(Big Dada/Inertia)

Still earning his bigups

Rodney ‘Roots Manuva’ Smith has been one of the gems in the Brit-rap crown for over a decade now and this album proves he’s still got what it takes. His rudeboy vocals are as ragged and effective as ever, whether he’s just talking to the kids over piano and digital distortion in A Man’s Talk or chatting up a girl in the wonky and catchy dancehall single Buff Nuff. His production is as good as it’s ever been as well, he’s gone from his early sound – a kind of moody minimalism that covered up his flaws – to a confident series of controlled explosions of bass and ringing in the upper registers that should be familiar to fans of Big Dada’s other fringe-rap artists. A couple of well-chosen guest producers, like Toddla T (who is responsible for Buff Nuff), certainly help. The religious doubt that leant an element of seriousness to early tracks like Sinny Sin Sin is still present in songs like It’s Me Oh Lord and Let The Spirit, but mostly Slime & Reason sounds like someone at the top of his game who can afford to be playful and let his idiosyncrasies show in all their glitchy glory. As he says in Well Alright, “Still independent, nobody knows me / Still got my trophy: underground, mostly.”

****   

JODY MACGREGOR

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*