Roots Manuva is the recording name of Rodney Smith, a British hip-hop artist from Stockwell in South London, born in 1972. He works across hip hop, dancehall and dub, and his music also draws on reggae, electronica and gospel. His lyrics often use clearly British references, including everyday details such as cheese on toast and bitter.

Background and early work

Smith grows up in Stockwell and his parents come from Banana Hole, a small village in Jamaica. His father is a preacher and tailor. He spends much of his early life in poverty, and his strict Pentecostal upbringing shapes a number of his songs, including “Sinny Sin Sins” and “Colossal Insight”.

He first records in 1994 as part of IQ Procedure, appearing on Suburban Base’s short-lived hip-hop imprint Bluntly Speaking Vinyl. Later that year he debuts as Roots Manuva on Blak Twang’s “Queen’s Head” single, then releases his own single, “Next Type of Motion”, the following year.

Releases and collaborations

In 1996 he releases “Where My Mind Is At” and “Blessed Be the Manner” with Skitz. “Feva” follows in 1997. That same year sees the first releases from Big Dada, the label created through a collaboration between Coldcut’s Ninja Tune and hip-hop journalist Will Ashon. He begins releasing music on Ninja Tune in 1998, and some of this work is later seen as a precursor to grime.

His debut album, Brand New Second Hand, appears in 1999, and he wins a MOBO for Best Hip Hop Act for that breakthrough. He follows with Run Come Save Me in 2001 and Dub Come Save Me the next year, a dub companion release featuring remixes of five tracks from the previous album alongside new material. Later albums include Awfully Deep in 2005 and Alternately Deep in 2006.

Guest appearances

His distinctive voice appears on recordings by a wide range of artists, including Chali 2na, DJ Shadow, U.N.K.L.E., Nightmares on Wax, The Cinematic Orchestra, Beth Orton and Leftfield. He also features on Gorillaz’s Demon Days, contributing vocals to “All Alone”.