After unleashing a smattering of mischievous 12s and EPs, bonafide British b-boy DJ Format finally gets around to making Music for the Mature B Boy, his debut long player. Anyone who has already sampled the wares of this cheekiest of beatmeisters will know what to expect, namely tons of solid, ass-shaking, hip-hop-fuelled funk, peppered with spicy scratches and oodles of soulful sauce. Embellishing his distinguished, bass-heavy beats with rap performances from starlets like Jurassic 5, Aspects, Abdominal and Fatski, Format takes us back to the "innocent" era of hip-hop when the likes of Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Biz Markie and Brand Nubian ruled the roost and it was all about raw, optimistic sounds and hype lyrics.

Though the vocal cuts here are unquestionably strong, the instrumentals are also packed with enough energy and funk to ensure they're irresistibly potent: vocal-less cuts like "Last Bongo in Brighton" and "Here Comes the Jazz" are classics in their own right. From the opener "Ill Culinary Behaviour" to the remix of Format's classic cut "English Lesson" at the end, this album is stacked full of good times and happy vibes and it's one party you'll want to be invited to this year. --Paul Sullivan

Cooking up beats and rhymes..., 05 May 2006
This album is great fun from beginning to end. A lighthearted beat infused concoction this album is always entertaining and never dull. Even the cheesy cookery analogy doesn't tire and adds a bizarre kind of depth to this funky and upbeat album.

The guest vocalists add a dash of pedigree to the catchy tunes and while it is not going to be heralded as groundbreaking it is a cracking album that will never fail to add cheer to your day.

There are no low points with this record and I would advise it as a fail safe record for those people wishing to dabble in the murky waters of the hip hop world. I can guarantee you will not disappointed!





Savage Album, 24 Jan 2005
Hip-Hop is certainly not my thing but i heard one of the songs on a promo cd and decided to check it out. It is a great collection of old school hip-hop, a bit bit of funk, and a laugh. A great album!

An amazing British DJ, 11 Nov 2004
Anyone serious about hip hop beats should buy this album and break it down to a legend of a DJ. Lyrical genius from Mr charlie 2Na and Akil with underlying amazing beats from the man from Brighton known as Format. Any track with Abdominal is gonna be good, but his relationship with Format is the best on the block.

funtastic, 11 Jul 2004
not normally being into hip-hop this record took me by suprise... its fantastic every song has sooo much feeling and energy, it touched the hip-hop nerve within me (being into punk and metal i didnt think i had one) and became one of my fav records... the abdominal tracks r by far the best but all songs hold their own... a must own for all music fans

DJ Format, back to the old school, 24 Mar 2004
This is a superb album. Very fresh, catchy, old-school samples. The best track on the album would have to be the superb 'Vicious Battle Raps' in which Abdominal gives a truly magnificent performance. Not only are the samples good, but also the lyrics. I had the pleasure of seeing DJ Format and Abdominal (featured ona number of tracks on the album) and, as good as DJ Format was, Abdominal stole the show with some excellent freestyling. If you like funky hip-hop such as Jurassic 5 (Format supported them) then you'll love this.

Given Roots Manuva's higher profile this time around, it was always on the cards that a new album might be a more commercial affair. But while Run Come Save Me is more accessible, it manages to retain the rawness that made its predecessor so addictive. When his self-produced, leftfield hip-hop debut Brand New Second Hand appeared in 1998, it was a clarion call for UK MCs to give up emulating US styles and focus on home-grown vibes. Three years and several collaborations later the renegade rapper is back with another adventure into wayward lyricism and maverick beat-work. "Witness (One Hope)" is a perfect example: an undoubtedly energetic and catchy tune, it also features plenty of sci-fi bleeps and quirky Manuva-style subject matter. Likewise, tracks such as "Bashment Boogie", "Join the Dots" (featuring West Coast MC Charlie 2na), "Kicking the Cack" and "Swords in the Dirt" all combine plenty of Roots-Fireggae! boom-bap with idiosyncratic production. There's some grittier, darker, dubbed-out business here too, and some totally off-the-hook rhyming on tracks like "Ital", "Hol' It Up" and "Stone the Crows". For those who thought Roots would never top his debut, welcome to an album that's bigger, brasher and badder all round. --Paul Sullivan

Cooking up beats and rhymes..., 05 May 2006
This album is great fun from beginning to end. A lighthearted beat infused concoction this album is always entertaining and never dull. Even the cheesy cookery analogy doesn't tire and adds a bizarre kind of depth to this funky and upbeat album.

The guest vocalists add a dash of pedigree to the catchy tunes and while it is not going to be heralded as groundbreaking it is a cracking album that will never fail to add cheer to your day.

There are no low points with this record and I would advise it as a fail safe record for those people wishing to dabble in the murky waters of the hip hop world. I can guarantee you will not disappointed!





Savage Album, 24 Jan 2005
Hip-Hop is certainly not my thing but i heard one of the songs on a promo cd and decided to check it out. It is a great collection of old school hip-hop, a bit bit of funk, and a laugh. A great album!

An amazing British DJ, 11 Nov 2004
Anyone serious about hip hop beats should buy this album and break it down to a legend of a DJ. Lyrical genius from Mr charlie 2Na and Akil with underlying amazing beats from the man from Brighton known as Format. Any track with Abdominal is gonna be good, but his relationship with Format is the best on the block.

funtastic, 11 Jul 2004
not normally being into hip-hop this record took me by suprise... its fantastic every song has sooo much feeling and energy, it touched the hip-hop nerve within me (being into punk and metal i didnt think i had one) and became one of my fav records... the abdominal tracks r by far the best but all songs hold their own... a must own for all music fans

DJ Format, back to the old school, 24 Mar 2004
This is a superb album. Very fresh, catchy, old-school samples. The best track on the album would have to be the superb 'Vicious Battle Raps' in which Abdominal gives a truly magnificent performance. Not only are the samples good, but also the lyrics. I had the pleasure of seeing DJ Format and Abdominal (featured ona number of tracks on the album) and, as good as DJ Format was, Abdominal stole the show with some excellent freestyling. If you like funky hip-hop such as Jurassic 5 (Format supported them) then you'll love this.

-------swe~_S, 10 Jan 2008
As far as I'm concerned, "Witness" is THE British hip hop anthem; a razor blade-ripped cyclone of a track, ideal for Roots Manuva to rap about beans on toast over (yes, it's that lyrical reference again). The rest varies from quite good to good. "Ital Visions" and "Evil Rabbit" predate Burial by a good five years when it comes to transferring the atmosphere of a rain-soaked London night into sound; in fact, save for the intro, the whole 60 minutes is loaded with heaviness, with mechanical clicks, robosynths and even the occasional sample (there's like 2 on the whole record...), with a sound not unlike Cannibal Ox's The Cold Vein. Like that album, of course, this also should've been condensed, but I applaud Manuva for choosing such a threatening and distinctive style of production. Run Come Save Me avoids the biggest pitfalls of British rap in that it isn't trying to sound like it's from The States nor is it making a point of how British it is, it's just its own entity. Not the statement it could've been, but, if you want to venture past the American big-hitters and the usual underground suspects in the pursuit of a deeper hip hop experience, this thing's a must.

WOW - An English Mos Def - this guy is brilliant, 14 Sep 2007
"RCSM" is the first album by Roots Manuva that i have bought, and I thought it was just superb. Totally unique and incredibly daring in a time when rapping is stereotyped as just being about "guns n' pussy". Manuva disregards this with a simple wave of his hand and produces a rare and monumental masterpiece. If you havent heard him, you're missing out, trust me. Try this out and you will not be dissapointed.

Stand out tracks are "Join The Dots" with the wonderful Chali 2na, "Ital Visions" and "Witness (1 Hope)".

Buy it!

DUB HEADS DELIGHT, 05 Jun 2006
WOW WHAT MORE CAN I SAY ABOUT THIS ALBUM.RODNEY SMITH THE MAN IS A GENIUS!IF YOU LIKE YOUR MUSIC ON A DUB TIP THEN YOU WILL LOVE THIS.I GOT THIS WHEN IT FIRST COME OUT,BUT A FRIEND OF MINE LIKED IT SO MUCH HE BOUGHT IT OFF ME. THE SONG WITNESS THE FITNESS IS MY FAVOURITE SONG ON THE ALBUM.BUT THE WHOLE ALBUM IS JUST BRILLIANT PURE SMOKIN'SPACED OUT DUB AT IT'S BEST!THE MAN FROM BRIXTON THE RODNEY SMITH KEEP UP THE WORK MY GENIUS OF A BROTHER!

this is a must buy!, 25 Apr 2005
If you want ho's, guns and gold chains then this is not for you. However if you want to listen to good HipHop and more generally good music then any one of Roots Manuva's three albums are a must buy! Funky, fresh, intelligent HipHop, and its British too!

i bought this album blindly.., 19 Sep 2004
..what happened was i went into a well-known record shop and saw this on sale and thought: well, i've got nothing to lose. and i was very pleasantly surprised. roots manuva is one classy homegrown rapper!

the magnificently haunting intro 'no strings' made me sit up and take notice and 'witness(1 hope) was brilliant (have u seen the video? hilarious!), with roots 'seein' clearer than most/sittin' contemplating this cheese on toast'. 'join the dots' is my favourite..i love the thumping marching bass that makes me nod my head like a headless chicken!! charlie 2na is wicked on that & compliments roots v. well.

my other favourites are 'stone the crows'(brilliant!); 'sinny sin sins' is absolutely amazing with the way roots doesn't pull any punches over his strict childhood. also, 'ital visions' is a great tune that, once again, will have your head nodding to the judding beat.

overall, considering that i perceived most hip-hop 2b predictable, this is one guy who goes against the grain and does his own thang. and blimey..he does it well!

For a long time, it seemed like any sort of hip-hop that came from Great Britain was immediately labelled "trip-hop." But it's impossible to pigeonhole crews like Black Twang and London rapper Roots Manuva into that category--and sometimes it's tough to slot Roots Manuva into any category. Unfortunately, the production on this album is spotty, veering uncomfortably from the hopelessly fractured reggae of "Dem Phonies" to the live funk of "Fever". Roots Manuva's skills, though, are undeniable and he manoeuvres through tracks like "Big Things" and "Baptism" with a keen intellect and an impressive moral authority. His ragga-accented flow differs greatly from that of his American peers, though, and may prove to be an acquired taste for some. Flawed as it may be, Brand New Second Hand shows that international hip-hop need not mimic that of the States in order to compete--but it could take some lessons in the studio. --Justin Hampton

Cooking up beats and rhymes..., 05 May 2006
This album is great fun from beginning to end. A lighthearted beat infused concoction this album is always entertaining and never dull. Even the cheesy cookery analogy doesn't tire and adds a bizarre kind of depth to this funky and upbeat album.

The guest vocalists add a dash of pedigree to the catchy tunes and while it is not going to be heralded as groundbreaking it is a cracking album that will never fail to add cheer to your day.

There are no low points with this record and I would advise it as a fail safe record for those people wishing to dabble in the murky waters of the hip hop world. I can guarantee you will not disappointed!





Savage Album, 24 Jan 2005
Hip-Hop is certainly not my thing but i heard one of the songs on a promo cd and decided to check it out. It is a great collection of old school hip-hop, a bit bit of funk, and a laugh. A great album!

An amazing British DJ, 11 Nov 2004
Anyone serious about hip hop beats should buy this album and break it down to a legend of a DJ. Lyrical genius from Mr charlie 2Na and Akil with underlying amazing beats from the man from Brighton known as Format. Any track with Abdominal is gonna be good, but his relationship with Format is the best on the block.

funtastic, 11 Jul 2004
not normally being into hip-hop this record took me by suprise... its fantastic every song has sooo much feeling and energy, it touched the hip-hop nerve within me (being into punk and metal i didnt think i had one) and became one of my fav records... the abdominal tracks r by far the best but all songs hold their own... a must own for all music fans

DJ Format, back to the old school, 24 Mar 2004
This is a superb album. Very fresh, catchy, old-school samples. The best track on the album would have to be the superb 'Vicious Battle Raps' in which Abdominal gives a truly magnificent performance. Not only are the samples good, but also the lyrics. I had the pleasure of seeing DJ Format and Abdominal (featured ona number of tracks on the album) and, as good as DJ Format was, Abdominal stole the show with some excellent freestyling. If you like funky hip-hop such as Jurassic 5 (Format supported them) then you'll love this.

-------swe~_S, 10 Jan 2008
As far as I'm concerned, "Witness" is THE British hip hop anthem; a razor blade-ripped cyclone of a track, ideal for Roots Manuva to rap about beans on toast over (yes, it's that lyrical reference again). The rest varies from quite good to good. "Ital Visions" and "Evil Rabbit" predate Burial by a good five years when it comes to transferring the atmosphere of a rain-soaked London night into sound; in fact, save for the intro, the whole 60 minutes is loaded with heaviness, with mechanical clicks, robosynths and even the occasional sample (there's like 2 on the whole record...), with a sound not unlike Cannibal Ox's The Cold Vein. Like that album, of course, this also should've been condensed, but I applaud Manuva for choosing such a threatening and distinctive style of production. Run Come Save Me avoids the biggest pitfalls of British rap in that it isn't trying to sound like it's from The States nor is it making a point of how British it is, it's just its own entity. Not the statement it could've been, but, if you want to venture past the American big-hitters and the usual underground suspects in the pursuit of a deeper hip hop experience, this thing's a must.

WOW - An English Mos Def - this guy is brilliant, 14 Sep 2007
"RCSM" is the first album by Roots Manuva that i have bought, and I thought it was just superb. Totally unique and incredibly daring in a time when rapping is stereotyped as just being about "guns n' pussy". Manuva disregards this with a simple wave of his hand and produces a rare and monumental masterpiece. If you havent heard him, you're missing out, trust me. Try this out and you will not be dissapointed.

Stand out tracks are "Join The Dots" with the wonderful Chali 2na, "Ital Visions" and "Witness (1 Hope)".

Buy it!

DUB HEADS DELIGHT, 05 Jun 2006
WOW WHAT MORE CAN I SAY ABOUT THIS ALBUM.RODNEY SMITH THE MAN IS A GENIUS!IF YOU LIKE YOUR MUSIC ON A DUB TIP THEN YOU WILL LOVE THIS.I GOT THIS WHEN IT FIRST COME OUT,BUT A FRIEND OF MINE LIKED IT SO MUCH HE BOUGHT IT OFF ME. THE SONG WITNESS THE FITNESS IS MY FAVOURITE SONG ON THE ALBUM.BUT THE WHOLE ALBUM IS JUST BRILLIANT PURE SMOKIN'SPACED OUT DUB AT IT'S BEST!THE MAN FROM BRIXTON THE RODNEY SMITH KEEP UP THE WORK MY GENIUS OF A BROTHER!

this is a must buy!, 25 Apr 2005
If you want ho's, guns and gold chains then this is not for you. However if you want to listen to good HipHop and more generally good music then any one of Roots Manuva's three albums are a must buy! Funky, fresh, intelligent HipHop, and its British too!

i bought this album blindly.., 19 Sep 2004
..what happened was i went into a well-known record shop and saw this on sale and thought: well, i've got nothing to lose. and i was very pleasantly surprised. roots manuva is one classy homegrown rapper!

the magnificently haunting intro 'no strings' made me sit up and take notice and 'witness(1 hope) was brilliant (have u seen the video? hilarious!), with roots 'seein' clearer than most/sittin' contemplating this cheese on toast'. 'join the dots' is my favourite..i love the thumping marching bass that makes me nod my head like a headless chicken!! charlie 2na is wicked on that & compliments roots v. well.

my other favourites are 'stone the crows'(brilliant!); 'sinny sin sins' is absolutely amazing with the way roots doesn't pull any punches over his strict childhood. also, 'ital visions' is a great tune that, once again, will have your head nodding to the judding beat.

overall, considering that i perceived most hip-hop 2b predictable, this is one guy who goes against the grain and does his own thang. and blimey..he does it well!

Original and second best, 22 Mar 2007
This is definitely one of the most original albums produced in the history of UK urban music and for this reason I don't think it received the wider exposure it deserved. It's an comforting deep bassy sound, which is almost unique in my experience, one which completely mesmerized me 8 years ago, and still does today. I don't think he ever really improved on this personally, though others may feel the album is a bit disjointed. I have to say the second track 'dem phonies' does my head in and is probably worth 1 star at best, but the rest is fantastic, especially 'Inna', 'Strange Behaviour', 'Motion 5000' and 'Oh yeah'. It's getting on a bit now, but classics never really age and this certainly hasn't. It will always be one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite artists - check it out!

Yes, its very good, but..., 21 Jun 2006
...sometimes its just not cohesive enough to be given 5 stars. Not to say its a bad album, just doesn't flow well enough at times. The first time I listened to it, I was blown away by movements and motion 5000, I echo what other people have said, they are the two best tracks on the album and some of the finest tracks Roots Manuva has done ever. Although the problem lies with this in a way, halfway through the album you need something amazing, inspirational, almost daunting to certify a full listen, and unfortunately I don't think it has that killer edge. Tracks like sinking sand and clockwork are good tunes but decidely average for Roots Manuva, and sometimes you just can't be bothered to persevere. In a way this can benefit it in some respects, when you can be arsed its a really good listen, and at the right time can really suck you in, let you engage, then spit you back out, but it just doesn't do enough to have you playing this on a regular rotation. I think the reason for this is the production, as lyrically Rodders is on superlative form with some beautifally insightful lyrics and his adverse perception of the world, but the beats aren't always adequate foundation for such profound articulation, and can make you change track all too easily sometimes. Luckily, this all changes with experience, and he picks up on the production in the later albums, which are most excellent. So the album on a whole isn't quite 5 star material, but its definately worth buying for some tracks, as the standouts are momentous at times. There is the aforementioned Movents and Motion 5000, Strange Behaviour, Juggle Tings Proper and Fever for me which are the heavyweights, but i'm sure some people will disagree and have their own personal favourites.

All in all, most excellent debut attempt and a must buy if your a fan of Roots Manuva, and if not buy it just for Movements, beyond words.

Very Very good...., 19 Jan 2006
Great album, he can't be matched for his lyric content here or across the pond in America. Run come save me, dub come save me, awfully deep, brandnew second hand all excellent albums and I’m not really a big hip hop fan but Rodney P is a very clever lyricist who you just can't help but listen too... Cheers Rodney P.

The roots-fi discotheque, 01 Oct 2004
Roots Manuva is definitely one of the big names in hiphop not only in UK but througout. Nice lyrics, voice, different sorts of musics, plus hes wicked live..im not a mad hip-hop fan, but this album definitely visits my hi-fi often, it really worths listening to..As we move..This is my money, this is my pain, these are my drugs, this is my brain, and its never gonna be the same..

brand new 2nd hand., 27 Feb 2004
roots manuva is out and out my favourite british rapper - he's talents go far beyond he's smooth delivery and interesting content of his very british lyrics. he's production and beat writing is just as slick. these skills set him apart from the many other talented british rappers. (of which, I'm proud to say, there is an abundance; chester p, taskforce, jehst, dynamite, dizzie rascal and of course the veterans rodney p & daddy skitz.)

I love the fact that there is no mistaking he's english, I love the fact he sounds cockney and he talks about life in britain - mr manuva is the barometer of england's' social climate (and has been for a number of years). his social comment is accurate and is eloquently delivered, it makes you listen intently on what he's got to say.

the first and last songs on this album are amazing ('movements' & 'motion 5000' respectively) they're are two tracks roots manuva doesn't often top (although 'swords in the dirty' from his run come save me album does!!!). I love the calm, relaxed hook in 'movements' - roots manuva's voice seems to hypnotises you.

this album had a massive impact on the british hip hop scene - its paved the way for others to follow.

roots manuva is genius.

Cooking up beats and rhymes..., 05 May 2006
This album is great fun from beginning to end. A lighthearted beat infused concoction this album is always entertaining and never dull. Even the cheesy cookery analogy doesn't tire and adds a bizarre kind of depth to this funky and upbeat album.

The guest vocalists add a dash of pedigree to the catchy tunes and while it is not going to be heralded as groundbreaking it is a cracking album that will never fail to add cheer to your day.

There are no low points with this record and I would advise it as a fail safe record for those people wishing to dabble in the murky waters of the hip hop world. I can guarantee you will not disappointed!





Savage Album, 24 Jan 2005
Hip-Hop is certainly not my thing but i heard one of the songs on a promo cd and decided to check it out. It is a great collection of old school hip-hop, a bit bit of funk, and a laugh. A great album!

An amazing British DJ, 11 Nov 2004
Anyone serious about hip hop beats should buy this album and break it down to a legend of a DJ. Lyrical genius from Mr charlie 2Na and Akil with underlying amazing beats from the man from Brighton known as Format. Any track with Abdominal is gonna be good, but his relationship with Format is the best on the block.

funtastic, 11 Jul 2004
not normally being into hip-hop this record took me by suprise... its fantastic every song has sooo much feeling and energy, it touched the hip-hop nerve within me (being into punk and metal i didnt think i had one) and became one of my fav records... the abdominal tracks r by far the best but all songs hold their own... a must own for all music fans

DJ Format, back to the old school, 24 Mar 2004
This is a superb album. Very fresh, catchy, old-school samples. The best track on the album would have to be the superb 'Vicious Battle Raps' in which Abdominal gives a truly magnificent performance. Not only are the samples good, but also the lyrics. I had the pleasure of seeing DJ Format and Abdominal (featured ona number of tracks on the album) and, as good as DJ Format was, Abdominal stole the show with some excellent freestyling. If you like funky hip-hop such as Jurassic 5 (Format supported them) then you'll love this.

-------swe~_S, 10 Jan 2008
As far as I'm concerned, "Witness" is THE British hip hop anthem; a razor blade-ripped cyclone of a track, ideal for Roots Manuva to rap about beans on toast over (yes, it's that lyrical reference again). The rest varies from quite good to good. "Ital Visions" and "Evil Rabbit" predate Burial by a good five years when it comes to transferring the atmosphere of a rain-soaked London night into sound; in fact, save for the intro, the whole 60 minutes is loaded with heaviness, with mechanical clicks, robosynths and even the occasional sample (there's like 2 on the whole record...), with a sound not unlike Cannibal Ox's The Cold Vein. Like that album, of course, this also should've been condensed, but I applaud Manuva for choosing such a threatening and distinctive style of production. Run Come Save Me avoids the biggest pitfalls of British rap in that it isn't trying to sound like it's from The States nor is it making a point of how British it is, it's just its own entity. Not the statement it could've been, but, if you want to venture past the American big-hitters and the usual underground suspects in the pursuit of a deeper hip hop experience, this thing's a must.

WOW - An English Mos Def - this guy is brilliant, 14 Sep 2007
"RCSM" is the first album by Roots Manuva that i have bought, and I thought it was just superb. Totally unique and incredibly daring in a time when rapping is stereotyped as just being about "guns n' pussy". Manuva disregards this with a simple wave of his hand and produces a rare and monumental masterpiece. If you havent heard him, you're missing out, trust me. Try this out and you will not be dissapointed.

Stand out tracks are "Join The Dots" with the wonderful Chali 2na, "Ital Visions" and "Witness (1 Hope)".

Buy it!

DUB HEADS DELIGHT, 05 Jun 2006
WOW WHAT MORE CAN I SAY ABOUT THIS ALBUM.RODNEY SMITH THE MAN IS A GENIUS!IF YOU LIKE YOUR MUSIC ON A DUB TIP THEN YOU WILL LOVE THIS.I GOT THIS WHEN IT FIRST COME OUT,BUT A FRIEND OF MINE LIKED IT SO MUCH HE BOUGHT IT OFF ME. THE SONG WITNESS THE FITNESS IS MY FAVOURITE SONG ON THE ALBUM.BUT THE WHOLE ALBUM IS JUST BRILLIANT PURE SMOKIN'SPACED OUT DUB AT IT'S BEST!THE MAN FROM BRIXTON THE RODNEY SMITH KEEP UP THE WORK MY GENIUS OF A BROTHER!

this is a must buy!, 25 Apr 2005
If you want ho's, guns and gold chains then this is not for you. However if you want to listen to good HipHop and more generally good music then any one of Roots Manuva's three albums are a must buy! Funky, fresh, intelligent HipHop, and its British too!

i bought this album blindly.., 19 Sep 2004
..what happened was i went into a well-known record shop and saw this on sale and thought: well, i've got nothing to lose. and i was very pleasantly surprised. roots manuva is one classy homegrown rapper!

the magnificently haunting intro 'no strings' made me sit up and take notice and 'witness(1 hope) was brilliant (have u seen the video? hilarious!), with roots 'seein' clearer than most/sittin' contemplating this cheese on toast'. 'join the dots' is my favourite..i love the thumping marching bass that makes me nod my head like a headless chicken!! charlie 2na is wicked on that & compliments roots v. well.

my other favourites are 'stone the crows'(brilliant!); 'sinny sin sins' is absolutely amazing with the way roots doesn't pull any punches over his strict childhood. also, 'ital visions' is a great tune that, once again, will have your head nodding to the judding beat.

overall, considering that i perceived most hip-hop 2b predictable, this is one guy who goes against the grain and does his own thang. and blimey..he does it well!

Original and second best, 22 Mar 2007
This is definitely one of the most original albums produced in the history of UK urban music and for this reason I don't think it received the wider exposure it deserved. It's an comforting deep bassy sound, which is almost unique in my experience, one which completely mesmerized me 8 years ago, and still does today. I don't think he ever really improved on this personally, though others may feel the album is a bit disjointed. I have to say the second track 'dem phonies' does my head in and is probably worth 1 star at best, but the rest is fantastic, especially 'Inna', 'Strange Behaviour', 'Motion 5000' and 'Oh yeah'. It's getting on a bit now, but classics never really age and this certainly hasn't. It will always be one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite artists - check it out!

Yes, its very good, but..., 21 Jun 2006
...sometimes its just not cohesive enough to be given 5 stars. Not to say its a bad album, just doesn't flow well enough at times. The first time I listened to it, I was blown away by movements and motion 5000, I echo what other people have said, they are the two best tracks on the album and some of the finest tracks Roots Manuva has done ever. Although the problem lies with this in a way, halfway through the album you need something amazing, inspirational, almost daunting to certify a full listen, and unfortunately I don't think it has that killer edge. Tracks like sinking sand and clockwork are good tunes but decidely average for Roots Manuva, and sometimes you just can't be bothered to persevere. In a way this can benefit it in some respects, when you can be arsed its a really good listen, and at the right time can really suck you in, let you engage, then spit you back out, but it just doesn't do enough to have you playing this on a regular rotation. I think the reason for this is the production, as lyrically Rodders is on superlative form with some beautifally insightful lyrics and his adverse perception of the world, but the beats aren't always adequate foundation for such profound articulation, and can make you change track all too easily sometimes. Luckily, this all changes with experience, and he picks up on the production in the later albums, which are most excellent. So the album on a whole isn't quite 5 star material, but its definately worth buying for some tracks, as the standouts are momentous at times. There is the aforementioned Movents and Motion 5000, Strange Behaviour, Juggle Tings Proper and Fever for me which are the heavyweights, but i'm sure some people will disagree and have their own personal favourites.

All in all, most excellent debut attempt and a must buy if your a fan of Roots Manuva, and if not buy it just for Movements, beyond words.

Very Very good...., 19 Jan 2006
Great album, he can't be matched for his lyric content here or across the pond in America. Run come save me, dub come save me, awfully deep, brandnew second hand all excellent albums and I’m not really a big hip hop fan but Rodney P is a very clever lyricist who you just can't help but listen too... Cheers Rodney P.

The roots-fi discotheque, 01 Oct 2004
Roots Manuva is definitely one of the big names in hiphop not only in UK but througout. Nice lyrics, voice, different sorts of musics, plus hes wicked live..im not a mad hip-hop fan, but this album definitely visits my hi-fi often, it really worths listening to..As we move..This is my money, this is my pain, these are my drugs, this is my brain, and its never gonna be the same..

brand new 2nd hand., 27 Feb 2004
roots manuva is out and out my favourite british rapper - he's talents go far beyond he's smooth delivery and interesting content of his very british lyrics. he's production and beat writing is just as slick. these skills set him apart from the many other talented british rappers. (of which, I'm proud to say, there is an abundance; chester p, taskforce, jehst, dynamite, dizzie rascal and of course the veterans rodney p & daddy skitz.)

I love the fact that there is no mistaking he's english, I love the fact he sounds cockney and he talks about life in britain - mr manuva is the barometer of england's' social climate (and has been for a number of years). his social comment is accurate and is eloquently delivered, it makes you listen intently on what he's got to say.

the first and last songs on this album are amazing ('movements' & 'motion 5000' respectively) they're are two tracks roots manuva doesn't often top (although 'swords in the dirty' from his run come save me album does!!!). I love the calm, relaxed hook in 'movements' - roots manuva's voice seems to hypnotises you.

this album had a massive impact on the british hip hop scene - its paved the way for others to follow.

roots manuva is genius.

Keeps grooving, 16 Jan 2008
The title track was the hit and was so over-played that it might seem tiring. But the rest of the album is one of those rare animals, a mellow dance album that one can play all the way through without a single annoying track that makes you want to fast forward. Some reviewers seem to complain that there are no other 'hits' on the CD, but in a sense that's because the standard of each track is so equal that none is needed. Don't search for any single moment of brilliance - just play the whole thing as the perfect backdrop to whatever you're doing - seen in that way there are few better albums.

MONSTER RECORD, 16 Jun 2005
Highlighting one record out of thousands in my collection(big head) is no easy task but the STEREO MCS/CONNECTED is an instant easy choice,and has been for the last 14 years(or something ).The best tunes on this lp are undoubtedly the last two,'creation,'and 'the end.' Both sublime.As an all-time classic ,the rest of the album is obviously magnificent with the first of two singles released of it,'connected,' being the worst song on it.Not a bad indictment on a track seen by most as an anthem.'Fade Away' is THE best modern-day motown/baggy tune youve ever heard and is an effortless floorfiller.With its martha reeves/jbs style killer- tune and immaculate, sharp, baggy vocals,spliced with that archetypal gospel backing vocal we all love. If you want some classy,unforgetable,euphoric tunes to impress the ladies or just your mates,regardless of age,type of music you're normally into,just get this.For boozing,dancing,smoking and schmoozin,or even driving(creations a tremendous driving track) this albums always going to be ace.Please excuse my use of cliches,and seemingly sick-inducing exaggeration,and believe my cringe-worthy review.Tight,funky,classy masterpiece.

Martini Moments, 11 Jan 2003
Can words describe music? How about instead describing the perfect moment to play it. This is the best album ever (sorry George Michael) for getting ready to go out. So have a shower, put on your're jewellry, start choosing what clothes to wear out on a hot Saturday night - get a Martini and put on this album. Start dancing around and think of the possibilities of a night on the town. This is a great fun dance album - everyone I have ever played it to loves it - but then as I'm a child of the 80's and 90's discos - if that sort of music is not your scene this won't be either.

Uninspired Soft-Hop, 31 Oct 2001
All that's worth mentioning on this album are the hits 'Connected' and 'Step It Up' which, sadly, form the highlights along with the mellow 'Chicken Shake'. But it's all the same. Soft hiphop, slightly electronized, and with the interesting, kinda deep and electronic-sounding, lead vocals. All through the album. Buy a single instead, that's enough by far.

When Stereo MC's do their best, they try to sound like LL Cool J, or like Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, as on 'The End'. But it's simply not that great.

Like it or not..., 01 Sep 2001
After watching the advert for 'indie' music of the 90's, including Stone Roses, Manics and Stereo Mc's, I decided to come onto Amazon, to listen to the album previews.

Impressed with the music, I ordered it and the album is a hit with me. Starting with the famous 'Connected', the album can only get better - following with 'Ground Level' (my favourite track) 'Sketch' and 'Step It Up' the whole set up is really good.

I was suprised at first to be drawn to what I thought was British Hip-Hop, but then again, I've always been influenced by the songs, not the style. This collection is quite impressive, using Rob's slight Manchester accent as vocals and the back-up singers Coffey, and the rest of them.

I'm just sorry I can't recommend this to a style related music shopper, because everyone could like it, and some might not. I did.

The Porcelain Mole

The deluge of UK hip-hop albums continues apace with Biro Funk from Biro Funk, the latest missive on nine-year-old indie label Low Life. Hailing from the unlikely hip-hop Mecca of Yorkshire, Braintax--originally a duo but now pared down to just one man--uses his connections within the UK's nepotistic hip-hop scene to create a persistently good debut. Teaming up homegrown beatmakers (Farma G, Bengrymm, Jehst and Beta Band/Jamelia producer C-Swing) scratch dons (Shortee Blitz and ex-Scratch Pervert Harry Love) as well as veteran rhymers Task Force and Skinnyman on the mic, the emphasis here is definitely on raw UK vibes. There's some ragga bounce here and there but mostly it's about straight up beats and plenty of gritty rhyme-spitting throughout. The lyrics swing from the witty to the worldly (though can be occasionally uninspiring) and the beats and scratches are almost always on point and varied enough to keep the listener's interest peaked. It ain't the UK hip-hop LP of the year but Braintax has proved himself a versatile performer and as a first album Biro Funk is inventive, entertaining and decidedly above average. - Paul Sullivan

Cooking up beats and rhymes..., 05 May 2006
This album is great fun from beginning to end. A lighthearted beat infused concoction this album is always entertaining and never dull. Even the cheesy cookery analogy doesn't tire and adds a bizarre kind of depth to this funky and upbeat album.

The guest vocalists add a dash of pedigree to the catchy tunes and while it is not going to be heralded as groundbreaking it is a cracking album that will never fail to add cheer to your day.

There are no low points with this record and I would advise it as a fail safe record for those people wishing to dabble in the murky waters of the hip hop world. I can guarantee you will not disappointed!





Savage Album, 24 Jan 2005
Hip-Hop is certainly not my thing but i heard one of the songs on a promo cd and decided to check it out. It is a great collection of old school hip-hop, a bit bit of funk, and a laugh. A great album!

An amazing British DJ, 11 Nov 2004
Anyone serious about hip hop beats should buy this album and break it down to a legend of a DJ. Lyrical genius from Mr charlie 2Na and Akil with underlying amazing beats from the man from Brighton known as Format. Any track with Abdominal is gonna be good, but his relationship with Format is the best on the block.

funtastic, 11 Jul 2004
not normally being into hip-hop this record took me by suprise... its fantastic every song has sooo much feeling and energy, it touched the hip-hop nerve within me (being into punk and metal i didnt think i had one) and became one of my fav records... the abdominal tracks r by far the best but all songs hold their own... a must own for all music fans

DJ Format, back to the old school, 24 Mar 2004
This is a superb album. Very fresh, catchy, old-school samples. The best track on the album would have to be the superb 'Vicious Battle Raps' in which Abdominal gives a truly magnificent performance. Not only are the samples good, but also the lyrics. I had the pleasure of seeing DJ Format and Abdominal (featured ona number of tracks on the album) and, as good as DJ Format was, Abdominal stole the show with some excellent freestyling. If you like funky hip-hop such as Jurassic 5 (Format supported them) then you'll love this.

-------swe~_S, 10 Jan 2008
As far as I'm concerned, "Witness" is THE British hip hop anthem; a razor blade-ripped cyclone of a track, ideal for Roots Manuva to rap about beans on toast over (yes, it's that lyrical reference again). The rest varies from quite good to good. "Ital Visions" and "Evil Rabbit" predate Burial by a good five years when it comes to transferring the atmosphere of a rain-soaked London night into sound; in fact, save for the intro, the whole 60 minutes is loaded with heaviness, with mechanical clicks, robosynths and even the occasional sample (there's like 2 on the whole record...), with a sound not unlike Cannibal Ox's The Cold Vein. Like that album, of course, this also should've been condensed, but I applaud Manuva for choosing such a threatening and distinctive style of production. Run Come Save Me avoids the biggest pitfalls of British rap in that it isn't trying to sound like it's from The States nor is it making a point of how British it is, it's just its own entity. Not the statement it could've been, but, if you want to venture past the American big-hitters and the usual underground suspects in the pursuit of a deeper hip hop experience, this thing's a must.

WOW - An English Mos Def - this guy is brilliant, 14 Sep 2007
"RCSM" is the first album by Roots Manuva that i have bought, and I thought it was just superb. Totally unique and incredibly daring in a time when rapping is stereotyped as just being about "guns n' pussy". Manuva disregards this with a simple wave of his hand and produces a rare and monumental masterpiece. If you havent heard him, you're missing out, trust me. Try this out and you will not be dissapointed.

Stand out tracks are "Join The Dots" with the wonderful Chali 2na, "Ital Visions" and "Witness (1 Hope)".

Buy it!

DUB HEADS DELIGHT, 05 Jun 2006
WOW WHAT MORE CAN I SAY ABOUT THIS ALBUM.RODNEY SMITH THE MAN IS A GENIUS!IF YOU LIKE YOUR MUSIC ON A DUB TIP THEN YOU WILL LOVE THIS.I GOT THIS WHEN IT FIRST COME OUT,BUT A FRIEND OF MINE LIKED IT SO MUCH HE BOUGHT IT OFF ME. THE SONG WITNESS THE FITNESS IS MY FAVOURITE SONG ON THE ALBUM.BUT THE WHOLE ALBUM IS JUST BRILLIANT PURE SMOKIN'SPACED OUT DUB AT IT'S BEST!THE MAN FROM BRIXTON THE RODNEY SMITH KEEP UP THE WORK MY GENIUS OF A BROTHER!

this is a must buy!, 25 Apr 2005
If you want ho's, guns and gold chains then this is not for you. However if you want to listen to good HipHop and more generally good music then any one of Roots Manuva's three albums are a must buy! Funky, fresh, intelligent HipHop, and its British too!

i bought this album blindly.., 19 Sep 2004
..what happened was i went into a well-known record shop and saw this on sale and thought: well, i've got nothing to lose. and i was very pleasantly surprised. roots manuva is one classy homegrown rapper!

the magnificently haunting intro 'no strings' made me sit up and take notice and 'witness(1 hope) was brilliant (have u seen the video? hilarious!), with roots 'seein' clearer than most/sittin' contemplating this cheese on toast'. 'join the dots' is my favourite..i love the thumping marching bass that makes me nod my head like a headless chicken!! charlie 2na is wicked on that & compliments roots v. well.

my other favourites are 'stone the crows'(brilliant!); 'sinny sin sins' is absolutely amazing with the way roots doesn't pull any punches over his strict childhood. also, 'ital visions' is a great tune that, once again, will have your head nodding to the judding beat.

overall, considering that i perceived most hip-hop 2b predictable, this is one guy who goes against the grain and does his own thang. and blimey..he does it well!

Original and second best, 22 Mar 2007
This is definitely one of the most original albums produced in the history of UK urban music and for this reason I don't think it received the wider exposure it deserved. It's an comforting deep bassy sound, which is almost unique in my experience, one which completely mesmerized me 8 years ago, and still does today. I don't think he ever really improved on this personally, though others may feel the album is a bit disjointed. I have to say the second track 'dem phonies' does my head in and is probably worth 1 star at best, but the rest is fantastic, especially 'Inna', 'Strange Behaviour', 'Motion 5000' and 'Oh yeah'. It's getting on a bit now, but classics never really age and this certainly hasn't. It will always be one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite artists - check it out!

Yes, its very good, but..., 21 Jun 2006
...sometimes its just not cohesive enough to be given 5 stars. Not to say its a bad album, just doesn't flow well enough at times. The first time I listened to it, I was blown away by movements and motion 5000, I echo what other people have said, they are the two best tracks on the album and some of the finest tracks Roots Manuva has done ever. Although the problem lies with this in a way, halfway through the album you need something amazing, inspirational, almost daunting to certify a full listen, and unfortunately I don't think it has that killer edge. Tracks like sinking sand and clockwork are good tunes but decidely average for Roots Manuva, and sometimes you just can't be bothered to persevere. In a way this can benefit it in some respects, when you can be arsed its a really good listen, and at the right time can really suck you in, let you engage, then spit you back out, but it just doesn't do enough to have you playing this on a regular rotation. I think the reason for this is the production, as lyrically Rodders is on superlative form with some beautifally insightful lyrics and his adverse perception of the world, but the beats aren't always adequate foundation for such profound articulation, and can make you change track all too easily sometimes. Luckily, this all changes with experience, and he picks up on the production in the later albums, which are most excellent. So the album on a whole isn't quite 5 star material, but its definately worth buying for some tracks, as the standouts are momentous at times. There is the aforementioned Movents and Motion 5000, Strange Behaviour, Juggle Tings Proper and Fever for me which are the heavyweights, but i'm sure some people will disagree and have their own personal favourites.

All in all, most excellent debut attempt and a must buy if your a fan of Roots Manuva, and if not buy it just for Movements, beyond words.

Very Very good...., 19 Jan 2006
Great album, he can't be matched for his lyric content here or across the pond in America. Run come save me, dub come save me, awfully deep, brandnew second hand all excellent albums and I’m not really a big hip hop fan but Rodney P is a very clever lyricist who you just can't help but listen too... Cheers Rodney P.

The roots-fi discotheque, 01 Oct 2004
Roots Manuva is definitely one of the big names in hiphop not only in UK but througout. Nice lyrics, voice, different sorts of musics, plus hes wicked live..im not a mad hip-hop fan, but this album definitely visits my hi-fi often, it really worths listening to..As we move..This is my money, this is my pain, these are my drugs, this is my brain, and its never gonna be the same..

brand new 2nd hand., 27 Feb 2004
roots manuva is out and out my favourite british rapper - he's talents go far beyond he's smooth delivery and interesting content of his very british lyrics. he's production and beat writing is just as slick. these skills set him apart from the many other talented british rappers. (of which, I'm proud to say, there is an abundance; chester p, taskforce, jehst, dynamite, dizzie rascal and of course the veterans rodney p & daddy skitz.)

I love the fact that there is no mistaking he's english, I love the fact he sounds cockney and he talks about life in britain - mr manuva is the barometer of england's' social climate (and has been for a number of years). his social comment is accurate and is eloquently delivered, it makes you listen intently on what he's got to say.

the first and last songs on this album are amazing ('movements' & 'motion 5000' respectively) they're are two tracks roots manuva doesn't often top (although 'swords in the dirty' from his run come save me album does!!!). I love the calm, relaxed hook in 'movements' - roots manuva's voice seems to hypnotises you.

this album had a massive impact on the british hip hop scene - its paved the way for others to follow.

roots manuva is genius.

Keeps grooving, 16 Jan 2008
The title track was the hit and was so over-played that it might seem tiring. But the rest of the album is one of those rare animals, a mellow dance album that one can play all the way through without a single annoying track that makes you want to fast forward. Some reviewers seem to complain that there are no other 'hits' on the CD, but in a sense that's because the standard of each track is so equal that none is needed. Don't search for any single moment of brilliance - just play the whole thing as the perfect backdrop to whatever you're doing - seen in that way there are few better albums.

MONSTER RECORD, 16 Jun 2005
Highlighting one record out of thousands in my collection(big head) is no easy task but the STEREO MCS/CONNECTED is an instant easy choice,and has been for the last 14 years(or something ).The best tunes on this lp are undoubtedly the last two,'creation,'and 'the end.' Both sublime.As an all-time classic ,the rest of the album is obviously magnificent with the first of two singles released of it,'connected,' being the worst song on it.Not a bad indictment on a track seen by most as an anthem.'Fade Away' is THE best modern-day motown/baggy tune youve ever heard and is an effortless floorfiller.With its martha reeves/jbs style killer- tune and immaculate, sharp, baggy vocals,spliced with that archetypal gospel backing vocal we all love. If you want some classy,unforgetable,euphoric tunes to impress the ladies or just your mates,regardless of age,type of music you're normally into,just get this.For boozing,dancing,smoking and schmoozin,or even driving(creations a tremendous driving track) this albums always going to be ace.Please excuse my use of cliches,and seemingly sick-inducing exaggeration,and believe my cringe-worthy review.Tight,funky,classy masterpiece.

Martini Moments, 11 Jan 2003
Can words describe music? How about instead describing the perfect moment to play it. This is the best album ever (sorry George Michael) for getting ready to go out. So have a shower, put on your're jewellry, start choosing what clothes to wear out on a hot Saturday night - get a Martini and put on this album. Start dancing around and think of the possibilities of a night on the town. This is a great fun dance album - everyone I have ever played it to loves it - but then as I'm a child of the 80's and 90's discos - if that sort of music is not your scene this won't be either.

Uninspired Soft-Hop, 31 Oct 2001
All that's worth mentioning on this album are the hits 'Connected' and 'Step It Up' which, sadly, form the highlights along with the mellow 'Chicken Shake'. But it's all the same. Soft hiphop, slightly electronized, and with the interesting, kinda deep and electronic-sounding, lead vocals. All through the album. Buy a single instead, that's enough by far.

When Stereo MC's do their best, they try to sound like LL Cool J, or like Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, as on 'The End'. But it's simply not that great.

Like it or not..., 01 Sep 2001
After watching the advert for 'indie' music of the 90's, including Stone Roses, Manics and Stereo Mc's, I decided to come onto Amazon, to listen to the album previews.

Impressed with the music, I ordered it and the album is a hit with me. Starting with the famous 'Connected', the album can only get better - following with 'Ground Level' (my favourite track) 'Sketch' and 'Step It Up' the whole set up is really good.

I was suprised at first to be drawn to what I thought was British Hip-Hop, but then again, I've always been influenced by the songs, not the style. This collection is quite impressive, using Rob's slight Manchester accent as vocals and the back-up singers Coffey, and the rest of them.

I'm just sorry I can't recommend this to a style related music shopper, because everyone could like it, and some might not. I did.

The Porcelain Mole

Good stuff, especially the original bits, 26 Feb 2008
I'm not the world's biggest hip-hop fan. I'm often put off the fact that I have nothing in common with the (usually black) lifestyles alluded to and I dislike aggressive posturing lyrics etc. However I do like hip-hop beats and good, tight rapping.

Braintax is somewhat refreshing in that he is not just copying black, American rappers. He's kept his northern UK accent and taken his own experiences as a white British lad as the subject matter of his writing. I like this. It's not bogus and it shows.

However, personally, I wish he's take it a step further - root out and eliminate the remaining cliches still in the work. I preferred the tracks without the other (more cliched) artists and where he avoided rapping about how he's good at rapping.

My fave Braintax track is not on this album (Vibrate on Mr Scruff's trouser jazz) which exemplifies the guy's strengths - his own accent, his own voice, a quirky but solid groove, interesting subject matter, no cliche, intelligent lyrics. I think only FutureGhost came close on this album but it's still a good set.

Not your typical hip-hop fan, 08 Feb 2006
I am not the typical hip hop fan, but have since grown increasingly tired of American rap and so seeked something that may appeal to me more. Lots of UK hip hop is grimey and, basically, quite poor. Braintax is the finest UK rapper i have heard. Better than Jehst and Skinnyman without question. Partially because he doesn't rap and sound like most UK rappers, he flows well, talks sense and speaks properly. This album is absolutely fantastic and if you haven't been overly impressed by most UK hip hop BUY THIS because its fantastic. Then get Country Man. Thats excellent too.

Top Notch UK Hip Hop, 25 Jan 2005
I bought this album after hearing Braintax on Task Force's 'Voice of the Great Outdoors EP' a while ago. It was far better than i expected, including some of the freshest beats and rhymes to come out of the UK. This is an album so original that i can't see anyone with any sense not enjoying it. Quality guest appearances (Task Force, Jehst, Mystro, Skinnyman)only add to the albums appeal, but Braintax shines over all these stars. At the end of the day, i guess i'm just saying that you should buy this album. Fans of hip hop will love it, and non-fans will be instantly converted. Deserves the full 5 star rating...

Britains Finest, 28 Nov 2003
Braintax has been making records for over ten years now, but he has remained the dopest and most intellectual hip hop artist in Britain. Jehst has become a very popular rapper within the UK scene, due to his undoubted eloquence, but in my opinion he simply isn't touching Joey Brains, and this album confirms that for me without a bad track on the album.
Braintax is one of the most worldly wise rappers i have ever heard, as he says "you know its truthful when you hear me"
and you can't disagree. Biro Funk isn't a barrage of battle raps and ridiculous comparisons, its a brutally honest and self reflective piece of art that should be held up as an example of how hip-hop internationally should be developing.
Respect the game, buy this album and support the scene.

Most UNDERRATED hip hop album from Britain, 24 Apr 2003
The entire UK hip hop I have heard (and I haven't heard much) has not been wacky, though none of it has been exceptional either. That is, until I discovered this masterpiece. 'Biro Funk' is probably the only album I've listened to start to finish without skipping a track on first listen, I don't understand why I had never heard of it before. Whilst Braintax doesn't have the most distinctive voice in the industry, he is an incredible lyricist. He's got flows. He's got talent. My favourite tracks on the album are 'Futureghost' and 'Last Date'. Tax himself produces the superb beat of 'Futureghost' with the haunting back-and-forth strings and vocal percussion. He uses this with genius metaphors on the concept of being a ghost to spine chilling effect. On 'Last Date', using a classical composition on the beat, Tax tells a story of his collapsing relationship. Spitting lines like "How am I? You don't know because you don't even care to ask/Arrogant, assuming that I'm happy and we're gonna last", it's safe to say that he's getting his anger off his chest in two brilliantly crafted verses. In less than an hour, over 14 tracks, it's hard to pick out a bad moment on this album. Apart from the standard battle rhyming of 'Cobblestones', the lyrical side of 'Biro Funk' is so deep that you could drown in the music. If the real heads don't own this album you'd better get it now, and when you do, just hit the play button, sit back and feel the Biro Funk!

From his idiosyncratic delivery and leftfield lyrics to his rootsy basslines and dubwise studio tinkerings, Mr Manuva has always paid homage to his Jamaican roots. That he has always fancied himself as something of a dubmeister was made apparent on the dub version of his lauded single "Witness" (which appeared on Zero 7's Another Late Night compilation), but even before then he was remixing (as Walworth Road Rockers) Big Dada Sound's "Showtime" among others. Here, he gets to explore his "mixing-desk-as-instrument" ethos to the max, reworking tracks from his recent Run Come Save Me LP into spectral dubshadows of their former selves, as well as presenting a few tracks that didn't make it onto the LP and one or two cuts previously only available as limited MP3 downloads. Cuts like "Highest Grade Dub" and "Brand New Dub" are direct descendents of the King Tubby/Augustus Pablo school of smoke-filled trickery, while "Tears" and "Revolution" are more 80's and hip-hop influenced respectively, but come with deep and dirty dub signatures. Like everything Mr Manuva turns his hand to, Dub Come Save Me is weirdly sophisticated, and serves as an essential companion to the original long player.--Paul Sullivan

Cooking up beats and rhymes..., 05 May 2006
This album is great fun from beginning to end. A lighthearted beat infused concoction this album is always entertaining and never dull. Even the cheesy cookery analogy doesn't tire and adds a bizarre kind of depth to this funky and upbeat album.

The guest vocalists add a dash of pedigree to the catchy tunes and while it is not going to be heralded as groundbreaking it is a cracking album that will never fail to add cheer to your day.

There are no low points with this record and I would advise it as a fail safe record for those people wishing to dabble in the murky waters of the hip hop world. I can guarantee you will not disappointed!





Savage Album, 24 Jan 2005
Hip-Hop is certainly not my thing but i heard one of the songs on a promo cd and decided to check it out. It is a great collection of old school hip-hop, a bit bit of funk, and a laugh. A great album!

An amazing British DJ, 11 Nov 2004
Anyone serious about hip hop beats should buy this album and break it down to a legend of a DJ. Lyrical genius from Mr charlie 2Na and Akil with underlying amazing beats from the man from Brighton known as Format. Any track with Abdominal is gonna be good, but his relationship with Format is the best on the block.

funtastic, 11 Jul 2004
not normally being into hip-hop this record took me by suprise... its fantastic every song has sooo much feeling and energy, it touched the hip-hop nerve within me (being into punk and metal i didnt think i had one) and became one of my fav records... the abdominal tracks r by far the best but all songs hold their own... a must own for all music fans

DJ Format, back to the old school, 24 Mar 2004
This is a superb album. Very fresh, catchy, old-school samples. The best track on the album would have to be the superb 'Vicious Battle Raps' in which Abdominal gives a truly magnificent performance. Not only are the samples good, but also the lyrics. I had the pleasure of seeing DJ Format and Abdominal (featured ona number of tracks on the album) and, as good as DJ Format was, Abdominal stole the show with some excellent freestyling. If you like funky hip-hop such as Jurassic 5 (Format supported them) then you'll love this.

-------swe~_S, 10 Jan 2008
As far as I'm concerned, "Witness" is THE British hip hop anthem; a razor blade-ripped cyclone of a track, ideal for Roots Manuva to rap about beans on toast over (yes, it's that lyrical reference again). The rest varies from quite good to good. "Ital Visions" and "Evil Rabbit" predate Burial by a good five years when it comes to transferring the atmosphere of a rain-soaked London night into sound; in fact, save for the intro, the whole 60 minutes is loaded with heaviness, with mechanical clicks, robosynths and even the occasional sample (there's like 2 on the whole record...), with a sound not unlike Cannibal Ox's The Cold Vein. Like that album, of course, this also should've been condensed, but I applaud Manuva for choosing such a threatening and distinctive style of production. Run Come Save Me avoids the biggest pitfalls of British rap in that it isn't trying to sound like it's from The States nor is it making a point of how British it is, it's just its own entity. Not the statement it could've been, but, if you want to venture past the American big-hitters and the usual underground suspects in the pursuit of a deeper hip hop experience, this thing's a must.

WOW - An English Mos Def - this guy is brilliant, 14 Sep 2007
"RCSM" is the first album by Roots Manuva that i have bought, and I thought it was just superb. Totally unique and incredibly daring in a time when rapping is stereotyped as just being about "guns n' pussy". Manuva disregards this with a simple wave of his hand and produces a rare and monumental masterpiece. If you havent heard him, you're missing out, trust me. Try this out and you will not be dissapointed.

Stand out tracks are "Join The Dots" with the wonderful Chali 2na, "Ital Visions" and "Witness (1 Hope)".

Buy it!

DUB HEADS DELIGHT, 05 Jun 2006
WOW WHAT MORE CAN I SAY ABOUT THIS ALBUM.RODNEY SMITH THE MAN IS A GENIUS!IF YOU LIKE YOUR MUSIC ON A DUB TIP THEN YOU WILL LOVE THIS.I GOT THIS WHEN IT FIRST COME OUT,BUT A FRIEND OF MINE LIKED IT SO MUCH HE BOUGHT IT OFF ME. THE SONG WITNESS THE FITNESS IS MY FAVOURITE SONG ON THE ALBUM.BUT THE WHOLE ALBUM IS JUST BRILLIANT PURE SMOKIN'SPACED OUT DUB AT IT'S BEST!THE MAN FROM BRIXTON THE RODNEY SMITH KEEP UP THE WORK MY GENIUS OF A BROTHER!

this is a must buy!, 25 Apr 2005
If you want ho's, guns and gold chains then this is not for you. However if you want to listen to good HipHop and more generally good music then any one of Roots Manuva's three albums are a must buy! Funky, fresh, intelligent HipHop, and its British too!

i bought this album blindly.., 19 Sep 2004
..what happened was i went into a well-known record shop and saw this on sale and thought: well, i've got nothing to lose. and i was very pleasantly surprised. roots manuva is one classy homegrown rapper!

the magnificently haunting intro 'no strings' made me sit up and take notice and 'witness(1 hope) was brilliant (have u seen the video? hilarious!), with roots 'seein' clearer than most/sittin' contemplating this cheese on toast'. 'join the dots' is my favourite..i love the thumping marching bass that makes me nod my head like a headless chicken!! charlie 2na is wicked on that & compliments roots v. well.

my other favourites are 'stone the crows'(brilliant!); 'sinny sin sins' is absolutely amazing with the way roots doesn't pull any punches over his strict childhood. also, 'ital visions' is a great tune that, once again, will have your head nodding to the judding beat.

overall, considering that i perceived most hip-hop 2b predictable, this is one guy who goes against the grain and does his own thang. and blimey..he does it well!

Original and second best, 22 Mar 2007
This is definitely one of the most original albums produced in the history of UK urban music and for this reason I don't think it received the wider exposure it deserved. It's an comforting deep bassy sound, which is almost unique in my experience, one which completely mesmerized me 8 years ago, and still does today. I don't think he ever really improved on this personally, though others may feel the album is a bit disjointed. I have to say the second track 'dem phonies' does my head in and is probably worth 1 star at best, but the rest is fantastic, especially 'Inna', 'Strange Behaviour', 'Motion 5000' and 'Oh yeah'. It's getting on a bit now, but classics never really age and this certainly hasn't. It will always be one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite artists - check it out!

Yes, its very good, but..., 21 Jun 2006
...sometimes its just not cohesive enough to be given 5 stars. Not to say its a bad album, just doesn't flow well enough at times. The first time I listened to it, I was blown away by movements and motion 5000, I echo what other people have said, they are the two best tracks on the album and some of the finest tracks Roots Manuva has done ever. Although the problem lies with this in a way, halfway through the album you need something amazing, inspirational, almost daunting to certify a full listen, and unfortunately I don't think it has that killer edge. Tracks like sinking sand and clockwork are good tunes but decidely average for Roots Manuva, and sometimes you just can't be bothered to persevere. In a way this can benefit it in some respects, when you can be arsed its a really good listen, and at the right time can really suck you in, let you engage, then spit you back out, but it just doesn't do enough to have you playing this on a regular rotation. I think the reason for this is the production, as lyrically Rodders is on superlative form with some beautifally insightful lyrics and his adverse perception of the world, but the beats aren't always adequate foundation for such profound articulation, and can make you change track all too easily sometimes. Luckily, this all changes with experience, and he picks up on the production in the later albums, which are most excellent. So the album on a whole isn't quite 5 star material, but its definately worth buying for some tracks, as the standouts are momentous at times. There is the aforementioned Movents and Motion 5000, Strange Behaviour, Juggle Tings Proper and Fever for me which are the heavyweights, but i'm sure some people will disagree and have their own personal favourites.

All in all, most excellent debut attempt and a must buy if your a fan of Roots Manuva, and if not buy it just for Movements, beyond words.

Very Very good...., 19 Jan 2006
Great album, he can't be matched for his lyric content here or across the pond in America. Run come save me, dub come save me, awfully deep, brandnew second hand all excellent albums and I’m not really a big hip hop fan but Rodney P is a very clever lyricist who you just can't help but listen too... Cheers Rodney P.

The roots-fi discotheque, 01 Oct 2004
Roots Manuva is definitely one of the big names in hiphop not only in UK but througout. Nice lyrics, voice, different sorts of musics, plus hes wicked live..im not a mad hip-hop fan, but this album definitely visits my hi-fi often, it really worths listening to..As we move..This is my money, this is my pain, these are my drugs, this is my brain, and its never gonna be the same..

brand new 2nd hand., 27 Feb 2004
roots manuva is out and out my favourite british rapper - he's talents go far beyond he's smooth delivery and interesting content of his very british lyrics. he's production and beat writing is just as slick. these skills set him apart from the many other talented british rappers. (of which, I'm proud to say, there is an abundance; chester p, taskforce, jehst, dynamite, dizzie rascal and of course the veterans rodney p & daddy skitz.)

I love the fact that there is no mistaking he's english, I love the fact he sounds cockney and he talks about life in britain - mr manuva is the barometer of england's' social climate (and has been for a number of years). his social comment is accurate and is eloquently delivered, it makes you listen intently on what he's got to say.

the first and last songs on this album are amazing ('movements' & 'motion 5000' respectively) they're are two tracks roots manuva doesn't often top (although 'swords in the dirty' from his run come save me album does!!!). I love the calm, relaxed hook in 'movements' - roots manuva's voice seems to hypnotises you.

this album had a massive impact on the british hip hop scene - its paved the way for others to follow.

roots manuva is genius.

Keeps grooving, 16 Jan 2008
The title track was the hit and was so over-played that it might seem tiring. But the rest of the album is one of those rare animals, a mellow dance album that one can play all the way through without a single annoying track that makes you want to fast forward. Some reviewers seem to complain that there are no other 'hits' on the CD, but in a sense that's because the standard of each track is so equal that none is needed. Don't search for any single moment of brilliance - just play the whole thing as the perfect backdrop to whatever you're doing - seen in that way there are few better albums.

MONSTER RECORD, 16 Jun 2005
Highlighting one record out of thousands in my collection(big head) is no easy task but the STEREO MCS/CONNECTED is an instant easy choice,and has been for the last 14 years(or something ).The best tunes on this lp are undoubtedly the last two,'creation,'and 'the end.' Both sublime.As an all-time classic ,the rest of the album is obviously magnificent with the first of two singles released of it,'connected,' being the worst song on it.Not a bad indictment on a track seen by most as an anthem.'Fade Away' is THE best modern-day motown/baggy tune youve ever heard and is an effortless floorfiller.With its martha reeves/jbs style killer- tune and immaculate, sharp, baggy vocals,spliced with that archetypal gospel backing vocal we all love. If you want some classy,unforgetable,euphoric tunes to impress the ladies or just your mates,regardless of age,type of music you're normally into,just get this.For boozing,dancing,smoking and schmoozin,or even driving(creations a tremendous driving track) this albums always going to be ace.Please excuse my use of cliches,and seemingly sick-inducing exaggeration,and believe my cringe-worthy review.Tight,funky,classy masterpiece.

Martini Moments, 11 Jan 2003
Can words describe music? How about instead describing the perfect moment to play it. This is the best album ever (sorry George Michael) for getting ready to go out. So have a shower, put on your're jewellry, start choosing what clothes to wear out on a hot Saturday night - get a Martini and put on this album. Start dancing around and think of the possibilities of a night on the town. This is a great fun dance album - everyone I have ever played it to loves it - but then as I'm a child of the 80's and 90's discos - if that sort of music is not your scene this won't be either.

Uninspired Soft-Hop, 31 Oct 2001
All that's worth mentioning on this album are the hits 'Connected' and 'Step It Up' which, sadly, form the highlights along with the mellow 'Chicken Shake'. But it's all the same. Soft hiphop, slightly electronized, and with the interesting, kinda deep and electronic-sounding, lead vocals. All through the album. Buy a single instead, that's enough by far.

When Stereo MC's do their best, they try to sound like LL Cool J, or like Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, as on 'The End'. But it's simply not that great.

Like it or not..., 01 Sep 2001
After watching the advert for 'indie' music of the 90's, including Stone Roses, Manics and Stereo Mc's, I decided to come onto Amazon, to listen to the album previews.

Impressed with the music, I ordered it and the album is a hit with me. Starting with the famous 'Connected', the album can only get better - following with 'Ground Level' (my favourite track) 'Sketch' and 'Step It Up' the whole set up is really good.

I was suprised at first to be drawn to what I thought was British Hip-Hop, but then again, I've always been influenced by the songs, not the style. This collection is quite impressive, using Rob's slight Manchester accent as vocals and the back-up singers Coffey, and the rest of them.

I'm just sorry I can't recommend this to a style related music shopper, because everyone could like it, and some might not. I did.

The Porcelain Mole

Good stuff, especially the original bits, 26 Feb 2008
I'm not the world's biggest hip-hop fan. I'm often put off the fact that I have nothing in common with the (usually black) lifestyles alluded to and I dislike aggressive posturing lyrics etc. However I do like hip-hop beats and good, tight rapping.

Braintax is somewhat refreshing in that he is not just copying black, American rappers. He's kept his northern UK accent and taken his own experiences as a white British lad as the subject matter of his writing. I like this. It's not bogus and it shows.

However, personally, I wish he's take it a step further - root out and eliminate the remaining cliches still in the work. I preferred the tracks without the other (more cliched) artists and where he avoided rapping about how he's good at rapping.

My fave Braintax track is not on this album (Vibrate on Mr Scruff's trouser jazz) which exemplifies the guy's strengths - his own accent, his own voice, a quirky but solid groove, interesting subject matter, no cliche, intelligent lyrics. I think only FutureGhost came close on this album but it's still a good set.

Not your typical hip-hop fan, 08 Feb 2006
I am not the typical hip hop fan, but have since grown increasingly tired of American rap and so seeked something that may appeal to me more. Lots of UK hip hop is grimey and, basically, quite poor. Braintax is the finest UK rapper i have heard. Better than Jehst and Skinnyman without question. Partially because he doesn't rap and sound like most UK rappers, he flows well, talks sense and speaks properly. This album is absolutely fantastic and if you haven't been overly impressed by most UK hip hop BUY THIS because its fantastic. Then get Country Man. Thats excellent too.

Top Notch UK Hip Hop, 25 Jan 2005
I bought this album after hearing Braintax on Task Force's 'Voice of the Great Outdoors EP' a while ago. It was far better than i expected, including some of the freshest beats and rhymes to come out of the UK. This is an album so original that i can't see anyone with any sense not enjoying it. Quality guest appearances (Task Force, Jehst, Mystro, Skinnyman)only add to the albums appeal, but Braintax shines over all these stars. At the end of the day, i guess i'm just saying that you should buy this album. Fans of hip hop will love it, and non-fans will be instantly converted. Deserves the full 5 star rating...

Britains Finest, 28 Nov 2003
Braintax has been making records for over ten years now, but he has remained the dopest and most intellectual hip hop artist in Britain. Jehst has become a very popular rapper within the UK scene, due to his undoubted eloquence, but in my opinion he simply isn't touching Joey Brains, and this album confirms that for me without a bad track on the album.
Braintax is one of the most worldly wise rappers i have ever heard, as he says "you know its truthful when you hear me"
and you can't disagree. Biro Funk isn't a barrage of battle raps and ridiculous comparisons, its a brutally honest and self reflective piece of art that should be held up as an example of how hip-hop internationally should be developing.
Respect the game, buy this album and support the scene.

Most UNDERRATED hip hop album from Britain, 24 Apr 2003
The entire UK hip hop I have heard (and I haven't heard much) has not been wacky, though none of it has been exceptional either. That is, until I discovered this masterpiece. 'Biro Funk' is probably the only album I've listened to start to finish without skipping a track on first listen, I don't understand why I had never heard of it before. Whilst Braintax doesn't have the most distinctive voice in the industry, he is an incredible lyricist. He's got flows. He's got talent. My favourite tracks on the album are 'Futureghost' and 'Last Date'. Tax himself produces the superb beat of 'Futureghost' with the haunting back-and-forth strings and vocal percussion. He uses this with genius metaphors on the concept of being a ghost to spine chilling effect. On 'Last Date', using a classical composition on the beat, Tax tells a story of his collapsing relationship. Spitting lines like "How am I? You don't know because you don't even care to ask/Arrogant, assuming that I'm happy and we're gonna last", it's safe to say that he's getting his anger off his chest in two brilliantly crafted verses. In less than an hour, over 14 tracks, it's hard to pick out a bad moment on this album. Apart from the standard battle rhyming of 'Cobblestones', the lyrical side of 'Biro Funk' is so deep that you could drown in the music. If the real heads don't own this album you'd better get it now, and when you do, just hit the play button, sit back and feel the Biro Funk!

dub come save me, 28 Feb 2006
it has to be said this is one of the great dub albums ! if you like roots manuva you gwan looove this ! from the top to the last drop exellent ! be aware it does in some ways sit on the fence between UK dub and UK hiphop but it does it very well , everybody should own a copy .

Nice one Cyril, nice one Sid., 27 Dec 2002
Chilled summer music. Sit back and relax with some robust beats, bouncing vocals and nod-inducing piano. This album bounces along providing a perfect soundtrack to a sunny summers day. Helpful i the middle of winter you may say, but DCSM reminds you of summer days with an ice cold drink in your hand.
The meandering rhythms and beats plant ideas in your head and they spiral out of control. DCSM is musical weed; just chilled, relaxed and a wonderful spectrum of dub. This album really spreads dub's wings, expanding its boundaries as a genre and creating new styles for future dubmeisters to work on. Vocals aren't necessary on every track, they simply accentuate the beat when used while the other tracks develop. A truly innovative album from Roots, proving he is one of the brightest talents in the current British music scene. He ain't no one trick pony, Roots is versatile and creative and I look forward to more material from him.

Roots is back, well kind of, 20 Sep 2002
Rather than release a new album, this is a collection of dubs and tracks that did not quite make it to the Run Come Save Me album. It is a mixed bag, tracks like 'Tears' and 'UK Warriors' are excellent but most of the dubs desperately need lyrics to back them up, The 'Witness' dub in particular just ain't the same without those ten pints of bitter to enjoy it with. I would describe this as a nice addition to Run Come Save Me and it does have a nice sound throughout, but buy this expecting the new classic from Roots and you will be very disapointed. Think of this as a stop gap while we wait for the true follow up...

WOW, 16 Sep 2002
Just because you already own Run come save me...does not let you off having to buy this masterpiece.

This album not only diversifies everything that you have known from the previous album but in doing so adds a great deal of listener satisfaction in identifying this.

Ultimately if you are only gonna buy one of the albums (run come ave me or dub come save me) then opt for run come save me...but anybody considering themselves a roots manuva fan or anybody with a decent bass setting on there stereo SHOULD BUY THIS.

Heavy Heavy Boom!, 01 Aug 2002
Roots has spent a lot of time & effort ensuring that this collection of excellent tunes has the heaviest bass going. My neighbours can attest to this. The dub tunes here are dark, heavy, using loads of delay, straight from the Mad Professor school & are superbly cut. The new songs rock too & have been treated to the same level of bass-heavy mixing. Check the awesome Man Fi Cool ("I aint got no choice but to flex like a nutter"); Revolution 5 with Chali 2na which is better even than Join the Dots on Run Come Save Me; and my track of the album, UK Warriors, with the North London Dapper Dan himself, Skinnyman. I catually reckon this is a better offering than RCSM & has hardly been out of my CD player since I got it. Heavy, mate - Heavy, Heavy, BOOM!

Let's hope that with Kik Off, Blak Twang can reverse some of the bad luck that has dogged him. The self-styled Arthur Daley of hip-hop has not only had a debut album permanently shelved due to sample clearance problems, but has never found the crossover success of his contemporaries, most notably Roots Manuva, who appeared on his 1995 single "Queens Head".

It's not always been bad news, he got a MOBO in 1996, but the adversity seems to have given him some of Daley's ducking and diving attitude apparent from the, err, kick-off of Kik Off. The title track and single comes as much from the market of his home area of Deptford, South London, as it does from more classic hip-hop--"...blowing the whistle on dodgy officials, come with your Big Issues and get done like Phil Mitchell".

On the sublime "So Rotton", he shows a real sensibility for dancehall beats, with a slightly more populist appeal than even Roots Manuva himself, and goes conceptual on "Dirty Stopout", with Lisa I'Anson making an appearance as a third-person scene setter in a similar vein to Eminem's "Guilty Conscience". The whole album isn't a major leap forward, but it does add to the growing list of UK hip-hop albums that are more than able to stand up to similarly budgeted US efforts.--Chris Blenkarn

Cooking up beats and rhymes..., 05 May 2006
This album is great fun from beginning to end. A lighthearted beat infused concoction this album is always entertaining and never dull. Even the cheesy cookery analogy doesn't tire and adds a bizarre kind of depth to this funky and upbeat album.

The guest vocalists add a dash of pedigree to the catchy tunes and while it is not going to be heralded as groundbreaking it is a cracking album that will never fail to add cheer to your day.

There are no low points with this record and I would advise it as a fail safe record for those people wishing to dabble in the murky waters of the hip hop world. I can guarantee you will not disappointed!





Savage Album, 24 Jan 2005
Hip-Hop is certainly not my thing but i heard one of the songs on a promo cd and decided to check it out. It is a great collection of old school hip-hop, a bit bit of funk, and a laugh. A great album!

An amazing British DJ, 11 Nov 2004
Anyone serious about hip hop beats should buy this album and break it down to a legend of a DJ. Lyrical genius from Mr charlie 2Na and Akil with underlying amazing beats from the man from Brighton known as Format. Any track with Abdominal is gonna be good, but his relationship with Format is the best on the block.

funtastic, 11 Jul 2004
not normally being into hip-hop this record took me by suprise... its fantastic every song has sooo much feeling and energy, it touched the hip-hop nerve within me (being into punk and metal i didnt think i had one) and became one of my fav records... the abdominal tracks r by far the best but all songs hold their own... a must own for all music fans

DJ Format, back to the old school, 24 Mar 2004
This is a superb album. Very fresh, catchy, old-school samples. The best track on the album would have to be the superb 'Vicious Battle Raps' in which Abdominal gives a truly magnificent performance. Not only are the samples good, but also the lyrics. I had the pleasure of seeing DJ Format and Abdominal (featured ona number of tracks on the album) and, as good as DJ Format was, Abdominal stole the show with some excellent freestyling. If you like funky hip-hop such as Jurassic 5 (Format supported them) then you'll love this.

-------swe~_S, 10 Jan 2008
As far as I'm concerned, "Witness" is THE British hip hop anthem; a razor blade-ripped cyclone of a track, ideal for Roots Manuva to rap about beans on toast over (yes, it's that lyrical reference again). The rest varies from quite good to good. "Ital Visions" and "Evil Rabbit" predate Burial by a good five years when it comes to transferring the atmosphere of a rain-soaked London night into sound; in fact, save for the intro, the whole 60 minutes is loaded with heaviness, with mechanical clicks, robosynths and even the occasional sample (there's like 2 on the whole record...), with a sound not unlike Cannibal Ox's The Cold Vein. Like that album, of course, this also should've been condensed, but I applaud Manuva for choosing such a threatening and distinctive style of production. Run Come Save Me avoids the biggest pitfalls of British rap in that it isn't trying to sound like it's from The States nor is it making a point of how British it is, it's just its own entity. Not the statement it could've been, but, if you want to venture past the American big-hitters and the usual underground suspects in the pursuit of a deeper hip hop experience, this thing's a must.

WOW - An English Mos Def - this guy is brilliant, 14 Sep 2007
"RCSM" is the first album by Roots Manuva that i have bought, and I thought it was just superb. Totally unique and incredibly daring in a time when rapping is stereotyped as just being about "guns n' pussy". Manuva disregards this with a simple wave of his hand and produces a rare and monumental masterpiece. If you havent heard him, you're missing out, trust me. Try this out and you will not be dissapointed.

Stand out tracks are "Join The Dots" with the wonderful Chali 2na, "Ital Visions" and "Witness (1 Hope)".

Buy it!

DUB HEADS DELIGHT, 05 Jun 2006
WOW WHAT MORE CAN I SAY ABOUT THIS ALBUM.RODNEY SMITH THE MAN IS A GENIUS!IF YOU LIKE YOUR MUSIC ON A DUB TIP THEN YOU WILL LOVE THIS.I GOT THIS WHEN IT FIRST COME OUT,BUT A FRIEND OF MINE LIKED IT SO MUCH HE BOUGHT IT OFF ME. THE SONG WITNESS THE FITNESS IS MY FAVOURITE SONG ON THE ALBUM.BUT THE WHOLE ALBUM IS JUST BRILLIANT PURE SMOKIN'SPACED OUT DUB AT IT'S BEST!THE MAN FROM BRIXTON THE RODNEY SMITH KEEP UP THE WORK MY GENIUS OF A BROTHER!

this is a must buy!, 25 Apr 2005
If you want ho's, guns and gold chains then this is not for you. However if you want to listen to good HipHop and more generally good music then any one of Roots Manuva's three albums are a must buy! Funky, fresh, intelligent HipHop, and its British too!

i bought this album blindly.., 19 Sep 2004
..what happened was i went into a well-known record shop and saw this on sale and thought: well, i've got nothing to lose. and i was very pleasantly surprised. roots manuva is one classy homegrown rapper!

the magnificently haunting intro 'no strings' made me sit up and take notice and 'witness(1 hope) was brilliant (have u seen the video? hilarious!), with roots 'seein' clearer than most/sittin' contemplating this cheese on toast'. 'join the dots' is my favourite..i love the thumping marching bass that makes me nod my head like a headless chicken!! charlie 2na is wicked on that & compliments roots v. well.

my other favourites are 'stone the crows'(brilliant!); 'sinny sin sins' is absolutely amazing with the way roots doesn't pull any punches over his strict childhood. also, 'ital visions' is a great tune that, once again, will have your head nodding to the judding beat.

overall, considering that i perceived most hip-hop 2b predictable, this is one guy who goes against the grain and does his own thang. and blimey..he does it well!

Original and second best, 22 Mar 2007
This is definitely one of the most original albums produced in the history of UK urban music and for this reason I don't think it received the wider exposure it deserved. It's an comforting deep bassy sound, which is almost unique in my experience, one which completely mesmerized me 8 years ago, and still does today. I don't think he ever really improved on this personally, though others may feel the album is a bit disjointed. I have to say the second track 'dem phonies' does my head in and is probably worth 1 star at best, but the rest is fantastic, especially 'Inna', 'Strange Behaviour', 'Motion 5000' and 'Oh yeah'. It's getting on a bit now, but classics never really age and this certainly hasn't. It will always be one of my favourite albums by one of my favourite artists - check it out!

Yes, its very good, but..., 21 Jun 2006
...sometimes its just not cohesive enough to be given 5 stars. Not to say its a bad album, just doesn't flow well enough at times. The first time I listened to it, I was blown away by movements and motion 5000, I echo what other people have said, they are the two best tracks on the album and some of the finest tracks Roots Manuva has done ever. Although the problem lies with this in a way, halfway through the album you need something amazing, inspirational, almost daunting to certify a full listen, and unfortunately I don't think it has that killer edge. Tracks like sinking sand and clockwork are good tunes but decidely average for Roots Manuva, and sometimes you just can't be bothered to persevere. In a way this can benefit it in some respects, when you can be arsed its a really good listen, and at the right time can really suck you in, let you engage, then spit you back out, but it just doesn't do enough to have you playing this on a regular rotation. I think the reason for this is the production, as lyrically Rodders is on superlative form with some beautifally insightful lyrics and his adverse perception of the world, but the beats aren't always adequate foundation for such profound articulation, and can make you change track all too easily sometimes. Luckily, this all changes with experience, and he picks up on the production in the later albums, which are most excellent. So the album on a whole isn't quite 5 star material, but its definately worth buying for some tracks, as the standouts are momentous at times. There is the aforementioned Movents and Motion 5000, Strange Behaviour, Juggle Tings Proper and Fever for me which are the heavyweights, but i'm sure some people will disagree and have their own personal favourites.

All in all, most excellent debut attempt and a must buy if your a fan of Roots Manuva, and if not buy it just for Movements, beyond words.

Very Very good...., 19 Jan 2006
Great album, he can't be matched for his lyric content here or across the pond in America. Run come save me, dub come save me, awfully deep, brandnew second hand all excellent albums and I’m not really a big hip hop fan but Rodney P is a very clever lyricist who you just can't help but listen too... Cheers Rodney P.

The roots-fi discotheque, 01 Oct 2004
Roots Manuva is definitely one of the big names in hiphop not only in UK but througout. Nice lyrics, voice, different sorts of musics, plus hes wicked live..im not a mad hip-hop fan, but this album definitely visits my hi-fi often, it really worths listening to..As we move..This is my money, this is my pain, these are my drugs, this is my brain, and its never gonna be the same..

brand new 2nd hand., 27 Feb 2004
roots manuva is out and out my favourite british rapper - he's talents go far beyond he's smooth delivery and interesting content of his very british lyrics. he's production and beat writing is just as slick. these skills set him apart from the many other talented british rappers. (of which, I'm proud to say, there is an abundance; chester p, taskforce, jehst, dynamite, dizzie rascal and of course the veterans rodney p & daddy skitz.)

I love the fact that there is no mistaking he's english, I love the fact he sounds cockney and he talks about life in britain - mr manuva is the barometer of england's' social climate (and has been for a number of years). his social comment is accurate and is eloquently delivered, it makes you listen intently on what he's got to say.

the first and last songs on this album are amazing ('movements' & 'motion 5000' respectively) they're are two tracks roots manuva doesn't often top (although 'swords in the dirty' from his run come save me album does!!!). I love the calm, relaxed hook in 'movements' - roots manuva's voice seems to hypnotises you.

this album had a massive impact on the british hip hop scene - its paved the way for others to follow.

roots manuva is genius.

Keeps grooving, 16 Jan 2008
The title track was the hit and was so over-played that it might seem tiring. But the rest of the album is one of those rare animals, a mellow dance album that one can play all the way through without a single annoying track that makes you want to fast forward. Some reviewers seem to complain that there are no other 'hits' on the CD, but in a sense that's because the standard of each t