More Info on Roots ManuvaSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Cleanup|date=December 2007Infobox musical artist| image =| name = Rodney Smith| caption =| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Rodney Smith| alias = Lord Gosh, Hylton Smythe, Rodrick Manuva, Brigadier Smythe, Cecil P.Y.L.M. Pim Pimpernel| birth_date = birth date and age|df=yes|1972|9|9| death_date =| origin = Stockwell , London , United Kingdom|UK | instrument = Vocals, Rapping| genre = Hip hop music|Hip Hop Dub music|Dub | occupation = Singer|Vocalist , Rapping|Rapper , Record producer|Producer , Remix|Remixer | years_active = 1994–present| label = Big Dada , Banana Klan| associated_acts = Ricky Ranking, DJ MK, Mr. Scruff , Toddla T , Lotek , Hi Fi , Leftfield , Speech Debelle , Dels (musician)|DELS | website = URL|rootsmanuva.co.uk Rodney Hylton Smith (born 1972), better known by his stage name Roots Manuva , is a United Kingdom|British rapping|rapper from Stockwell , South London . He is currently signed to Big Dada .
Biography
Smith grew up around Stockwell in South London . 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:cite web |url= http://www.bigdada.com/artist.php? id=14 |title=Big Dada: Roots Manuva |accessdate=2009-01-04 |publisher=bigdada.com cquote|It was as a kid. Before I even knew what a Sound system (Jamaican)|soundsystem was. I was walking past Stockwell skateboard park and there was this sound being set up. They were probably just trying out their speakers. I was with my mum, holding my mum's hand. And I remember my mum being quite intimidated by the whole affair. Such a barrage of bass coming from it& #33; And these dodgy-looking blokes standing beside it just admiring the sound of their bass. It's just a bass thing. A volume thing. I don't know if I rose-tint the memories, but I remember it sounded so good, so rich. It's not like today when we go to clubs and it hurts. It was more of a life-giving bass. 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 (band)|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 (music)|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. He had such an impact on the UK rap scene that The Times declared that "his is the voice of urban Britain, encompassing dub, Raggamuffin music|ragga , funk and hip hop as it sweeps from crumbling street corners to cannabis|ganja -filled dancehalls, setting gritty narratives against all manner of warped beats." Manuva was rewarded for his breakthrough with a MOBO Awards|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 (beer)|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 2009cite web |url= http://www.the-dish.co.uk/2009/06/18/roots-manuva-to-headline-lotf |title=theDISH Roots Manuva to Headline LOTF |accessdate=2009-06-18 |publisher=the-dish.co.uk
Killa Kela – "Here Comes The Submarines feat. Roots Manuva" (from Elocution )
Leftfield – "Dusted" (from Rhythm and Stealth ) UK Singles Chart|UK #28
Lotek HiFi – "Move Ya Ting" (from Mixed Blessings )
The Maccabees (band)|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 (rapper)|Ty – "Oh U Want More? " (from Upwards (album)|Upwards ) UK Singles Chart|UK #65cite web |title= Chart Log UK |accessdate=2008-09-10 |date=2007-06-16 |publisher=Zobbel |author=Zobbel |url= http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_T.HTM (also "So U Want sic|Mor|re|hide=y? (refix)" on Upwards new edition)
The Herbaliser - "Something Wicked (Roots Manuva's Haunted House Dub)" (limited free release from Ninja Tune website to celebrate forthcoming Ninja Tune boxset).
Dels (musician)|DELS - "Capsize" (from Gob (Dels album)|GOB - 2011)
Other
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 )
Notes
reflist
External links
official website|rootsmanuva.co.uk
http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/roots-manuva.htm Roots Manuva interview at musicOMH.com
Roots Manuva Persondata | NAME =Manuva, Roots | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = United Kingdom|British rapping|rapper | DATE OF BIRTH =9 September 1972 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Manuva, Roots Category:1972 births Category:People from Stockwell Category:English rappers Category:Living people Category:English people of Jamaican descent Category:English Pentecostals Category:Big Dada artists Category:Ninja Tune artists
