M.anifest and the pearly keys and tortured pearly gates (in question or repose) of "MY GOD"

 

"Been thru the pain and affliction / Separate joy from the fiction / Contrast bright contradictions / Who go dey listen, amen..."

The pearly keys and tortured pearly gates (in question or repose) of "MY GOD" by award-winning Ghanaian musician and Africa’s most innovative hip-hop artist M.ANIFEST and from the highly anticipated sixth studio album NEW ROAD & GUAVA TREES on March 13, 2025, is a purely beautiful treatise on faith and the existential questions around our choices in relation to that faith whether is is fractured or whole. The song, a circular back and forth between the amazing Lee Lewis singing the penetrating refrain "You’re no longer my god / I will grow strong on my own / You’re no longer my god / I will not be controlled" counterpoised against M.anifest's sharply pointed words, full of questions and meditations, pains and reflective swagger while a moving Church-like choir of voices course below his words like a river. 

The whole thing, in it's moving, artful totality is something to behold, gorgeous on every level and as layered as a skyscraper. From the basement to the penthouse the emotional strata is hard and soft, lovely and cinematic. 

LINER NOTES (excerpted in purple):

Award-winning Ghanaian musician and Africa’s most innovative hip-hop artist M.ANIFEST is set to release his much-anticipated sixth studio album NEW ROAD & GUAVA TREES on March 13, 2025, via revered hip-hop label Mass Appeal. Known for his groundbreaking approach to music and cultural storytelling, M.anifest has once again crafted a body of work that pushes creative boundaries while remaining deeply rooted in his heritage. Featuring collaborations with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, The Cavemen., King Promise, A-Reece, and Bien from Sauti Sol, the album is a bold exploration of hip-hop, afrobeats, and highlife, paired with profound storytelling and lush sonic landscapes.


The album’s title is both metaphorical and personal, referencing M.anifest’s childhood in Madina, Ghana. “‘New Road & Guava Trees’ is about embarking on a fresh path,” he shares. “I grew up in a part of Madina called New Road, where we had a guava tree that symbolized growth and beginnings. This record is about the climb—facing challenges to reach the fruits of our labor.” Created between Accra, Seattle, and Los Angeles, the album represents a culmination of nearly two years of creative awakening and collaboration. Key sessions with longtime producer Budo (Doja Cat, Lil Yachty), alongside the likes of Grammy Award-nominated producer GuiltyBeatz (Beyonce, Jorja Smith), and MikeMillzOn’Em (Amaarae, DarkoVibes) resulted in a record that is both experimental and deeply emotive.


Each track on New Road & Guava Trees offers a distinct perspective, blending introspection, cultural commentary, and infectious grooves. The album seamlessly transitions between reflective storytelling and vibrant, danceable anthems, creating a rich and multi-dimensional listening experience. With New Road & Guava Trees, M.anifest charts a bold and fresh course, intertwining personal history with resonant themes of resilience, love, identity, hope, and self-discovery. This introspective yet outwardly expansive album cements his position as one of Africa’s most innovative artists, delivering music that bridges cultural divides and inspires listeners to embrace their own journeys. As M.anifest says, "You have to make the climb to get to the fruits of your labor, and this album is a reflection of that climb.”

The 14-track offering is a rich, genre-spanning journey that fuses introspection, cultural commentary, and experimental soundscapes in a way that only M.anifest knows how. The album opens with ‘Time Catch’, a triumphant call to action, symbolizing the urgency of seizing the moment, with tracks like ‘Eye Red’ offering a raw portrayal of youth desperation amid systemic failures, while ‘Wine And Blues’ paints a vivid picture of navigating life’s challenges with strength and grace. The album’s lead single ‘Puff Puff’, featuring The Cavemen. and Red Hot Chili Peppers legend Flea, blends hip-hop, jazz, and highlife to deliver a soulful anthem on the resilience we need to navigate through life’s many challenges.

The album’s narrative deepens with ‘Spirit Riddim’, a breezy ode to carefree summer moments, while love takes centre stage on ‘My God’, a poignant exploration of tortured devotion, and ‘Ease My Mind’, a tender celebration of imperfect love. ‘Hang My Boots’ featuring King Promise serves as a heartfelt anthem of love and commitment that celebrates leaving the chaos behind. ‘Highlands’ offers hope for those born into adversity, affirming the soul's eternal resilience, and the reflective closing track ‘Second Hand’ meditates on life’s cyclical nature. Through this captivating collection, and resonant body of work, M.anifest reaffirms his status as Africa’s most innovative hip-hop artist.

+ + + + + 

For me the production is perfectly rendered. I love the old school stripped down sound musically with a tripod of gospel meets neo soul meets vintage ambient that pulls you right into something both surreal and exquisitely 'before', like 60's /70's soul colliding with modern adult contemporary, alternative rap, conscientious hip hop as new iterations of all of that. 

AND the MASTERFUL lyrical content, wow, the kind of lyrics that could inspire that movie I want to see. 

Lyrics:

Hook [Lee Lewis]

You’re no longer my god
I will grow strong on my own
You’re no longer my god
I will not be controlled

Verse [M.anifest]
Been thru the pain and affliction
Separate joy from the fiction
Contrast bright contradictions
Who go dey listen, amen
Heart racing it’s a Grand Prix
Sitting cause she don’t understand me
Tears roll down in the Camry
What u can’t see is my heart bleeding
Now I’m on these strings
In between sips of Chardonnay and Riesling
No reasoning, is this a hill I can die on
Trouble on the phone will I dial on
You left me for dead
The doc did declare
The toxic occurred
And I do concur
I did not deserve
The poison you served
I was not deterred
Shoulda been perturbed
At least in the minimum
Shun the birds and the bees in the interim
The chokehold it’s not gold it’s reeking of Stockholm
The syndrome disease my sentiment
Ɔdɔ adane me Nyame
But today I’m breaking all chains me dɔ Nyame
If love is my religion and religion is opium

Find a new god, Kwame

Hook [Lee Lewis]
You’re no longer my god
I will grow strong on my own
You’re no longer my god
I will not be controlled

Bridge [M.anifest]
Sunsun sɛm sunsum sɛm
Ma som wa kyɛ Ma som wa kyɛ
Sunsun sɛm sunsum sɛm
Ma som wa kyɛ Ma som wa kyɛ
Ɔdɔ adane Nyame

Outro
You’re no longer my god


-Robb Donker Curtius

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1DHw3LmhwuCZUaHtMhMpGX

https://www.instagram.com/manifestive/#

https://www.facebook.com/manifestations

https://www.manifestmc.com/

https://x.com/manifestive


M.ANIFEST is a trailblazing Ghanaian rap artist, musician, and producer renowned for his exceptional lyricism, vivid storytelling, and groundbreaking fusion of hip-hop and West African pop music. With over a decade in the game, he has crafted a series of critically acclaimed and transformative works, including five studio albums and three EPs that showcase his deep connection to his African roots while pushing the boundaries of modern hip-hop music – from 2013’s Apae: The Price of Free, to Madina to the Universe from 2021. The grandson of the legendary ethnomusicologist Professor J.H. Nketia, M.anifest brings a unique depth and perspective to his music, using his platform to humanize the African experience and bridge cultural divides through his rich soundscapes as a true innovator.

M.anifest boasts over 50 million global streams, a cult following of over 3.5 million devoted digital fans, and a swarm of accolades, including multiple ‘Best Rapper of the Year’ and ‘Hip-Hop Song of the Year’ awards, an International MIDEM Award. His influence also reaches far beyond the continent, with cross-cultural collaborations with global icons such as Damon Albarn, Erykah Badu, and Burna Boy. His most recent work The E.P.ilogue solidified his reputation as a creative visionary, reimagining the traditional EP format with a bold, genre-defying approach. As he prepares to release his highly anticipated sixth studio album, M.anifest continues to redefine the landscape of African music, cementing his status as one of the continent’s most revered and forward-thinking artists.

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