WE’LL give the best show we can – that’s the message from internationally acclaimed rapper Roots Manuva.

The rapper was last night gearing up to play at this Saturday’s Fiesta in the Park.

Roots, real name Rodney Smith, said he could not wait to get on the South Park stage for the Cowley Road Carnival fundraising concert.

The Stockwell-born artist will appear fresh from playing at festivals in Vienna and London, but said Oxford would be just as exciting.

He added: “I’ve been to Oxford loads of times, done loads of gigs. And it’s always been great. We always choose places where we have some rapport with the people there.

“There’s nothing like playing for a crowd who know and connect with what you’re playing. It’s a connection, there’s nothing like it.”

The 38-year-old won a Music of Black Origin award in 1999 for his debut album Brand New Second Hand.

His single Witness (One Hope) was voted the Greatest UK Hip Hop track of all time by the readers of Hip Hop Connection magazine.

This will be his sixth performance on his latest tour, but one of only two in the UK and his only headline appearance this summer.

He said: “We’re in a gig roll now, it’s a beautiful thing.

“We’ve got a lot of good morale. This will be an hour and a half UK representation of bass music culture, with hip hop and reggae crazily turning into guitar and indie rap.”

Roots will also feature music from his forthcoming album 4everevolution, which is released in September.

In the past, he has played to crowds of more than 30,000 people.

He said: “I’ve no idea how many people will be there. We’ll have a big crew with us, being so close to London.

“Whatever the vibe is, we’ll give them what they want.”

The fundraising Fiesta in the Park, also starring rapper Kanda Bongo Man, takes place the evening before the annual Cowley Road Carnival.

Roots said: “You never know what’s going to happen.

“But it will be bits of new stuff, lots of old stuff and traditional hip hop.

“We’ll go wherever the crowd wants us to go, what-ever they want, we’ll do. It’s all about giving the best show we can.”

Festival producer Autumn Neagle said: “It is great that Roots Manuva will give us a taste of his new album at Fiesta in the Park.

“We are incredibly proud and excited to invite him to South Park. I was keen to ask Roots as he is a real champion of British hip hop and urban music, which really fits with the spirit of carnival.

“He is one of the most respected British lyricists from the past 20 years, a genuinely original artist and a positive force for aspiring young musicians.”

Tickets for Fiesta in The Park, which runs from 4.30pm to 11pm, cost from £10 and are on sale at gigantic.com, wegottickets.com and in person at Pegasus, Truck Store, SS20 and O2 Academy Oxford.

For more information, see cowleyroadcarnival.co.uk