- Words Notion Staff
Award-winning Ghanaian rap star, M.anifest, finally unveils his highly-anticipated fifth studio album Madina To The Universe, an ode to the community he grew up in but also a symbol of his ambition.
Having teased singles from his latest album throughout summer, Ghanaian rapper and musician M.anifest is finally blessing us with the full release of Madina to the Universe, with features from Vic Mensa and Tiggs Da Author, to name a few.
One of the most revered and sought-after figures in the African music scene today, M.anifest delivers a visionary 15-track project that is an expert lesson in genre-bending and afro-fusion. Fusing the Ghanaian Jama soundscapes that M.anifest grew up on with elements of afrobeats and hip-hop, the project is M.anifest’s most expansive and enthralling body of work to date.
Speaking on the album, M.anifest says, “I came into my own artistically on my last full-length tape. I was genuinely eager to answer the question ‘what next?’ Truthfully, it’s been noisy in my head sometimes, and my creative output has on occasion lacked the coherence and laser-like focus my vision requires. Amidst the uncertainty that was 2020, I went back to my essence. I began daily sessions on my dining table with a basic recording set-up and a consistent clarity enabled by seclusion. My reflections drowned out the noise and sounds of the panic that gripped the world.
I fell in love with my process, and the music I wrote during this period became the foundations for ‘MTTU’. Madina is my ‘village’ within my city. A formative place for me as a child. Beyond memories, it is where my Mom and Grandma still live, alongside colorful people and places that have shaped the window through which I see the world. This album is a reflection of life’s journey as well as a statement of ambition. The journey to its release has been fraught with last minute challenges. Fortunately, it was better for it. I hope this body of work allows you to see yourself and your universe in ways you haven’t previously, as it has done for me”.
Making a name for himself as one of the top rappers on the African continent, this album is not one to be missed. With countless awards and collaborations under his belt and over three million fans on social media, Madina to the Universe is another feather in M.anifest’s cap.