Roots Manuva still has a lot to say

Despite his exalted place in UK hip-hop and a new collaboration with Major Lazer, rapper Roots Manuva is as modest and articulate as ever, writes Ed Power

RAPPER Rodney Smith lives in a nice house in the English countryside. For the past decade, the artist otherwise known as Roots Manuva has been based in Surrey, England’s famously minted ‘stock-broker belt’.

This is considered a highly unlikely state of affairs by many. People are shocked to learn the acclaimed rhymer shares a post code with hedge fund managers and professional footballers. Shouldn’t he be kicking back in a ghetto somewhere?