alongside monkeys, are recurrent motifs in Banksy's body of work. Addressing their significance, Banksy writes in his 2005 book "Wall and Peace": "[Rats] exist without permission. They are hated, hunted and persecuted. They live in quiet desperation amongst the filth. And yet they are capable of bringing entire civilisations to their knees. If you are dirty, insignificant and unloved then rats are the ultimate role model."
This unsigned version of Gangsta Rat depicts a rat sitting adorned with a New York Mets baseball cap and a heavy chain medallion, positioned beside a boombox stereo. Above the rat are freshly sprayed letters "iP.O.W" cascading down the sheet. In the context of hip-hop culture, which intersects with graffiti art, the rat embodies elements like stunting, DJing, and graffiti itself. The artwork showcases Banksy's signature stencil technique while subtly referencing his early free-hand style.