Roots Manuva
Run Come Save Me
Big Dada/Ninja Tune
My first introduction to Roots Manuva was via “Dusted” off Leftfield’s underrated Rhythm And Stealth album. Since then, with the turn of the new century, Britain’s answer to underground hip-hop has flung his own productions into the pit, with compelling results. As West-Coast indie as Jurassic 5 with droplets of Massive Attack and sneaky acid-jazz, Manuva has concocted a record that washes away my disenchantment with the bullshit, iced-out beats that has perpetrated hip-hop today. In fact, J5’s baritone verbal assassin himself, Chali 2na, pops up on “Join The Dots.” Haunting, cinematic clouds cover “Ital Visions” while “Dub Styles” finds the MC eerily flow like Del the Funkee Homosapien.
It’s quite appropriate and fortunate that Roots Manuva release Run Come Save Me. Taking full control over the production and the lyrics once again, this brother’s created brand new flavor that can stomp with the big dogs, while leaving those focused on the materialistic side of life to pawn their tired rhymes at the door. Lush and ambiguous, all praise is due to Roots for dropping a record that has saved hip-hop for the time being.
Big Dada/Ninja Tune Records, http://www.ninjatune.net/bigdada
