Reggae star Smiley Culture dies in police raid
 

British reggae star Smiley Culture has died during a police raid in Surrey.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has said it will investigate the death of the musician, whose real name is David Emmanuel.

The IPCC said he died of a suspected stab wound when Met Police officers carried out an arrest warrant at a house in Warlingham at 0700 GMT.

Mr Emmanuel, 48, had been due to face trial next week accused of conspiracy to supply cocaine.

His biggest hit was 1984's Police Officer.

The record reached number 12 in the UK charts. His other singles included Cockney Translation and Schooltime Chronicle.

Rise of reggae

A Met spokesman said officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Command were carrying out the raid in Hillbury Road.

He said: "While they were at the address, an incident occurred during which a 48-year-old man died.

"Officers from Surrey Police attended the incident and it has been formally referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."

IPCC Commissioner for the South East Mike Franklin said: "We will be looking into the planning of the arrest, the way in which it was carried out and the actions of all the officers who were present at the time of the incident."

Smiley Culture made a cameo appearance in the David Bowie film Absolute Beginners in 1986, but failed to achieve mainstream exposure.

He recently featured in the BBC4 documentary Reggae Britannia which explored the rise of UK reggae.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12751227

Never has the term Rocksteady been more applicable.

What the fuck is a Smiley Culture?

Never mind; the manner in which you ask the question confirms that you are not only too ignorant for words but have no real need to know but What The Hell? It's Help Out The Ignorant Week!:

Warlingham? I grew up very near there... it's on the very southern edge of Greater London, and surrounded by countryside. Odd place, perhaps, for a reggae star to live.

No news, he was just a nobody drug dealer.

HI, I AM SALLY RAND!!! and I FIX THINGS! like a computer monitor with my son. I am a 60+ year old fuck who gets off pretending to be a girl.

http://media.lawrence.com/img/photos...cf7613005fe067

And you have never smoked a joint and if you did, you didn't inhale, right?

Who gives a shit?