Rodney Hylton Smith, better known by his stage name Roots Manuva (born 9 September 1972), is a British rapper and producer. Since his debut in 1994, he has produced numerous albums and singles on the label Big Dada, achieving commercial success with albums '' Run Come Save Me'' and '' Slime & Reason''. He has been described as "one of the most influential artists in British music history." His most recent studio album, '' Bleeds'', was released in October 2015.
Biography
Smith grew up around
Stockwell
Stockwell is a district in south west London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. It is situated south of Charing Cross. Battersea, Brixton, Clapham, South Lambeth, Oval and Kennington all border Stockwell.
History
The name ...
, London, England. His parents were from a small village in
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of Hispa ...
where his father was a preacher and tailor. He spent much of his early life in poverty and this and his strict
Pentecostal
Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestantism, Protestant Charismatic Christianity, Charismatic Christian movementIQ Procedure through
Suburban Base
Suburban Base Records is a British breakbeat hardcore, rave and jungle/drum and bass record label. It is based in Romford, Havering, England. It was established by Danny Donnelly and operated in the UK from 1990 to 1997 and in the United State ...
's short-lived hip hop imprint Bluntly Speaking Vinyl. He debuted as Roots Manuva the same year on Blak Twang's "Queen's Head" single, before releasing his own single, "Next Type of Motion" the following year through the same label, the Sound of Money. 1996 saw the release of his collaborations with Skitz ("Where My Mind Is At"/"Blessed Be The Manner") on 23 Skidoo's Ronin label. The release of "Feva" on Tony Vegas' Wayward imprint followed in 1997. This was also the year that saw the first releases from Big Dada, a collaboration between
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English electronic music duo composed of Matt Black and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s, Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music due to their innovative style, ...
's
Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is an English independent record label based in London. It has a satellite office in Los Angeles. It was founded by Matt Black and Jonathan More (better known as Coldcut) and managed by Peter Quicke and others.
Inspired by a visi ...
label and hip hop journalist Will Ashon.
Releasing for
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English electronic music duo composed of Matt Black and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s, Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music due to their innovative style, ...
's renowned experimental/hip hop label
Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is an English independent record label based in London. It has a satellite office in Los Angeles. It was founded by Matt Black and Jonathan More (better known as Coldcut) and managed by Peter Quicke and others.
Inspired by a visi ...
in 1998, some of his music may be seen as a predecessor of grime. The following year he released his debut album, ''
Brand New Second Hand
''Brand New Second Hand'' is the first studio album by English hip hop musician Roots Manuva. It was released on Big Dada in 1999.
Critical reception
Paul Cooper of ''Pitchfork'' gave the album a 9.5 out of 10, saying, "I find Roots Manuva's de ...
''. A reference to his family's modest lifestyle, the title is a phrase his mother used for presents he got as a youngster that were pre-used. The single " Witness (1 Hope)", from his second album Run Come Save Me, with its lyrical flow and heavy shuffling squelch bass (allegedly a result of Smith trying to copy the ''Doctor Who'' theme) is a UK rap anthem. He had such an impact on the UK rap scene that ''
The Times
''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' ( ...
'' said that "his is the voice of urban Britain, encompassing dub,
ragga
Raggamuffin music, usually abbreviated as ragga, is a subgenre of dancehall and reggae music. The instrumentals primarily consist of electronic music. Similar to hip hop, sampling often serves a prominent role in raggamuffin music.
Wayne Sm ...
,
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the mi ...
and hip hop as it sweeps from crumbling street corners to
ganja
Ganja (, ; ) is one of the oldest and most commonly used synonyms for marijuana. Its usage in English dates to before 1689.
Etymology
''Ganja'' is borrowed from Hindi/Urdu ( hi, गांजा, links=no, ur, , links=no, IPA: aːɲd͡ ...
-filled dancehalls, setting gritty narratives against all manner of warped beats." Manuva was rewarded for his breakthrough with a MOBO as Best Hip Hop Act that year.
The lyrics of his songs have a British edge, with critics highlighting his references to eating cheese on toast and drinking bitter as examples of this.
He can be heard on many songs performed with other artists such as
Chali 2na
Charles Stewart (born June 26, 1971), better known as Chali 2na, is an American painter and rapper, associated with the groups Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli. He is known for his bass-baritone and quick delivery rapping style.
Personal life
Early ...
Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum (born 20 August 1979) is an English jazz-pop singer, songwriter and radio presenter. Although primarily a vocalist and pianist, he also accompanies himself on other instruments, including guitar and drums. He has recorded nine stu ...
,
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis (born June 29, 1972), better known by his stage name DJ Shadow, is an American DJ, songwriter and record producer. His debut studio album, '' Endtroducing.....'' was released in 1996.
Biography Early years (1989–1995)
DJ Sha ...
Fun Lovin' Criminals
Fun Lovin' Criminals are an American rap rock band from New York City. They are best known for their hit "Scooby Snacks", which features samples from films by Quentin Tarantino, and the song "Love Unlimited", which recalls Barry White's backin ...
,
Nightmares on Wax
George Evelyn (born 15 January 1970), better known by his stage name Nightmares on Wax or DJ E.A.S.E., is an English DJ and record producer from Leeds. His music has been released by Warp Records. He is based in Ibiza. Nightmares on Wax were o ...
,
The Cinematic Orchestra
The Cinematic Orchestra is a British nu jazz and downtempo music group created in 1999 by Jason Swinscoe. The group is signed to independent record label Ninja Tune.
The Cinematic Orchestra have produced four studio albums, ''Motion'' (1999) ...
,
Beth Orton
Elizabeth Caroline Orton (born 14 December 1970) is an English musician, known for her "folktronica" sound, which mixes elements of folk and electronica. She was initially recognised for her collaborations with William Orbit, Andrew Weatherall, ...
,
The Herbaliser
The Herbaliser is an English jazz hip hop group formed by Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba in London, England during the early 1990s. Although currently releasing on their own label and having previously been signed to !K7 Records, they were one o ...
,
Leftfield
Leftfield are a British electronic music duo formed in 1989 as the duo of Neil Barnes and Paul Daley (the latter formerly of the Rivals and A Man Called Adam). The duo was very influential in the evolution of electronic music in the 1990s, w ...
,
Saian Supa Crew Sayan may refer to:
Places
* Sayan Mountains, a mountain range in Siberia
* Sayan, India, a city in India
* Sayan, Bali, a village in Indonesia
* Sayan, Iran, a village in Iran
* Sayán District, Peru
Other uses
* Sayan (name)
* Sayana, 14th ...
and
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English electronic music duo composed of Matt Black and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s, Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music due to their innovative style, ...
. He also made an appearance on the
Gorillaz
Gorillaz are an English virtual band formed in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, from London. The band primarily consists of four fictional members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guit ...
*''Next Type of Motion'' (1995)
*''Awfully De/EP'' (24 October 2005)
*''Banana Skank EP'' (21 January 2013)
* "Stolen Youth EP" (6 August 2013)
Live albums
* ''Live from London (iTunes)'' (15 August 2008)
Singles
* "Juggle Tings Proper" (22 February 1999)
* "Motion 5000" (5 July 1999)
* " Witness (1 Hope)" (23 July 2001) UK No. 45
* "Dreamy Days" (8 October 2001) UK No. 53
* "Yellow Submarine" (14 October 2002)
* "Colossal Insight" (17 January 2005) UK No. 33
* " Too Cold" (21 March 2005) UK No. 39
* "Buff Nuff" (30 June 2008)
* "Again & Again" (25 August 2008) – featured on the EA TRAX soundtrack for the EA Sports videogame ''
Fight Night Round 4
''Fight Night Round 4'' is a boxing video game developed by EA Sports. It is the sequel to '' Fight Night Round 3'', released in 2006. It was released in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry. The game's featured boxer ...
''
* "Let the Spirit" (27 October 2008)
* "Do Nah Bodda Mi" (29 June 2009)
* "It's On (Banana Klan)" (28 April 2011)
* "Here We Go Again (feat.
Spikey Tee
The TC Energy Center is a highrise that represents one of the first significant examples of postmodern architecture construction in downtown Houston, Texas. The building has been formerly known as the RepublicBank Center, the NCNB Center, the ...
)" (3 October 2011)
* "Don't Breathe Out" (22 September 2015)
Guest appearances
*
Amon Tobin
Amon Adonai Santos de Araújo Tobin (born February 7, 1972), known as Amon Tobin (), is a Brazilian electronic musician, composer and producer. He is noted for his unusual methodology in sound design and music production. He has released eight ...
– "Saboteur mix," also known as "Saboteur -- Roots Manuva version" (from
Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is an English independent record label based in London. It has a satellite office in Los Angeles. It was founded by Matt Black and Jonathan More (better known as Coldcut) and managed by Peter Quicke and others.
Inspired by a visi ...
compilation ''
Xen Cuts
''Xen Cuts'' is a compilation album released by Ninja Tune independent record label on their tenth anniversary. The album was released in a four-piece vinyl recording (ZEN49), as two-disc CD (ZENCD049) and as a three-disc CD (ZENCD049X) versions, ...
'')
*
Antipop Consortium
Antipop Consortium is an American alternative hip hop group. The group formed in 1997, when Beans, High Priest, M. Sayyid, and producer Earl Blaize met at a poetry slam in New York City. They are notable for their stream-of-consciousness lyric ...
The Cinematic Orchestra
The Cinematic Orchestra is a British nu jazz and downtempo music group created in 1999 by Jason Swinscoe. The group is signed to independent record label Ninja Tune.
The Cinematic Orchestra have produced four studio albums, ''Motion'' (1999) ...
To Believe
''To Believe'' is the fifth studio album by the British group The Cinematic Orchestra. It was released on 15 March 2019 through Ninja Tune and Domino Recording Company, Domino. It is the group's first album in 12 years following ''Ma Fleur'' (2007 ...
'')
* Cornish Waters – "Look to Myself for Faith" (from ''UK Hustlerz – The Return'', under the pseudonym Brigadier Smythe)
*
Coldcut
Coldcut are an English electronic music duo composed of Matt Black and Jonathan More. Credited as pioneers for pop sampling in the 1980s, Coldcut are also considered the first stars of UK electronic dance music due to their innovative style, ...
– "True Skool" (from '' Sound Mirrors'') UK No. 61, "Only Heaven" (from Only Heaven EP)
* DJ Mentat – "Rugged Wid' It" (with Seanie T)
*
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis (born June 29, 1972), better known by his stage name DJ Shadow, is an American DJ, songwriter and record producer. His debut studio album, '' Endtroducing.....'' was released in 1996.
Biography Early years (1989–1995)
DJ Sha ...
– "GDMFSOB ( UNKLE Uncensored mix)" (from "Mashin' on the Motorway")
*
DJ Skitz
DJ Skitz or Skitz is a British DJ and music producer. He was born in 1970 in Cambridgeshire and started DJing in 1991. He has compiled a number of British Hip Hop compilations and other Hip Hop compilations. Along with Rodney P he produced the ...
– "Inner City Folk" and "Fingerprints of the Gods" (from '' Countryman'')
* Dobie – "Connectivity" (from ''The Sound of One Hand Clapping'')
* Freq Nasty – "Boomba Clatt" (from ''Bring Me the Head of Freq Nasty'')
*
Fun Lovin' Criminals
Fun Lovin' Criminals are an American rap rock band from New York City. They are best known for their hit "Scooby Snacks", which features samples from films by Quentin Tarantino, and the song "Love Unlimited", which recalls Barry White's backin ...
– "Keep on Yellin'" (from ''Classic Fantastic'')
*
Gorillaz
Gorillaz are an English virtual band formed in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, from London. The band primarily consists of four fictional members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guit ...
Martina Topley-Bird
Martina Gillian Topley-Bird (''née'' Topley; born 7 May 1975) is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained fame as the featured female vocalist on trip hop pioneer Tricky's debut album, '' Maxinquaye'' (1995). ...
)
*
The Herbaliser
The Herbaliser is an English jazz hip hop group formed by Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba in London, England during the early 1990s. Although currently releasing on their own label and having previously been signed to !K7 Records, they were one o ...
INORAN
, better known exclusively by his stage name Inoran, is a Japanese musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known as the rhythm guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Luna Sea since 1986. He started his solo career in 1997. Luna Sea disba ...
Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum (born 20 August 1979) is an English jazz-pop singer, songwriter and radio presenter. Although primarily a vocalist and pianist, he also accompanies himself on other instruments, including guitar and drums. He has recorded nine stu ...
– "Love for $ale" (from "
Momentum
In Newtonian mechanics, momentum (more specifically linear momentum or translational momentum) is the product of the mass and velocity of an object. It is a vector quantity, possessing a magnitude and a direction. If is an object's mass ...
")
* King Kooba – "Barefoot" (from ''Indian Summer'')
* Killa Kela – "Here Comes The Submarines feat. Roots Manuva" (from ''Elocution'')
*
Leftfield
Leftfield are a British electronic music duo formed in 1989 as the duo of Neil Barnes and Paul Daley (the latter formerly of the Rivals and A Man Called Adam). The duo was very influential in the evolution of electronic music in the 1990s, w ...
Mr. Scruff
Andrew Carthy (born 10 February 1972), better known by his stage name Mr. Scruff, is an English record producer and DJ. He lives in Stretford, Greater Manchester and studied fine art at the Psalter Lane campus of Sheffield Hallam University. B ...
– "Jus Jus" (from ''
Keep It Unreal
''Keep It Unreal'' is Mr. Scruff's first major release. It includes the hit single "Get a Move On!", which is an electro swing track built upon samples of Moondog's "Bird's Lament (In Memory of Charlie Parker)" alongside vocals from T-Bone Walk ...
''), "Nice Up The Function" (from Ninja Tuna)
* N'fa – "My Style" (from '' Cause An Effect)
* New Flesh for Old – "Norbert & Cecil" (from ''Understanding'', under the pseudonym Cecil P.Y.L.M. Pim Pimpernel)
*
Reachout Reach Out may refer to:
In music:
* ''Reach Out'' (Four Tops album), 1967
** " Reach Out I'll Be There", also known as "Reach Out (I'll Be There)", a song by Four Tops
* Reach Out (Burt Bacharach album), 1967
* ''Reach Out!'' (Hank Mobley album) ...
– "For Whom the Heart Beats" (from ''The Bristo Sq. EP'')
* Ty – "Oh U Want More?" (from '' Upwards'') UK No. 65 (also "So U Want ? (refix)" on ''Upwards'' new edition)
*
Saian Supa Crew Sayan may refer to:
Places
* Sayan Mountains, a mountain range in Siberia
* Sayan, India, a city in India
* Sayan, Bali, a village in Indonesia
* Sayan, Iran, a village in Iran
* Sayán District, Peru
Other uses
* Sayan (name)
* Sayana, 14th ...
– "Hey Yo My Man"
*
Speech Debelle
Corynne Elliot (born 17 March 1983 in London, England), better known as Speech Debelle, is a British rapper signed to the Big Dada record label. She was the winner of the 2009 Mercury Prize for her debut album ''Speech Therapy''. She released h ...
- "Blaze Up a Fire" (from ''
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction. The right to freedom of expression has been recogni ...
Nightmares on Wax
George Evelyn (born 15 January 1970), better known by his stage name Nightmares on Wax or DJ E.A.S.E., is an English DJ and record producer from Leeds. His music has been released by Warp Records. He is based in Ibiza. Nightmares on Wax were o ...
Rodney P
Rodney Panton, also known as Rodney P (born in Balham, London, 12 December 1969) is an English MC, as well as a radio and television personality who first gained attention via the UK hip hop scene in the 1980s. A former member of UK hip-hop group ...
and Tozz 180)" (from "70s 80s" single)
*
The Herbaliser
The Herbaliser is an English jazz hip hop group formed by Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba in London, England during the early 1990s. Although currently releasing on their own label and having previously been signed to !K7 Records, they were one o ...
– "Something Wicked (Roots Manuva's Haunted House Dub)" (limited free release from Ninja Tune website to celebrate forthcoming Ninja Tune boxset).
*
DELS
Kieren Gallear also known as DELS (pronounced "Dels") is a British art director, recording artist, rapper, graphics designer and filmmaker born in Ipswich, England, currently based in London. Gallear signed with the Ninja Tune imprint Big Dad ...
* '' Badmeaningood Vol.2'' (7 October 2002) (19 tracks selected by Rodney Smith for the '' Badmeaningood'' series.)
* '' Back to Mine: Roots Manuva'' (24 October 2005) (18 tracks selected by Smith for the '' Back to Mine'' series.)
* The Blacknificent 7 – ''Riding Thru Da Undaground!'' (collaboration with Seanie T,
Rodney P
Rodney Panton, also known as Rodney P (born in Balham, London, 12 December 1969) is an English MC, as well as a radio and television personality who first gained attention via the UK hip hop scene in the 1980s. A former member of UK hip-hop group ...
Karl Hinds
Karl Hinds, also known as R.A.W, is a British rapper and producer, and founder of the record label Assassin Records.
Career
Hinds' first single was "Roughneck Sister Sue", released in 1993 under the name of R.A.W. The track found some undergr ...
, Jeff3)
* Black Whole Styles – "Uranium 235" (with Drunken Imoortals & New Flesh) & "Feel Da Panic"
* Extra Yard: The Bouncement Revolution – "Dreamy Days(Loteck Productions) featuring Ricky Rankin, "Born Again" featuring Wildflower, "Witness The Swords" featuring Fallacy, Rodney P, Blackitude, Big P & Skeme, "Bashment Boogie"
* Sound01: A Big Dada Sampler – "Skiver's Guide" featuring Black Twang & Gamma
Trivia
* "Witness (1 Hope)" appeared in the 8th episode of season 2 of '' Ted Lasso'', as psychologist Sharon was biking to her office.
* "Witness (1 Hope)" was played in the UK game show ''
Total Wipeout
''Total Wipeout'' is a British game show, hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram, which first aired on the BBC on 3 January 2009. In each episode, contestants competed in a series of challenges in an attempt to win £10,000. These challeng ...
'' international special episode.
* "Witness" (1 Hope) was also featured in the 2006 film ''
Children of Men
''Children of Men'' is a 2006 dystopian action thriller film co-written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón. The screenplay, based on P. D. James' 1992 novel ''The Children of Men'', was credited to five writers, with Clive Owen making uncredited ...
''.
* "Awfully Deep" was used as a background track in series 2 of '' TFI Friday''.
* "Witness (1 Hope)" was used as part of the soundtrack for Big Up Production's video of Chris Sharma's ascent of the bouldering problem called "Witness the Fitness" (V15).