He has also collaborated and guested with a long list of artists over the years not only Gorillaz, but a diverse selection of artists including Jamie Cullum, The Maccabees, Toddla T, The Bug, The Cinematic Orchestra, Leftfield and Mr Scruff and many others. As ever, Smith was less interested in genre than in pushing “bass culture” in new and interesting directions.
#Rooots manuva dreamy days series
In addition, 2010 saw the release of "Duppy Writer," Alongside these releases, he contributed to the first Gorillaz record, started up his label-come-gang, Banana Klan, and guested on countless records for other artists.īetween times, he toured festivals the world over (on one memorable night being joined onstage by Usain Bolt) and developed an occasional sideline as a “DJ/selecta.” In addition, for a number of years, Banana Klan and its artists took up an increasing amount of Smith’s time, as did curating and promoting a series of “Dub College” events that featured everyone from Micachu and The Bug to Dawn Penn. Both records were acclaimed by critics and fans alike. Smith followed up that album with "Slime & Reason" in 2008 and "4everevolution" in 2011.
It is also the record which led the Guardian newspaper, in October 2003, to proclaim Manuva fifth in their '40 Best Bands In Britain' feature, proclaiming that "his influence is incalculable and he opened the doors for the Streets, Dizzee Rascal et al."
More importantly, it spawned the all-time classic 'Witness' (voted the greatest UK hip hop tune of all time by the readers of Hip Hop Connection) on an album that ran from the broad, swaggering pop of 'Dreamy Days' to the dark, odd meditation of 'Evil Rabbit'. As if to demonstrate the broad appeal of his style, he also featured on Leftfield's 'Dusted' from their 'Rhythm & Stealth' album.īig things were now expected of Smith and he delivered with 2001's 'Run Come Save Me', the record which gained him a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize and which has currently sold well over 100,000 copies in the UK. Manuva was rewarded for his breakthrough with a MOBO as Best Hip Hop Act that year. It also made the first dents in the wall of complacency and indifference which has often greeted home-grown Black music in this country. From an initial 3000 records put into the shops 'BNSH' has now sold over 50,000 copies in the UK. In 1998 he joined the label and the following year released his fiercesome debut, 'Brand New Second Hand'. This was also the year that saw the first releases from Big Dada. The release of 'Feva' on Tony Vegas's Wayward imprint followed in 1997. 1996 saw the release of his collaborations with Skitz ('Where My Mind Is At'/'Blessed Be the Manner') on 23 Skidoo's Ronin label. 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. Smith made his recorded debut in 1994 as part of IQ Procedure through Suburban Base's short-lived hip hop imprint Bluntly Speaking Vinyl. Rodney Smith aka Roots Manuva is one of the titans of Black British music.
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