It’s very hard to separate any lyrics from this track as they are all so equally profound, but this section has always stood out for me.
“We lean all day, and some say that ain’t productive, could that depend upon the demon that ya stuck with, cos right now, I see clearer than most, I sit hear contending with this cheese on toast, I feel the pain, of a third world famine, segue, we count dem blessings and keep jamming”.
Undoubtedly the most famous of Roots Manuva’s records, with its huge squelchy bass line and lyrics that illustrate his sense of purpose as a now relatively successful rapper from a small primary school in Streatham, south London. The track was the first single from Root’s second album, ‘Run Come Save Me’ released by Big Dada in 2001.
The signature bass line was written by Roots Manuva to sound like the theme tune from the BBC’s television series Dr. Who. Further, he designed it to mimic the sound of low quality sound systems that he was experiencing in clubs in London at the time.
This track is a truly original U.K anthem that illustrates Roots Manuva’s quest as a rapper. His spiritual ‘fitness’ and drive puts him a cut above the rest, and this anthem is still getting played all the time, everywhere, fourteen years later…