Roots Manuva

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Rodney Hylton Smith (better known by his stage name Roots Manuva) (born 9 September 1972) is an English rapper signed to Big Dada, He shares a garage with Sia in London.

Biography [edit]

Smith grew up around Stockwell, London, England. His parents were from a small village in Jamaica called Banana Hole where his father was a preacher and tailor. Spending much of his early years in poverty, this and his strict Pentecostal upbringing clearly had an influence on his music as can be seen in many of his tracks such as "Sinny Sin Sins" and "Colossal Insight".

A quote from Smith himself sums up his early discovery of music:^[1]

Smith made his recorded debut in 1994 as part of IQ Procedure through Suburban Base'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 hugely influential 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's Ninja Tune label and hip hop journalist Will Ashon.

Releasing for Coldcut's renowned experimental/hip hop label Ninja Tune in 1998, some of his music may be seen as a predecessor of grime. The following year he released his groundbreaking debut album, Brand New Second Hand. A reference to his family's modest lifestyle, the title refers to a phrase his mother used for presents he often got as a youngster that were pre-used. The single 'Witness (1 Hope)' with its brilliant lyrical flow and heavy shuffling squelch bass (allegedly a result of Rodney trying to copy the Dr Who theme) is a UK rap anthem. He had such an impact on the UK rap scene that The Times declared that "his is the voice of urban Britain, encompassing dub, ragga, funk and hip hop as it sweeps from crumbling street corners to ganja-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 are usually known to take a distinctly British edge, with many critics highlighting his references of eating cheese on toast and drinking bitter as examples of this. His warm and easily recognizable voice can be heard on many songs he performed with other artists such as Chali 2na (and Ozomatli), DJ Shadow, Mr Scruff, U.N.K.L.E., Nightmares on Wax, The Cinematic Orchestra, Beth Orton, The Herbaliser, Leftfield, Saian Supa Crew and most recently Coldcut. He also made an appearance on the Gorillaz album, Demon Days, on the track "All Alone".

Roots Manuva headlined the Lounge On The Farm Festival 11 July 2009^[2]

Discography [edit]

Studio Albums [edit]

Other Studio Albums [edit]

EPs [edit]

• Next Type Of Motion (1995)
• Awfully De/EP (24 October 2005)
• Banana Skank EP (21 January 2013)

Live albums [edit]

• Live from London (iTunes) (15 August 2008)

Singles [edit]

• "Juggle Tings Proper" (22 February 1999)
• "Motion 5000" (5 July 1999)
• "Witness (1 Hope)" (23 July 2001) UK #45^[3]
• "Dreamy Days" (8 October 2001) UK #53^[3]
• "Yellow Submarine" (14 October 2002)
• "Colossal Insight" (17 January 2005) UK #33^[3]
• "Too Cold" (21 March 2005) UK #39^[3]
• "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
• "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)" (3 October 2011)

Guest appearances [edit]

• Amon Tobin – "Saboteur mix" (from Ninja Tune compilation Xen Cuts)
• Audio Bullys – "Made Like That" (feat. Roots Manuva & Mr Fox) (from Generation)
• Blak Twang – "Queen's Head" (from Dettwork S.E. promo); "Shhhoosh" (from 19 Long Time)
• Breakage – "Run 'Em Out"
• The Cinematic Orchestra – "All Things to All Men" (from Every Day)
• Cornish Waters – "Look to Myself for Faith" (from UK Hustlerz – The Return, under the pseudonym Brigadier Smythe)
• Coldcut – "True Skool" (from Sound Mirrors) UK #61^[7]
• DJ Mentat – "Rugged Wid' It" (with Seanie T)
• DJ Shadow – "GDMFSOB (UNKLE Uncensored mix)" (from "Mashin' on the Motorway")
• DJ Skitz – "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 - "Keep On Yellin'" (from Classic Fantastic)
• Gorillaz – "All Alone" (from Demon Days alongside Martina Topley-Bird)
• The Herbaliser – "Lord Lord" (from Take London); "Starlight" (from Very Mercenary)
• INORAN – "Rat Race" (from Sou)
• King Kooba – "Barefoot" (from Indian Summer)
• Killa Kela – "Here Comes The Submarines feat. Roots Manuva" (from Elocution)
• Leftfield – "Dusted" (from Rhythm and Stealth) UK #28
• Lotek HiFi – "Move Ya Ting" (from Mixed Blessings)
• The Maccabees - "Empty Vessels"
• Mr. Scruff – "Jus Jus" (from Keep It Unreal), "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 – "For Whom the Heart Beats" (from The Bristo Sq. EP)
• Ty – "Oh U Want More?" (from Upwards) UK #65^[8] (also "So U Want Morre? (refix)" on Upwards new edition)
• Saian Supa Crew – "Hey Yo My Man"
• Colossus – "Thrupenny Bits" (from "West Oaktown") (OmRecords 2002 – pseudonym Hylton Smythe)
• Nightmares on Wax – "70s 80s (Up Bringing Mix) (feat. Roots Manuva & LSK & Rodney P & Tozz 180)" (from "70s 80s" single)
• The Herbaliser - "Something Wicked (Roots Manuva's Haunted House Dub)" (limited free release from Ninja Tune website to celebrate forthcoming Ninja Tune boxset).
• DELS - "Capsize" (from GOB - 2011)

Other [edit]

• 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, Skeme, Est'elle, Karl Hinds, 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

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Official website
• Roots Manuva interview at musicOMH.com