Give us an overview of who M.anifest is?

The music is really a logical extension of me, so before I identify as an emcee, I like to keep it thorough with who I am as an individual. I’m an African cat, born and raised, with a passion of seeing me and mines progress through the years. I embrace and articulate struggle but in a more complete sense. For instance you can catch me talking about trying to get a visa and a love for women in the same verse. Balance you know. Artistically, I strife to get things original, fresh and true to the experiences I know. If that doesn’t make a sound backdrop for good music, then I might have to get into doing action flicks or something.

So you were born and raised in Ghana, what brought you to Minnesota?

It’s a globalized world, we all know about and want a piece of that American dream. I grew up in an era in Ghana where everybody wants go out and pursue opportunity and come back with a pot of gold. It’s ingrained in us so viciously. Truth is, the motherland is beautiful, but the opportunity bit is challenging – especially when you’re young and the difficulties in the environment limit your imagination. I came here for school though, cause I got a scholarship, a real good one, so I came here regardless of Prince being the only black person I’d ever heard of from MN. So I guess you could call that the African dream… or maybe the American dream - the African version

Tell us how Ghana and MN cultures influence your music? I think and breathe Ghana. You can’t replace the humbling experience of growing up without all these luxuries of washing machines and paved roads. It keeps me grounded. The Twin Cities has a nice alternative and independent vibe I dig. Truth is, it’s not a mecca for black folk, so you learn to hold your own in a environment not built for you and yours. All these make it more necessary to keep it real and funky in the music.

Who are some artists you looked up to growing up?

I knew a lot reggae and hi-life before Hip-hop caught my ears. So I’m talking about people like Koo Nimo (Ghana), Fela Kuti, Gregory Isaacs, Buju, Jimmy cliff and Lucky Dube. But then of course I love me a lot of R&B (or soul if you want to get specific). Curtis Mayfield, Marvin and as recent as Lauryn Hill and D’angelo. Hip-Hop-wise I was big into the whole BDP movement. KRS and Mad lion was mad influential for me. Naughty by Nature too. I used to have lots of cassettes with recordings of a little bit of everything from Audio Two, slick rick, Tupac , Nas Mc Lyte. I listened to a whole lot more like the brasil 66 and manu dibango’s later on. The kind of stuff in my grandfather’s record collection

You will be dropping your album Manifestations soon, is this your first album?

Yes it is. It’s been a long time coming. I was in a rap crew in high school but nothing ever manifest (no pun intended) material wise. I went on a long hiatus in my college days dabbling in a little this and that. Manifestation is the new birth, my Lazarus moment you can call it

How long have you been making music and how did you get started?

I’ve been writing as far back as I can remember. I was a closet poet until about ’97 when I got up with a crew called Rebel Camp in high school. That’s when I begun to perform my writing. It was terrifying back then, no lie. But it was a necessary beginning to my progress. If you don’t rock the crowd back home nobody could care less if you were quoting scripture or talking about murking two dudes with one bullet. Although there is an ingrained appreciation of poetry and the power and skill of using words. It’s a culture of griots

You do allot of shows around the Twin Cities, What artists have you performed with?

Yeah, its been a blessing having a lot of good-standing artists embrace me. I’ve done shows with I self Devine, Desdamona, Carnage, Sarah White. I did Golden, Prof & Rahzwell, and Big Quarters’ CD releases, the TC Hip-Hop fest at First Ave, and a whole bunch of stuff I don’t wanna bore you with. I feel like I need a membership card at the Fine Line though, I’ve been a part of quite a number of good shows there for a “new” artist.

What can fans expect from one of your shows?

I’m African and we like to dance and party, even at funerals – so there’s that celebratory energy at shows that make you feel good regardless of the depth of what I’m talking about. Also, a lot of funky and soulful energy and that old-school captivating the entire crowd type feel. I perform with two female vocalists as well to keep it melodic and musical.

Tell us about 4 shades the movement?

4shades is a creative collision of me and three young and unbelievably musical producers in the cities. Its consists of O-D, Katrah-Quey, and Gmobeatz. These guys are slept on and growing so rapidly too. Gmobeatz just turned 15 and you wouldn’t believe what you hear from him. I look at art as a collective process so its important to have a team that gets it. its about pushing each other to make honest, original and inspiring music. 4shades is that home team

Are you a completely solo emcee or do you have a crew also?

I’m a soloist but 4Shades is the home team. Its for me what organized noise was to outkast. Its like the lakers with Magic you know. Or more like Brazil in the football (soccer) world. Okay that’s a weak metaphor

What is the hip hop scene like in Ghana and how it differs from the hip hop scene in the US?

Ghanaians like good music, we could give a middle finger about whether its country or Kwaito. Rythmn , melody, & substance is the basis of our musical traditions, once it feels good we run with it. There isn’t the kind of Hip-Hop scene in Ghana that there is in France for instance. There was in the 90’s, its kind in a depression now. A change gon come though.

What is your opinion of the work Akon is doing in Senegal Africa helping out? Could you see your self helping out in Africa if you blew up to that level?

Most definitely, I don’t even need to wait to blow up on the Akon level to make contributions. It starts now. I’m building connections with artists all over the continent and the Diaspora. Strength in numbers. There’s a lot of innovative stuff in the works. I dig what Akon is doing. He’s making popular music but keeps it gully and African when he needs to. He’s in for longevity.

What are the long term goals for your music career?

I really hope to make my people proud without compromising. Making timeless and funky music to inspire some positive thinking and action you know. This gift is divine, and the music is a spiritual thing I don’t take it lightly, even though I have excess amounts of fun doing it

Is there anything else you would like to say to the HipHopClub Readers?

Er… I’m usually not this wordy. And er, cop the record, it has excess amounts of good music for the soul, feet, and your car when you’re cruising the city at night or on a road trip. Shout out to HipHopClub!

Thanks for doing the interview. Where can people find out more about you?

Thanks for the opportunity. We’re working on building www.manifestmc.com so you can check that out real soon. Currently the site redirects to my myspace so they can check out music, thoughts and the whole nine on there. I try to keep a blog current too. Much respect to all and keep shining. Blessings

The music is really a logical extension of me, so before I identify as an emcee, I like to keep it thorough with who I am as an individual. I’m an African cat, born and raised, with a passion of seeing me and mines progress through the years. I embrace and articulate struggle but in a more complete sense. For instance you can catch me talking about trying to get a visa and a love for women in the same verse. Balance you know. Artistically, I strife to get things original, fresh and true to the experiences I know. If that doesn’t make a sound backdrop for good music, then I might have to get into doing action flicks or something.

So you were born and raised in Ghana, what brought you to Minnesota?

It’s a globalized world, we all know about and want a piece of that American dream. I grew up in an era in Ghana where everybody wants go out and pursue opportunity and come back with a pot of gold. It’s ingrained in us so viciously. Truth is, the motherland is beautiful, but the opportunity bit is challenging – especially when you’re young and the difficulties in the environment limit your imagination. I came here for school though, cause I got a scholarship, a real good one, so I came here regardless of Prince being the only black person I’d ever heard of from MN. So I guess you could call that the African dream… or maybe the American dream - the African version

Tell us how Ghana and MN cultures influence your music? I think and breathe Ghana. You can’t replace the humbling experience of growing up without all these luxuries of washing machines and paved roads. It keeps me grounded. The Twin Cities has a nice alternative and independent vibe I dig. Truth is, it’s not a mecca for black folk, so you learn to hold your own in a environment not built for you and yours. All these make it more necessary to keep it real and funky in the music.

Who are some artists you looked up to growing up?

I knew a lot reggae and hi-life before Hip-hop caught my ears. So I’m talking about people like Koo Nimo (Ghana), Fela Kuti, Gregory Isaacs, Buju, Jimmy cliff and Lucky Dube. But then of course I love me a lot of R&B (or soul if you want to get specific). Curtis Mayfield, Marvin and as recent as Lauryn Hill and D’angelo. Hip-Hop-wise I was big into the whole BDP movement. KRS and Mad lion was mad influential for me. Naughty by Nature too. I used to have lots of cassettes with recordings of a little bit of everything from Audio Two, slick rick, Tupac , Nas Mc Lyte. I listened to a whole lot more like the brasil 66 and manu dibango’s later on. The kind of stuff in my grandfather’s record collection

You will be dropping your album Manifestations soon, is this your first album?

Yes it is. It’s been a long time coming. I was in a rap crew in high school but nothing ever manifest (no pun intended) material wise. I went on a long hiatus in my college days dabbling in a little this and that. Manifestation is the new birth, my Lazarus moment you can call it

How long have you been making music and how did you get started? I’ve been writing as far back as I can remember. I was a closet poet until about ’97 when I got up with a crew called Rebel Camp in high school. That’s when I begun to perform my writing. It was terrifying back then, no lie. But it was a necessary beginning to my progress. If you don’t rock the crowd back home nobody could care less if you were quoting scripture or talking about murking two dudes with one bullet. Although there is an ingrained appreciation of poetry and the power and skill of using words. It’s a culture of griots

You do allot of shows around the Twin Cities, What artists have you performed with?

Yeah, its been a blessing having a lot of good-standing artists embrace me. I’ve done shows with I self Devine, Desdamona, Carnage, Sarah White. I did Golden, Prof & Rahzwell, and Big Quarters’ CD releases, the TC Hip-Hop fest at First Ave, and a whole bunch of stuff I don’t wanna bore you with. I feel like I need a membership card at the Fine Line though, I’ve been a part of quite a number of good shows there for a “new” artist.

What can fans expect from one of your shows?

I’m African and we like to dance and party, even at funerals – so there’s that celebratory energy at shows that make you feel good regardless of the depth of what I’m talking about. Also, a lot of funky and soulful energy and that old-school captivating the entire crowd type feel. I perform with two female vocalists as well to keep it melodic and musical.

Are you a completely solo emcee or do you have a crew also?

I’m a soloist but 4Shades is the home team. Its for me what organized noise was to outkast. Its like the lakers with Magic you know. Or more like Brazil in the football (soccer) world. Okay that’s a weak metaphor

Tell us about 4 shades the movement?

4shades is a creative collision of me and three young and unbelievably musical producers in the cities. Its consists of O-D, Katrah-Quey, and Gmobeatz. These guys are slept on and growing so rapidly too. Gmobeatz just turned 15 and you wouldn’t believe what you hear from him. I look at art as a collective process so its important to have a team that gets it. its about pushing each other to make honest, original and inspiring music. 4shades is that home team

What is the hip hop scene like in Ghana and how it differs from the hip hop scene in the US?

Ghanaians like good music, we could give a middle finger about whether its country or Kwaito. Rythmn , melody, & substance is the basis of our musical traditions, once it feels good we run with it. There isn’t the kind of Hip-Hop scene in Ghana that there is in France for instance. There was in the 90’s, its kind in a depression now. A change gon come though.

What is your opinion of the work Akon is doing in Senegal Africa helping out? Could you see your self helping out in Africa if you blew up to that level?

Most definitely, I don’t even need to wait to blow up on the Akon level to make contributions. It starts now. I’m building connections with artists all over the continent and the Diaspora. Strength in numbers. There’s a lot of innovative stuff in the works. I dig what Akon is doing. He’s making popular music but keeps it gully and African when he needs to. He’s in for longevity.

What are the long term goals for your music career?

I really hope to make my people proud without compromising. Making timeless and funky music to inspire some positive thinking and action you know. This gift is divine, and the music is a spiritual thing I don’t take it lightly, even though I have excess amounts of fun doing it

Is there anything else you would like to say to the HipHopClub Readers?

Er… I’m usually not this wordy. And er, cop the record, it has excess amounts of good music for the soul, feet, and your car when you’re cruising the city at night or on a road trip. Shout out to HipHopClub!

Thanks for doing the interview. Where can people find out more about you?

Thanks for the opportunity. We’re working on building www.manifestmc.com so you can check that out real soon. Currently the site redirects to my myspace so they can check out music, thoughts and the whole nine on there. I try to keep a blog current too. Much respect to all and keep shining. Blessings

--By Wizdom