UK base Reggae/dancehall veteran Smiley Culture died yesterday of a self-inflicted wound during a police drug raid at his home in Warlingham, Surrey.
According to police reports, Smiley Culture, whose real name is David Emmanuel, stabbed himself in the heart to death before officers could take him into custody.
A spokeswoman from Scotland Yard said, “As part of an ongoing operation, officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s serious and organised crime command today attended a residential address in east Surrey to carry out an arrest warrant.
“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.”
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to probe his death but sources stressed there were no suspicious circumstances. Smiley – who also had a big hit with C**kney Translation about the struggle of Jamaicans to understand London accents – was already on bail over a £250,000 cocaine seizure before yesterday’s 7am raid on his home in Warlingham, Surrey.
Coincidentally, Smiley Culture has a 1984 hit with a song called “Police Officer.” Smiley is also credited with paving the way for British rappers including Dizzee Rascal and The Streets star Mike Skinner.
