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Roots Manuva, Brixton Academy, March 4 2005
Hailed over and over as the saviour of British hip-hop, Rodney Smith a.k.a. Roots Manuva may just have topped 2001’s Mercury nominated ‘Run Come Save Me’ with this year’s ‘Awfully Deep’, and while he may rap about bitter and cheese-on-toast, with a performance this slick he’s proved he’s got the live skills to match. But first up is ex-pat Sri Lankan newcomer M.I.A.
Hitting the stage at the criminally early time of 9pm, M.I.A. is dressed in an outfit that can only be described as Christmas hip-hop pyjamas. While this may sound daft, there’s no joking about when Maya Arulpragasam launches into her two Xfm playlisted singles ‘Galang’ and ‘Sunshowers’. Blending DJ Diplo’s hip-hop, ragga and electro beats with her spitting lyrics, her debut album due next month should be a blinder.
Similarly, the irony of Roots Manuva’s synonymous ‘Best UK Hip-Hop’ tag is that it’s debatable whether Rodney Smith’s music can even be described purely as hip-hop. Continuing the night’s theme of bizarre outfits, Smith takes to the stage in an orange boiler suit (open to the waist, naturally) and white waistcoat combination. Beginning with album opener ‘Mind 2 Motion’ and ‘Babylon Medicine’, as a pre-cursor to what is to come title track ‘Awfully Deep’ explodes across an ecstatic Academy, evoking the bass rumble of ‘Witness (1 Hope)’.
But it’s the lyrical flow of the Manuva show that really impresses. The clarity of delivery enables the crowd to appreciate every aside and witticism the 32-year old throws at them and whether it’s the moving sentiment of ‘The Falling’ or a name check for Jimmy Saville and his “ten pints of bitter”, Smith never fails to hit the mark. Ably backed by the seven piece Banana Clan, ‘Dreamy Days’ and ‘Too Cold’ sound heavy and deep and by the time recent single ‘Colossal Insight’ and drop, the bass almost levels the venue as rib-cages resonate across South London.
Homegrown hip-hop may never match the sales figures of it’s US counterpart, but while America produces testosterone-fuelled bravado, with UK artists of this intellect and quality, why would we want to lose them across the pond anyway?
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