Rodney P Biography
Rodney P (Rodney Panton) is an English MC, TV personality and radio who gained attention via the UK hip hop scene in the 1980s. He is also known as The Riddim Killa.
Since he was in the seminal UK Hip Hop group London Posse, he is widely regarded as the Godfather of British Hip Hop with the London Posse inspiring a whole generation of British emcees and producers by being the first to rap in his authentic London accent and produce a homegrown Hip Hop reggae vibe that is distinctly rooted in the UK. He has had one of the longest and most respected careers in UK hip hop. He cites the reggae he heard while growing up as a second-generation West Indian immigrant as an influence on his dub-heavy music.
In 2002, after setting up Riddim Killa Records, him, together with friend and collaborator DJ Skitz, was summoned by the BBC to host a groundbreaking Urban music show, “The Original Fever” on the then newly formed digital station BBC Radio 1Xtra. The show ran for over 6 years, they interviewed some of the biggest names in music like Pharrell Williams, 50 Cent, P Diddy and Kanye West. He has since gone on to present topical documentaries such as “Concrete Heat,” the Sony Award-nominated “F.E.D.S” and the Lamacq Live documentary.
He is mostly asked to contribute to televised discussions, to share his knowledge and opinion on many topics. He has also appeared in numerous TV documentaries such as “Life of Rhyme” hosted by Akala both produced by Acme Films and “How Hip Hop Changed the World” hosted by Idris Elba. He received a great deal of exposure on Channel 4´s Dub Plate Drama featuring with UK artists Ms Dynamite, Shyste, N Dubs and Big Nasty in the world´s first viewer-led interactive television drama. This inner city Soup Opera sees him summarizing the events of each series and enticing public opinion and decision.
He provided the voice of the animated rapper in a television advert for the Toyota Yaris in 2011. In 2016, he presented “The Hip Hop World News” which took 90 minutes authored film by Acme Films for BBC Four. He followed up The Hip Hop World News with the Award-nominated “The Last Pirates for BBC Four in 2017. In 2018, the Production has been completed on Rodney P’s latest documentary with Acme Films, for BBC 4 entitled “Bass, Beats & Bars” looking at the increase of the Grime music scene and the position it holds socially and politically.
Rodney P Age
He was born as Rodney Panton on 12 December 1969 in Battersea, London, United Kingdom. He is 49 years old as of 2018.
Rodney P Wife
He has kept his life so private, it’s not known whether he is dating or not.
Rodney P Albums
- The Future – 2004
- Rodney P The Future – 2004
- Get Over It – 2002
- Gangster Chronicle – 1990
- Cut To The Chase – 2003
- THE LAST MESSAGE – 2012
- Jehst Presents Underworld Epics – 2006
- Selected Mixes (That’s What Friends Are For) – 2002
Rodney P Songs
- The Nice Up – 2004
- Riddim Killa – 2004
- Live Up – 2016
- Murderer Style – 2004
- Holes in the Building – 2016
- I Don’t Care – 2004
- Big Tings We Inna – 2005
- Da Hot StyleT – 2004
- A Love Song T- 2004
- Doggist – 2004
- Temper Temper – 2004
- Fading – 2004
- We Don’t Like Coppers – 2004
- Big Tings Again – 2004
- No Pets Allowed – 2004
- Big Tings – 2002
- The Future – 2004
- Trouble – 2004
Dedication – 2001
Friction – 2004
Things in Time – 1997
Success – 2013
I Believe – 2004
Intro – 2004
Big Black Boots – 2004
Vibes – 2004
Untitled – 2016
No Man S Land – 2015
No Man S Land – 2015
Put Your Self in My Place – 2015
You Know Who You Are – 2002
Horror – 2004
Run That – 2002
Rodney P House
He built a 20,000-square-foot enormous mansion in Northern Virginia along the Potomac, it cost $24 million. He then lost it to foreclosure.
Rodney P Net Worth
He bought a house worth $24 million, his net worth was first estimated to be around $265 million. His net worth of this year is still under review.
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Rodney P Interview
Rodney P aka ‘Da Riddim Killa’ and probably more notably, the Godfather of British Hip Hop, was one part of UK rap group, London Posse. They were the first rap group from London to use their natural, native accents in their recorded music, ever. That was 1986. In 2015, ‘Da Riddim Killa’, who has West Indian heritage, is sort after for his energetic live sets and a distinct style which merges the Reggae sound into Hip Hop.
In 2013 he hosted a 10 part series for SBTV called ‘Skooled By’, which featured artists like Black Twang and aimed to teach young audiences about the art of rap and emceeing. It focussed on UK Hip Hop history and the importance of knowledge in the art of Hip Hop. P says in his interview with Grindin, “Right now one of my favorite groups is “RU1” who recently released an CD collaboration with Logic of The Peoples Army.
They are very political and social minded and have a wicked stage show. Energy like that keeps from our young people keep me positive about the future”. This summer the UK Hip Hop legend will be in Australasia for the festival season, beginning in Perth on the 19th of February, extending to Splore in New Zealand and finishing in Canberra on March 1st.
In the lead up to festival season what do you most look forward to?
I love the whole festival vibe. Cool music in cool locations with cool people. Hopefully the sun is out the beer is cold and the party is a wild one!!!
What are you most pumped by when thinking about the current UK rap scene?
I think the UK scene has a lot of new energy being put into it at the moment. A lot of new artist and producers who are building on the foundation people like me helped create. They’re not just chasing commercial success so that allows them to be creative and that’s exciting to me.
What do you do when you’re not doing music?
I hustle everyday to feed my babies. Thankfully music has opened many avenues for me and I try not to miss an opportunity.
What do you do to chill out?
I’m pretty boring these days and send most of my free time at home with the fam. I may smoke a little weed, drink a little liquor but generally I keep it pretty tame on a day off.
How did you get involved in Skooled By?
Jamal Edwards and me had spoken about ways to enlighten the younger audience on some of the foundation artist. I give credit to Jamal and understand why he and SBTV have been so successful. He really wants to educate as well as entertain his audience and I respect that.
I know in the past you’ve recorded programs in Johannesburg about the aftermath of apartheid.. I was wondering if you had personal feelings on the current race issues going on in the news? (Post the Michael Brown shooting and then Eric Garner being strangled and I guess, as well, in rap music and hip hop currently…Maybe content in songs might start to reflect that there’s still real issues that society needs to address, rather than predominantly featuring cars, money etc).
I would like to think so but I’m not convinced it will. There have always been artist who stand up and represent something more then money, women, cars etc but those voices have been getting swallowed up by the nonsense, dumbed down ignorant rap music the gate keepers promote as Hip Hop these days. If radio programmers don’t care, DJ’s are gutless, artist are easily led and the audience don’t demand better I fear we’ll be stuck with more of the same.
Do you have any concerns about the next generation of UK rappers selling out and forgetting to represent real issues in their music? Or do you feel UK artists are focussed on their community?
No not really. I do see a lot of people chasing chart positions but that’s OK I’m a fan of good pop music and there are some amazingly creative pop artists in all forms of music. What I don’t like are liars who claim to represent something but then bend over for a cheque.
In the UK there are many commercial glory chasing ‘urban acts’ but there are also many artists trying to push different agendas. Right now one of my favorite groups is “RU1” who recently released an CD collaboration with Logic of The Peoples Army. They are very political and social minded and have a wicked stage show. Energy like that keeps from our young people keep me positive about the future.
What are you listening to at the moment?
At this very moment I’m listening to D’Angelo’s “Black Messiah” album. Loving the grooves but struggling to work out what the fuck he’s saying.