Awfully Deep

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Editorial reviews

Album Description
Limited to 10,000, includes a bonus mix CD of career highlights and rare tracks.

The triumphant return of Roots Manuva, the trailblazer in what has become a steady flow of UK hip-hop to charm the world over. Delivering 51 minutes of self-produced, dub-wise ingenuity, Awfully Deep is his most realized lyrical record to date, with rousing rhythms, and a barrage of bass. On tour with M.I.A. of Arular fame.

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Amazon.com
If you've read any of the speculation surrounding Awfully Deep, you'll be aware that this is the down album from beleaguered Brit-Jamaican rapper Roots Manuva, a troubled work where he battles with the twin demons of depression and mental illness. Luckily, hard times can't entirely keep a good man like Rodney Smith down: barely two minutes into the bashed-up dub-hop of "Mind 2 Motion," he's already exhorting his audience to "Swing your pants!/ Swing your skirt!/ Shake away the hurt!" in an effort to keep the black dog from his door.

And truly, this is a long dark night of the soul: on the excellent "Colossal Insight," Smith turns to God to save his sanity; on pitch-black soul number "The Falling," he's lost in an apocalyptic reverie, fantasizing about smuggling hand-grenades onto an airplane. But luckily, Smith is agreeably incapable of presenting his predicament without moments of dark levity: see the title track, which recalls a stint at a mental hospital populated by "crooked doctors and kinky nurses." A man who dispatches the Reaper with a nudge and a wink, Roots Manuva remains one of British hip-hop's most potent forces. --Louis Pattison

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2007-12-06 rating:
In a world of dime a dozen rappers... Unique
I have, ever since I was in Middle school even, been exposed to a smattering of Hip-hop of all different styles. From the gangsta rap in MS and high school to things like the Roots, Outkast, and The Beastie Boys. Yet these days a lot of the stuff that comes out is all the same. Can you really tell me that Akon and J-kwon don't sound somewhat similar or that they rhyme about anything that matters? But here on this album by Roots Manuva, I've found the first hip-hop in a long time that I feel is truly unique. His beats and hooks are wonderful, his lyrics are deep and meaningful, and his one of a kind delivery and voice really seal the whole thing up. If you want great, meaningful hip-hop buy this album. If you want whats out today, why pay money? It's all on the radio over and over anyway.


review by: date: 2006-04-24 rating:
Your pants will thank you
This is the only Music I have heard by this fine gentleman other than that which appears on the Gorillaz Demon Days. It is brilliantly produced with mostly catchy beats which fluctuate from contemporary dancehall reaggae style to massive attack sounding brit-hop. The smart lyrics reflect a political and social awareness that is often lacking in much of today's music. Some songs are more for the lyricists, so pay close attention to his words. All in all, this bouncy album will make your booty appreciate your ears.

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