Manasseh is the mononym of UK dub and reggae producer Nick Raphael. He begins making music for sound system exclusives around 1986, and after linking up with Scruff Guilder in 1987 he focuses on a project that develops into Sound Iration in Dub.

Early releases and Sound Iration in Dub

Manasseh’s first single, “Seventh Seal”, is cut on 8 August 1988 and becomes prominent on the roots scene, including with Shaka’s sound. It is widely credited as one of the first new wave UK dub tracks. The album follows in March 1989 on W.A.U. Mr. Modo, a label associated with Alex Patterson of The Orb and Youth of Killing Joke.

Riz Label and roots productions

In the early 1990s, Raphael sets up Riz Label with Gil Cang, Eddie Rocksteady and Mak Gilchrist, who runs the label. Early releases include Orville Smith’s Leaving Rome, Bob Skeng’s Education, and Earl 16’s Natural Roots. Earl 16’s track performs strongly, and Riz becomes one of the leading UK roots labels. Other notable releases on Riz include Admiral Tibet’s “Permission”, Marcella French’s “Be Still”, and “Soul Jah” by Manasseh meets the Equalizer from the album Dub The Millennium.

Albums, labels and collaborations

Riz remains active at intervals and later issues 45s with Johnny Osbourne, including “Rise Up”, and Devon Russell’s “Underground”. The Manasseh meets the Equalizer LP is licensed to Acid Jazz, whose interest in roots music is drawn partly by the record’s jazzy character. This leads to wider label interest in Manasseh productions, including Columbia/Sony’s release of Danny Red’s Riddimwise in 1994, co-produced with Pepe Acunzo and Martin Madhatter.

Raphael also works with Stereo MCs and their manager Keith Cooper on a left-field dub release for the group’s Natural Response label, itself connected to B.M.G. That project becomes Spectre: The Missing Two Weeks, recorded by Nick with James Style acting as vibemaster and overseer. The album is later re-issued by Echo Beach in Hamburg.

Later work

Another Manasseh meets the Equalizer album, Shining, appears in 1996 on Acid Jazz. Both Manasseh meets the Equalizer LPs are also released in the United States on Hollywood Records. Raphael’s later album is Step Like Pepper.

Other artist of the same name

The name Manasseh is also used by a hip-hop artist born in Kitwe, Zambia and raised in Berlin, whose releases include Forgive Me for Cursing... (The Beginning).