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Rodney Hylton Smith, better known by his stage name Roots Manuva (born 8 September 1972), is an English rapper signed to Big
Dada.Smith grew up around Stockwell, London, England. His parents were from a small village in Jamaica where his father was a preacher
andtailor. He spent much of his early life in poverty and this and his strict Pentecostal upbringing had an influence on his music as can be
heardin many of his tracks such as "Sinny Sin Sins" and "Colossal Insight".
Releasing for Coldcut's renowned experimental/hip hop label Ninja Tune in 1998, some of his music may be seen as a ...read more
Rodney Hylton Smith, better known by his stage name Roots Manuva (born 8 September 1972), is an English rapper signed to Big
Dada.Smith grew up around Stockwell, London, England. His parents were from a small village in Jamaica where his father was a preacher
andtailor. He spent much of his early life in poverty and this and his strict Pentecostal upbringing had an influence on his music as can be
heardin many of his tracks such as "Sinny Sin Sins" and "Colossal Insight".
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 debut album, Brand New Second Hand. A reference to his family's modest lifestyle, the title is a
phrase hismother used for presents he got as a youngster that were pre-used. The single "Witness (1 Hope)", from his second album Run
Come SaveMe, with its lyrical flow and heavy shuffling squelch bass (allegedly a result of Smith trying to copy the Doctor Who theme) is a UK
rapanthem. He had such an impact on the UK rap scene that The Times said 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
warpedbeats." Manuva was rewarded for his breakthrough with a MOBO as Best Hip Hop Act that year.
Of his early discovery of music he says:"It was as a kid. Before I even knew what a sound system was. I was walking past Stockwell
skateboard park and there was this soundbeing set up. They were probably just trying out their speakers. I was with my mum, holding my
mum's hand. And I remember my mumbeing quite intimidated by the whole affair. Such a barrage of bass coming from it! And these dodgy-
looking blokes standing beside it justadmiring 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 soundedso good, so rich. It's not like today when we go to clubs and it hurts. It was more of a life-giving bass."
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