Reprazent is a variable crew of vocalists, instrumentalists, and producers that has recorded and performed with drum'n'bass whiz
Roni Size since 1997. That's the year when Bristolian junglist
Size, signed to
Gilles Peterson's Mercury-supported Talkin Loud label and already a significant figure for tracks such as "Timestretch" and "It's a Jazz Thing," debuted his group with "Share the Fall." Fronted by
Onallee and co-produced by
DJ Die and DJ Krust with
Clive Deamer on drums, that single peaked at number 37 on the U.K. chart just prior to the release of the full-length
New Forms. "Heroes," "Brown Paper Bag," and "Watching Windows," the latter two of which were distinguished with Si John's acoustic basslines, all peaked higher than the first single, and kept the album, a Top Ten hit, on the U.K. chart for nearly a full year. During that run, the multi-platinum set, which also showcased members
Dynamite MC and
DJ Suv and several guests, won the 1997 Mercury Prize. In the Mode arrived in 2000, with
Method Man,
Zack de la Rocha, and
Rahzel all making guest appearances on a comparatively harder follow-up. After an extended break during which
Size released solo material, the producer reactivated
Reprazent with
New Forms2, a 2008 release that combined re-edits of
New Forms tracks and a handful of new cuts. Musicians such as
Yuval Gabay (
Soul Coughing),
Pete Josef, and Jay Wilcox were added to the lineup for touring and festival performances. A concert for which they were supported by William Goodchild and
the Emerald Ensemble was documented in 2015 with Live at Colston Hall. ~ Andy Kellman