Robert Del Naja

Robert Del Naja (born January 21, 1966 in Brighton, England), also known as 3D, is an English artist and musician. Originally famous as a graffiti artist and a member of the Bristol art community known as "The Wild Bunch", Del Naja went on to become a founding member of the band Massive Attack.

Music

Del Naja co-composed the Unfinished Sympathy, along with the rest of Massive Attack. This was on their debut album Blue Lines, which has also topped compilations of the best album of all time. The second album - Protection - featured collaboration with Everything But The Girl's vocalist Tracey Thorn.

Massive Attack's next album, was titled Mezzanine and featured a move to a more guitar based sound. Naja has said "it was more my direction on this record." However he has also admitted that he got his own way by "being stubborn, throwing tantrums — the usual fucking childish behavior." ^*. It also features more of Robert's own voice particularly on songs such as Inertia Creeps and Risingson. Inertia Creeps was influenced by Del Naja's experiences in Istanbul, and the whole of the album has strong beats from various cultures.

100th Window - Massive Attack's fourth album - was effectively a solo project for Del Naja. It attracted some mixed reviews, which included some wholehearted praise. Stylus magazine for example said: "100th Window is a masterpiece of its kind" and it "sounds fresh and wondrous."

Art work

Del Naja was a young graffiti artist before becoming a rapper. Indeed his first ever live gig was as a DJ accompanying artwork he had produced in a gallery in Bristol. He has produced work in various different media, and has published a book of his art. His work has featured in magazines and on record sleeves.

He took part in the largest ever British graffiti art battle alongside Wolverhampton artist Goldie.

Musical Scene and Artistic Peers

Robert Del Naja's music, be it in the Wild Bunch or in Massive Attack has always been associated with the Bristol Sound, and perhaps even typifies it. He has also worked with other artists such as Tricky and Roni Size who were also part of this movement.

Robert has said of the Bristol Scene ^* "We all grew up listening to punk music and funk stuff and those attitudes sort of snuck into our music. That sort of brought people from different circles together and maybe it wasn't as 'cultural melting pot' as it all sounds but because Bristol is quite a small place, it becomes a lot more focused then."

Del Naja is a key member of the wider Bristol Urban Culture scene.

Political stance

Del Naja is - perhaps notoriously - open in his views, and has no qualms about criticising government policy. He was strongly opposed to the 2003 war against Iraq, and with fellow musician Damon Albarn personally paid for full page adverts in the NME magazine.

In 2005 Del Naja organised and performed at a charity concert in Bristol for Tsunami Relief with Adrian Utley and Geoff Barrow of Portishead. The two night event featured Massive Attack, Portishead, Robert Plant, The Coral and Damon Albarn and raised over £100,000.

Difficulties with Bandmates

There were numerous clashes between the three members of Massive Attack. As InnerView has stated: "Their combative arguments, tantrums and personality clashes that came to a head during the making of Mezzanine are no secret. The ongoing battle was splashed across the covers of every British music magazine, each making hysterical claims about having "the most revealing story" about the oh-so-sordid situation...Because of their ever-emerging personal differences, the trio refuses to engage the press together"

In 2003 there was controversy surrounding allegations of indecent material when the police arrested Del Naja on suspicion of downloading child pornography. The investigation was later terminated and no charges were brought. ^*

External links

1966 births | Living people | English musicians | English songwriters | English male singers

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