Roots Manuva, born Rodney Smith is a British hip-hop artist, who mixes hip … Read Full Bio ↴Roots Manuva, born Rodney Smith is a British hip-hop artist, who mixes hip hop with reggae and dub as well as electronica, and even some gospel. He 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".
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. 1996 saw the release of his collaborations with Skitz (“Where My Mind Is At”/”Blessed Be the Manner”). The release of “Feva” 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 fearsome debut album, “Brand New Second Hand”. Manuva was rewarded for his breakthrough with a MOBO as Best Hip Hop Act that year. He has also relesed 2001's “Run Come Save Me”, followed the next year by “Dub Come Save Me” in, which features dub remixes of five songs from the previous album alongside new work. This was followed up with the release of “Awfully Deep” in 2005 and “Alternately Deep” in 2006.
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 (of Jurassic 5 & Ozomatli), DJ Shadow, U.N.K.L.E., Nightmares on Wax, The Cinematic Orchestra, Beth Orton and Leftfield. He also made an appearance on the Gorillaz album, Demon Days, lending his distinctive vocals to the track, "All Alone".
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. 1996 saw the release of his collaborations with Skitz (“Where My Mind Is At”/”Blessed Be the Manner”). The release of “Feva” 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 fearsome debut album, “Brand New Second Hand”. Manuva was rewarded for his breakthrough with a MOBO as Best Hip Hop Act that year. He has also relesed 2001's “Run Come Save Me”, followed the next year by “Dub Come Save Me” in, which features dub remixes of five songs from the previous album alongside new work. This was followed up with the release of “Awfully Deep” in 2005 and “Alternately Deep” in 2006.
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 (of Jurassic 5 & Ozomatli), DJ Shadow, U.N.K.L.E., Nightmares on Wax, The Cinematic Orchestra, Beth Orton and Leftfield. He also made an appearance on the Gorillaz album, Demon Days, lending his distinctive vocals to the track, "All Alone".
Snakebite
Roots Manuva Lyrics
علمت صوتى جﻻل الرعد
رفعت اسمك للملكوت
ابنك وواخد منك وعد
الموت يقرب مني يموت
نصري اللي كان بس بداية
خلي الهزايم طعم ولون
ولقيت في كل طريق آية
ولقيت في كل متاهة عيون
ماتسمينيش يابلادي بطل
يكفاني من كرمك اسمي
حلال على غيابي حضورك
حلال على ترابك جسمى
دارت على الظلم الدورة
ماتصدقيش غيمة غيورة
أنا ثورة بتخلف ثورة
وأصل ليّا مليون صورة
رفعت اسمك للملكوت
ابنك وواخد منك وعد
الموت يقرب مني يموت
نصري اللي كان بس بداية
خلي الهزايم طعم ولون
ولقيت في كل طريق آية
ولقيت في كل متاهة عيون
ماتسمينيش يابلادي بطل
يكفاني من كرمك اسمي
حلال على ترابك جسمى
دارت على الظلم الدورة
ماتصدقيش غيمة غيورة
أنا ثورة بتخلف ثورة
وأصل ليّا مليون صورة
Writer(s): Rodney Smith
Contributed by Katherine F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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PITCHER
2020, still banging it.
Morgan S
That's what we like to hear! 🔥
David Jay
cant beat this beat!!!
Meike Rita
very good... what I wonder about is that all people together listen to that over 43k times and only a few twohundredxxx liked it 🤔
Morgan S
200 hundred people keep coming back for more 🔥
Meike Rita
@Mark P yes.
Danny Taylor
It's a secret track on Manuva's album "4everevolution"
Elliot Dillon
yeah man, could you give me a hint as to which album this is from, or where i can purchase this ?
nello smithson
enhance that beat i swear it'll make this song so much better :P
lordhoot1
Sounds like an elephant beatboxing