HOW TO ENJOY ROOTS MANUVA
'Awfully Deep' hits the streets of America and the grass at Coachella
Step 1: Start with the Voice. As the leading practitioner of U.K. rap, Roots Manuva (a.k.a. Rodney Smith) singlehandedly made British hip-hop credible - way before the Streets and Dizzee Rascal hit. (See example A.) The voice's unique blend of English deadpan and Jamaican "rudebwoy" patois possesses a husky authority so damn boombastic that even the average egocentric industry alpha male will readily admit that Manuva is infinitely cooler than he can ever hope to be. Women are also susceptible to the "sugar vocal tone," though reactions may vary (mild interest, indifference, lust).
A) "I'm the eclectic, known for my eccentrics, you can't prevent this, I'm the God-blessed God-sended, U.K. rhyme savior, no never quite, that was just some media totality of hype I ain't the best MC, or the worst MC, but I got certification I'm the first MC..." 1
Step 2: Buy the Record. Get off your ass, and be prepared to shake or tap a body part (ex. B). Listen to the newly released album, Awfully Deep (Big Dada Recordings), repeatedly until your life changes in some way. Bask in the comforting knowledge that for once you (since you moved to the Westside) are actually ahead of the curve. (Those Creed and Eminem CDs were part of your "college phase," right?)
B) "Ah ba dinggg ba doinggg, move-ah ya loin, Dub plate rip it like a kick in ah da groin..." 2
Step 3: Vibe the Beats. To fully enjoy this experience, you must turn up the BASS. It is designed to infuse your essence with rhythm. Produced by Mr. Smith and a slew of dub-wise copilots, this third offering is his most fully realized creation to date and stretches his trademark ragga-inflected hip-hop sound to artfully incorporate bits of electro, calypso, and funk (ex. C). Nod your head gently to the throbbing beat. When you feel blissed, zone out.
C) "I don't give a damn about U.K. rap I'm a U.K. black, makin' U.K. tracks and, I got love for every one of them scenes and them pigeonholes were never nothin' to hold me..." 3
Note: If the above action is ineffective, kindly partake in your favorite legal or illegal intoxicant (i.e., wheatgrass, alcohol, [censored], life, Jesus, etc.), then repeat Step 3.
Step 4: Check the Lyrics. Please be aware that, on this sound recording, Mr. Manuva "comes correct" with the proverbial "phat sack of dope rhymes" (ex. D). Be advised that Manuva's gritty, gripping tales of self-doubt, self-critique, and sinful revelry may require you to go deeper than the current bulletproof bravado dropped on the daily (ex. E). Do not worry. He is not the Joni Mitchell of Brit-hop. Mr. Manuva's lyrical attack varies from thoughtful rumination to manic intensity and is never boring (He also indulges in the occasional party tune [ex. B].) However, if you are of the "Don't really listen to the words" persuasion, it is also very pleasurable to simply let his nimble tongue dance on your brain like a sugar-fed kid on Halloween.
D) "Drill out the laws 'til the nonsense pauses, Down for the essence of rebel I causes, With synchronicity, goatskin paraphrase Mystic maze of sonic mathematics, The acrobatics on a tightrope that near broke the spine, time for time, line for line, Random is the wind chime, deep sublime, risen above, written in dub ..." 4
E) "If I should lose my good mind again Tell my management not to waste good money Sendin' me away to the farms of the funny Them places only make me worse they fulla crooked doctors and kinky nurses that poke you in the arse, and measure your schlong Put that tape measure down, that practice is wrong ..." 5
Step 5: See Roots Manuva Live. Four out of five beat doctors agree that the current show (featuring live backing band The Manuvadelics) is "The Shiznit" (ex. F). Last year they rocked massive crowds at the Reading, Leeds, and Montreux Jazz festivals across the pond. Soon, Manuva will be appearing on a stage somewhat near you (only five North American dates, sorry!). However, this does present an opportunity to experience Roots Manuva thoroughly. Don't sleep. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 as necessary.
F) "Push the sound now, push the now-now Get with get up, we gon' get down now Move profound now, round for round now... " 6
1. "Too Cold," track 5
2. "Move Ya Loin," track 11
3. "Colossal Insight," track 4
4. "A Haunting," track 6
5. "Awfully Deep," track 2
6. "Rebel Heart," track 7
Published: 04/28/2005
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT
