Roots Manuva

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Roots Manuva Biography

"It was as a kid. Before I even knew what a soundsystem was. I was walking past Stockwell skateboard park and there was this sound being set up. They were probably just trying out their speakers. I was with my mum, holding my mum's hand. And I remember my mum being quite intimidated by the whole affair. Such a barrage of bass coming from it! And these dodgy-looking blokes standing beside it just admiring 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 sounded so good, so rich. It's not like today when we go to clubs and it hurts. It was more of a life-giving bass." In this simple recollection it's easy to locate the driving force of a whole lot of what Rodney Smith aka Roots Manuva is all about, what he remains all about right up until this very day. His fascination with and love of soundsystem culture informs not just his music and lyrics but his whole attitude towards life and goes some way to explain his popularity both as an artist and an individual. "It's the bass thing. It's the whole organic thing. Back in those days the sound was probably built by a local carpenter. The whole communal aspect of a bunch of people getting together and doing whatever they have to do to build this sonic monstrosity. It's just the love that people get together and project into this one physical thing."

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Roots Manuva Picture Gallery

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The Latest Roots Manuva News

Benji Boko Wants Gorillaz Collaboration

10th August 2011

Benji Boko has his sights set on collaborating with Damon Albarn. Following the release of....

Rage Against The Machine Play Free Show

7th June 2010

Rage Against The Machine performed a free concert for 40,000 fans in London yesterday....

Tinie Tempah Leads Uma Nominations

1st June 2010

Newcomer Tinie Tempah has received a record four nominations at this year's Urban Music....

Maccabees Fame Surprise

1st February 2010

The Maccabees are surprised they're being called the next big thing. The Brighton-based....

Fleet Foxes Take Album Artwork Award

5th January 2009

Folk rockers FLEET FOXES have beaten COLDPLAY and British rapper ROOTS MANUVA to win the Best Art....

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Roots Manuva Festivals

Cheltenham Jazz Festival

27th April 2011

With combined ticket sales of over 150,000 the Jazz, Science, Music and Literature Festivals all boast enviable....

Soundwave Festival Croatia

22nd July 2011

The Soundwave site, known as The Garden, Petrcane, is in a beautiful region of Croatia close to Zadar, Petrcane is....

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Roots Manuva Video and Audio

Roots Manuva - Video Interview

Roots Manuva - Video Interview

Roots Manuva, Video Interview and Information

Roots Manuva, Video Interview And Information

Roots Manuva, Again & Again Video and Information

Roots Manuva, Again & Again Video And Information

Roots Manuva, Again & Again Video

Roots Manuva, Again & Again Video

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Roots Manuva Reviews

Roots Manuva, 4Everevolution Album Review

22nd August 2011

Word on the street is building that Roots Manuva's forthcoming record 4everevolution is on a par with his best...

Roots Manuva Meets Wrongtom, Duppy Writer Album Review

14th September 2010

For all the respect paid, and his undoubted influence on British hip hop, there is always a suspicion that Rodney...

Roots Manuva, Let The Spirit Single Review

28th October 2008

Single review of Let The Spirit by Roots Manuva. Roots Manuva has had a lot of great singles. Each...

Roots Manuva, The Arches, Glasgow Live Review

20th October 2008

Roots Manuva live at The Arches in Glasgow on October 9th 2008. It's truly an exciting evening for me as...

Roots Manuva, Awfully De/Ep, Ep Review

24th October 2005

This is a great EP that shows integrity, originality and continues to display British urban music at it’s most...

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Roots Manuva Interviews

Roots Manuva, Video Interview

19th August 2008

Roots Manuva Video Interview We recently caught up with Rodney Smith at Ninja Tune HQ in London. We talked ....

Roots Manuva - Interview

8th March 2005

“I don’t know what the hell UK hip hop is at the moment. I don’t know what it is. I mean you’ve got Robbie Williams ....

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Roots Manuva Press Releases

Roots Manuva Uk Tour Dates Announced For 2012

17th October 2011

It's easy for the reviews of '4everevolution', the new album from Roots Manuva to leave....

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