Smiley Culture
South London–born Smiley Culture delivered music to the world that served to bridge the linguistic divide between British speech and Jamaican patois. His rhymes spoke of the social tension of the day and won him a record deal from the London label Fashion Records. Soon after, he released the hit he is best known for, "Police Officer," a song that tells the story of his arrest and release, allegedly because of his celebrity status. While his other attempts to craft hit songs never proved fruitful, his style went on to influence many others in British rap. In more recent years he was charged with drug conspiracy. When police went to his home with a search warrant, officials say he fatally stabbed himself in the heart at age 48. Despite a police report that found no evidence of misconduct, the public has been dubious about Smiley's untimely end and speculation remains over who really killed the onetime star.