Roni Size Biography

Monikers(s): Wings (with Krust & Die), Firefox, Mask.

Roni Size grew up in the Bristol where he was exposed to the burgeoning hip hop scene through local sounds systems and house parties. Expelled from school as a teenager, he tuned in to his brother's collection of Studio One reggae, eventually helping him construct a home studio. He began spending time at a local youth club scheme called the Basement Project, learning the basics of music production.

Eventually purchasing a sampler, Size found kindred spirits in Krust, Die and Suv, he set up the Full Cycle label in 1992 unleashing Music Box with collaborator, Die. The label's distinctive sound, twisting up jazz breaks with dancefloor energy and infusing it with dub, '50s be-bop and Motown. As a producer Size's pioneering and unique style emerged capturing the attention of Bryan Gee, who readily made Roni and Die's Agility the first release on his V Recordings label. Three years of blistering releases culminated in It's Jazzy, one of the biggest underground tunes of that year and a number of major record companies chasing his signature.

Roni came up with the masterplan of forming a D'n'B all star group to release on a major label. He brought in his MC (Dynamite) and a female singer (Onallee) and the Reprazent project with Suv, Die and Krust on Talkin' Loud went on to win the coveted Mercury Music Prize on August 28th, 1997. A 16-1 outsider, the New Forms album heralded a much needed breath of fresh air for the drum and bass genre and pushed forward the boundaries of live performance.

The success of New Forms led to worldwide tours by the award winning live show and the opportunity to produce tracks for movie soundtracks and remix some of the worlds biggest artists (U2, Sarah McLachlan, Janet Jackson) as well as cool ones (Masters At Work, Basement Jaxx). The second Reprazent album, In The Mode took the same line-up to new heights and included tracks with guest vocalists Zack (RATM), Method Man and Rahzel as well as the ever-present Dynamite MC (Who Told You, Dirty Beats etc) and Onallee (Lucky Pressure etc). His work for his own Full Cycle label reached new heights too with the dancefloor monster Snapshot coming out on Full Cycle first before going on to the Reprazent album with added vocals.

2001 sees Roni Size more respected and prolific than ever. Working with Die on a new Breakbeat Era album and already half way through the third Reprazent album, Roni is becoming ever more in demand as a producer (watch this space!)

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