Smiley Culture obituary

Pioneering voice of British rapThe reggae star and rapper Smiley Culture – real name David Emmanuel – who has died aged 48 during a Metropolitan police raid on his home in Warlingham, Surrey, was one of the pioneers of British rap. Although he had only two hits, Police Offer and Cockney Translation, in 1984 and 1985, their impact was huge.One of the first British MCs – performers providing their own raps – to take rhymes about the British black experience into the charts,...

Read full article Share article