Rodney P
Encyclopedia
Rodney P is an English
MC who entered the UK hip hop scene in the 1980s. He started out as a member of the London Posse
, one of the UK's first home grown hip hop acts who were highly influential in the development of the genre. Rodney P has had one of the longest and most respected careers in UK hip hop. Also known as da riddim killa, he cites the reggae
he heard while growing up as a second-generation West Indian immigrant as an influence on his dub-heavy music.
to support his new band Big Audio Dynamite
on a UK tour. A recording contract with Big Life records followed, and Rodney P went on to support hip-hop heavyweights N.W.A.
and Soul II Soul in the early nineties.
The decision to guard his creative control led to the birth of his own label Riddim killa, a collaboration with Low Life Records
, one of the leading labels of the rapidly growing scene. He was introduced to DJ Skitz
by a mutual friend from the Deal Real workshop in the West End, and appears on Skitz’s albums Countryman and Homegrown volume 1. The pair went on to host a show on the BBC 1Xtra radio station, a leading black music network, which ran for five years until 2007. This development in his career led to involvement in radio documentaries, including a programme recorded in Johannesburg about the aftermath of Apartheid.
His other recordings include tracks with high profile DJs and producers such as The Nextmen
, One Mike, Mystro and Plus One, and alongside fellow MCs Roots Manuva
, Skinnyman
and Dynamite MC. His open-minded attitude to music is demonstrated in his collaborations with dance acts Roni Size
and Freq Nasty, and even more surprisingly with Björk
and Nitin Sawhney
, as well as Greek hip hop crew Active Member
. He continues to dominate the live scene as one of the most sought after artists, taking the mic both on the UK circuit and with his contemporaries from across the Atlantic. Recent appearances include the MF Prince's Trust Concert with Jay-Z
and Alicia Keys
and the United Nations Habitat Charity Concert alongside Jazzy Jeff
, Dead Prez
and Mos Def
, as well as regular appearances at London’s legendary Fabric
live nights.
He was also featured on Mark B and Blade's We Stay Rough,which was on their only album The Unknown.
Rodney P is also currently the host on the television series "Dubplate Drama" shown on Channel 4, E4 and MySpace.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
MC who entered the UK hip hop scene in the 1980s. He started out as a member of the London Posse
London Posse
London Posse was one of the earliest groups in the British hip hop scene. It was formed by Sipho the Human Beatbox, along with Rodney P, Bionic and DJ Biznezz. They formed for a tour of the US to support Mick Jones' new group, Big Audio Dynamite...
, one of the UK's first home grown hip hop acts who were highly influential in the development of the genre. Rodney P has had one of the longest and most respected careers in UK hip hop. Also known as da riddim killa, he cites the reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
he heard while growing up as a second-generation West Indian immigrant as an influence on his dub-heavy music.
Background
In 1986 The London Posse were invited by Mick Jones of The ClashThe Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
to support his new band Big Audio Dynamite
Big Audio Dynamite
Big Audio Dynamite are a British musical group formed in 1984 by the ex-guitarist and singer of the Clash, Mick Jones. The group are noted for their effective mixture of varied musical styles, incorporating elements of punk rock, dance music, hip hop, reggae, and funk...
on a UK tour. A recording contract with Big Life records followed, and Rodney P went on to support hip-hop heavyweights N.W.A.
N.W.A.
N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre....
and Soul II Soul in the early nineties.
The decision to guard his creative control led to the birth of his own label Riddim killa, a collaboration with Low Life Records
Low Life Records
Low Life Records was an independent record label promoting UK hip hop music. It was founded in Leeds by Joseph Christie, Aaron Harrow, Tomas Stewart and Paul Edmeade before being relocated to west London by Christie. The label came to an abrupt end when Braintax announced his sudden retirement from...
, one of the leading labels of the rapidly growing scene. He was introduced to DJ Skitz
DJ Skitz
DJ Skitz or Skitz is a British DJ and music producer. He was born in 1970 in Cambridgeshire and started DJing in 1991. He has compiled a number of British Hip Hop compilations and other Hip Hop compilations. Along with Rodney P he produced the first track to ever be played on BBC Radio 1Xtra in...
by a mutual friend from the Deal Real workshop in the West End, and appears on Skitz’s albums Countryman and Homegrown volume 1. The pair went on to host a show on the BBC 1Xtra radio station, a leading black music network, which ran for five years until 2007. This development in his career led to involvement in radio documentaries, including a programme recorded in Johannesburg about the aftermath of Apartheid.
His other recordings include tracks with high profile DJs and producers such as The Nextmen
The Nextmen
The Nextmen are a UK production/songwriting group consisting of Dom Search and Brad Baloo . Often incorporating hip hop drum sets and electronic basslines into their sound, they have worked with many artists from the UK, US and Jamaica...
, One Mike, Mystro and Plus One, and alongside fellow MCs Roots Manuva
Roots Manuva
Rodney Hylton Smith , better known by his stage name Roots Manuva, is a British rapper from Stockwell, South London. He is currently signed to Big Dada.-Biography:...
, Skinnyman
Skinnyman
Skinnyman is an English rapper who was born in Leeds, Yorkshire and moved to Finsbury Park, London at a young age. He grew up on the Six Acres Estate next to Andover Estate...
and Dynamite MC. His open-minded attitude to music is demonstrated in his collaborations with dance acts Roni Size
Roni Size
Roni Size is a British record producer and DJ, who came to prominence in 1997 as the founder and leader of Reprazent, a drum and bass collective...
and Freq Nasty, and even more surprisingly with Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
and Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...
, as well as Greek hip hop crew Active Member
Active Member
Active Member is a Greek hip-hop/low bap group, founded in 1992 by Michalis Mitakidis ,Nikitas Klint and Dimitris Kritikos .-History:...
. He continues to dominate the live scene as one of the most sought after artists, taking the mic both on the UK circuit and with his contemporaries from across the Atlantic. Recent appearances include the MF Prince's Trust Concert with Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
and Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
and the United Nations Habitat Charity Concert alongside Jazzy Jeff
Jazzy Jeff
Jazzy Jeff may refer to:* DJ Jazzy Jeff , American hip-hop and R&B record producer, turntablist; former instrumentalist in DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince...
, Dead Prez
Dead Prez
Dead Prez stylized as dead prez is a hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, formed in 1996 in New York City, New York. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with socialist lyrics focused on both militant social justice and Pan-Africanism...
and Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, as well as regular appearances at London’s legendary Fabric
Fabric (club)
Fabric is a nightclub in London, United Kingdom. It was voted number 1 in DJ Magazine's "Top 100 Clubs in the World" poll in 2007 and number 2 in 2008, 2009 and 2010...
live nights.
He was also featured on Mark B and Blade's We Stay Rough,which was on their only album The Unknown.
Rodney P is also currently the host on the television series "Dubplate Drama" shown on Channel 4, E4 and MySpace.
Singles/EP's
- Tings In Time (12") 1997
- Revolutionary / Dedication (12") 1999
- Big Tings We Inna (12") 2001
- Murderer Style / Friction 2001
- The Killing (12", Single) 2001
- Riddim Killa / A Love Song (12") 2002
- The Future(2002 Issue) (2xLP, TP) 2002
- All My Love (Goes Your Way) (12") 2004
- Come Let Me Know (12", Promo) 2003
- All My Love (Goes Your Way) (Drum 'n' Bass Remixes) (CDr, Promo, Single) 2004
- I Don't Care (12") 2004
- I Don't Care (Time To Party) (CD, Maxi) 2004
- The Future (2xLP) 2004
- Trouble (12", Single) 2004
- Trouble (MJ Cole Remix) (12", S/Sided) 2004
- Trouble (Roni Size Remix) (12") 2004
- Trouble (Roni Size Remix) (12", Promo) 2004
- The Nice Up (12") 2005
- Naked & Mixed Up (12") ( Benjamin ZephaniahBenjamin ZephaniahBenjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah is an English writer and dub poet. He is a well-known figure in contemporary English literature, and was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008....
vs. Rodney P) 2006 - Naked & Mixed Up (CD, Maxi) 2006
- The Future (2002 Issue) (CD) 2006
- Devon Cream (12", mp3) 2007
- Peaches (7") 2007
- Peaches (12") 2007
- Peaches (CDr, Maxi, Promo) 2007
- We Rewind / The Test (12") 2009
- I'll Try (12")
External links
- Rodney P on BlogspotBlogger (service)Blogger is a blog-publishing service that allows private or multi-user blogs with time-stamped entries. It was created by Pyra Labs, which was bought by Google in 2003. Generally, the blogs are hosted by Google at a subdomain of blogspot.com. Up until May 1, 2010 Blogger allowed users to publish...
- Discogs' Rodney P page
- UKHH
- DubPlate Drama