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".
Stepping Hard
Roots Manuva Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got to keep stepping hard
Move by the mountain never seen a mountain move
But look at what the mountain do
Mole hill or mountain what be you
Situations amounting stopping you
Reaching for the top so we gotta be careful
Weeping at the mountain what are we here for
Just a minor morsel looking at the portal
I caught you looking at my speck of dusting
Disgusting because I'm always in a rush thing
Can I ever be more like the mountain do
With the mounting dew to be here for way much more
Than I could ever think of living cause when I think of living in my heart I'm kidding
Slow death kidding myself yet to die
Way much more than I'm yet to live
Will me see my his new is mine
Hear me see I live no is mine
Stepping hard
Stepping hard
Got to keep stepping hard
Got to keep stepping hard
My tongue do speak for the meek bring in meat bring in veg
Word said
Feeding the head with a pledge for the get go never let go
Holding on to the cause like rebels with no cause like
Most annoyed bringing the joy, with the joy yes we do rejoice
In this true born spirit of rap we never hold back chat that motivates black to do the cock
Take the plot thick with that holy ghost got from the cock pit fly over the moon with do do
Truly with the bride that's R in the July
Grace most given and the fort amazing
Wavelength made and it shall be done
Stand back and await the abundance come
Stand back and await the abundance come
Stand back and await the abundance come
Will me see my his new is mine
Hear me see I live no is mine
Stepping hard
Stepping hard
Got to keep stepping hard
Got to keep stepping hard
Let the heart beat beat
Perpetually
Inside that deep
Sweet lady
Let the heart beat beat
Perpetually
Inside that deep
Sweet lady
Let the heart beat beat
Perpetually
Inside that deep
Sweet lady
(Will me see my his new is mine
Hear me see I live no is mine)
Let the heart beat beat
Perpetually
Inside that deep
Sweet lady
(Will me see my his new is mine
Hear me see I live no is mine)
Let the heart beat beat
Perpetually
Inside that deep
Sweet lady
(Will me see my his new is mine
Hear me see I live no is mine)
Let the heart beat beat
Perpetually
Inside that deep
Sweet lady
Stepping hard
Stepping hard
Stepping hard
The lyrics of Roots Manuva's song "Stepping Hard" speak to the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of challenges. Throughout the song, the artist encourages listeners to "keep stepping hard," emphasizing the need to persist even when the journey ahead seems daunting. The line "move by the mountain never seen a mountain move / but look at what the mountain do" serves as a reminder of this need for perseverance, as the mountain remains steadfast and immovable even in the face of adversity.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of self-reflection and self-improvement. The artist acknowledges the difficulties of life, but also recognizes the beauty and wonder of the world around us. He speaks of the need to be more like the mountain and to appreciate life's simple pleasures. The line "just a minor morsel looking at the portal" suggests that we often fail to see the bigger picture and get caught up in the small details of our lives.
Despite the challenges, the artist remains optimistic throughout the song, encouraging listeners to stay positive and keep moving forward. The repeated lines "will me see my his new is mine / hear me see I live no is mine" convey a sense of hope, reminding us that we all have the power to shape our own destinies.
Line by Line Meaning
Got to keep stepping hard
I need to continue to push forward and persevere in order to reach my goals.
Move by the mountain never seen a mountain move
The mountain has stood strong for centuries and has never moved, while I have the ability to move and make progress towards my goals.
But look at what the mountain do
Although the mountain does not move physically, it stands strong and serves as a symbol of persistence and resilience.
Mole hill or mountain what be you
I need to determine if the challenges in front of me are small or large, and adjust my approach accordingly.
Situations amounting stopping you
Difficult situations can be overwhelming and can prevent me from making progress towards my goals.
Reaching for the top so we gotta be careful
As I strive for success, I need to be cautious and responsible in my actions.
It's so beautiful and I'm so tearful
Although the journey towards success can be emotional and difficult, the eventual outcome is worth the struggle.
Weeping at the mountain what are we here for
I may question my purpose in life when faced with obstacles and challenges that seem insurmountable.
Just a minor morsel looking at the portal
In the grand scheme of things, my struggles are insignificant and temporary, and I have the ability to grow and progress towards my goals.
I caught you looking at my speck of dusting
Others may perceive my struggles as insignificant or unimportant, but they are meaningful to me and have the potential to impact my future success.
Disgusting because I'm always in a rush thing
I may feel frustrated or defeated when my progress towards my goals seems slow or stagnant.
Can I ever be more like the mountain do
I aspire to possess the strength and resilience of the mountain and to persevere through difficult situations without faltering.
With the mounting dew to be here for way much more
As I continue to grow and develop, I have the potential to achieve even greater things and make a lasting impact on the world.
Than I could ever think of living cause when I think of living in my heart I'm kidding
My goals and aspirations are greater than I can imagine or comprehend, and I need to continue working towards them despite any challenges or setbacks.
Slow death kidding myself yet to die
If I do not take action towards my goals, I may become stagnant and unfulfilled, which is a slow process of dying without achieving my full potential.
Way much more than I'm yet to live
I have the potential to achieve and experience more in life than I have yet to even imagine or comprehend.
My tongue do speak for the meek bring in meat bring in veg
I strive to use my voice and platform to advocate for those who are less fortunate than I am, creating a better world for all.
Word said
My words and actions have power and impact, and I need to use them thoughtfully and intentionally.
Feeding the head with a pledge for the get go never let go
I aspire to maintain a positive and motivated mindset, constantly reaffirming my commitment to my goals and never giving up on them.
Holding on to the cause like rebels with no cause like
I am passionate and committed to my goals, fighting tenaciously for their fulfillment without needing external motivation or validation.
Most annoyed bringing the joy, with the joy yes we do rejoice
Although the journey towards success may present challenges and frustration, the eventual outcome brings joy and fulfillment.
In this true born spirit of rap we never hold back chat that motivates black to do the cock
Through my art and creativity, I aim to inspire and motivate others to achieve their full potential and to not be held back by societal constraints or limitations.
Take the plot thick with that holy ghost got from the cock pit fly over the moon with do do
I am empowered and driven by a spiritual and creative energy, enabling me to soar to new heights and reach my full potential.
Truly with the bride that's R in the July
I am committed to my goals and aspirations year-round, never faltering in my pursuit of success.
Grace most given and the fort amazing
I am grateful for the opportunities and blessings in my life, including the ability to pursue my goals and aspirations.
Wavelength made and it shall be done
Through my deliberate and intentional actions, I can manifest my goals and aspirations into reality.
Stand back and await the abundance come
By remaining patient and committed to my goals, I can manifest abundance and success in my life.
Let the heart beat beat Perpetually Inside that deep Sweet lady
Through my unwavering commitment to my goals and aspirations, I can find joy and fulfillment in life.
Got to keep stepping hard
I must continue to push forward and persevere, even when the journey towards my goals seems difficult or overwhelming.
Writer(s): Rodney Smyth, Fred Gibson
Contributed by Jordan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.