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M.anifest

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M.anifest
M.anifest in Accra
Background information
Birth nameKwame Ametepee Tsikata
Born (1982-11-20) November 20, 1982 (age 42)
Accra, Ghana
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, songwriter, public speaker
Years active2005–present
Websitewww.manifestmc.com

M.anifest (born Kwame Ametepee Tsikata, November 20, 1982) is an award winning Ghanaian rapper and songwriter.[1] He has worked with the likes of Damon Albarn, Flea, Tony Allen, Erykah Badu, and is featured on five songs on the Rocket Juice and The Moon album.[2] He is the grandson of one of Africa’s foremost ethnomusicogists J.H. Kwabena Nketia.[3] In 2012, BBC’s arts program The Strand (radio) tipped him as one of four acts to look out for in 2012. M.anifest won Best Rapper of the Year and Hip-Hop Song of the Year at the 2013 Ghana Music Awards after having been nominated twice in 2012 and thrice in 2013.[4] M.anifest currently lives in Accra(Madina) and Minneapolis.

Personal Life & Education

M.anifest is the Son of Ghanaian lawyer and academic Tsatsu Tsikata. M.anifest migrated to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St Paul) in 2001 to attend Macalester College where he graduated in 2005 with a BA in economics.

Career

In his time in the Twin Cities M.anifest learnt to adopt the do-it-yourself credo and the know-how in becoming an independent musician.[5] He released his first solo album, Manifestations, in 2007 funded by royalties he received from lending his voice to a Pepsi jingle that played nationally on U.S radio.[6] Manifestations earned him Songwriter of the year Honors in the City Pages[7] as well as top five albums of the year recognition in the Star Tribune.[8] In 2009 he released a free album, the Birds and the Beats, to raise awareness and funds for the work of a non-profit, Young Entrepreneurs Africa.[9]

In 2010 M.anifest linked up with Africa Express and played gigs in France and Spain with them in the same year. He caught the attention of Africa Express co-founder Damon Albarn who thereafter invited M.anifest to be a collaborator on Rocket Juice & the Moon in 2011.[3] In September 2012 M.anifest joined the historic Africa Express train touring the U.K.[10] He wrote for the Huffington Post about his experiences with Africa Express.[11]

He released his sophomore album "Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America," in September 2011 which included the singles "Suffer," "Asa," and "Blue (Chale What Dey Happen). It marked a decade of his life in the U.S and the beginning of his transition back to Ghana.[12] In 2012 M.anifest began making major inroads in Africa performing on The Big Brother Africa stage[13] as well at the Channel O Music Video Awards in South Africa.[14] The video for his single "Makaa Maka" also got him nominated for Most Gifted Hip-Hop Video at the 2012 Channel O Music Awards[15] and won him Best Hip-Hop Video at the 4syte Music Video Awards.[16]

M.anifest has had an eclectic creative output; he produced and co-wrote an independence mini Hip-Hopera[17] for Channel O and also performed a highly praised piece,[18] at the first ever Ghana Music Week, detailing the history of Ghanaian music. M.anifest is co-founder of Giant Steps,[19] an interactive conference for entrepreneurial creatives and creative entrepreneurs. He’s also featured in the unreleased documentary We Rock Long Distance by filmmaker Justin Schell.

Awards

  • Best Rapper of the year (2013) - Ghana Music Award
  • Hip-Hop Song of the Year (2013) - Ghana Music Awards
  • Best Hip-Hop Video - 4syte Music Video Awards
  • Minnesota Emerging composer Award (MECA) (2010) - American Composers Forum[20]
  • Songwriter of the Year (2008) - City Pages[7]

Discography

Albums

  • Apae: the price of free EP (2013)
  • Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America (2011)
  • The Birds and the Beats (Free Album, 2009)
  • Manifestations (2007)

Singles

  • Someway Bi (2013)
  • Coming to America (2013)
  • Mind Games (2013)
  • Ebei (2013)
  • Blue (Chale What Dey Happen) (2013)
  • Makaa Maka (2012)
  • Asa feat. Efya (2012)
  • Suffer (2011)
  • Gentleman (2007)
  • Babylon Breakdown (2007)
  • Jigah ft. HHP (2014)
  • No Shortcut to Heaven ft. Obrafour (2014)

Features

  • Richy Pitch ft. M.anifest - Blackstar (2010)
  • Bodi ft. M.anifest & Team Dharma - Hercules (2013)
  • Camp Mulla ft. M.anifest - All in (2013)
  • E.L ft. M.anifest - Hallelujah (2013)
  • Proverb ft. M.anifest - Proverb's Manifest (2014)
  • Sedem ft. M.anifest - Falling in Love(2014)
  • Obrafour ft. M.anifest - Odasani (2014)
  • Dee Moneey ft. M.anifest, Ice Prince, Paedae(R2bees), JTown, Remenisce - Finish Line (Remix)

Collaborations

  • A.R.M (Budo, Krudid, M.anifest) - Two Africans and a Jew EP (2011)
  • A.R.M (Budo, Krudid, M.anifest) ft Brother Ali - Heaven Only Knows (2009)
  • S&M (Sarah White & M.anifest) - Losing My Religion (2010)
  • [1] Official site

References

  1. ^ http://www.ghanamusic.com/news/top-stories/tsatsu-tsikatas-son-manifest- wins-two-awards-at-vgma-2013/index.html
  2. ^ "Damon Albarn, Flea, Tony Allen share more details of Rocket Juice and the Moon".
  3. ^ a b Star Tribune (2011-09-22). "M.anifest, continental drifter". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  4. ^ "Tsatsu Tsikata's son Manifest wins two awards at VGMA 2013". Highstreetmail.com. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  5. ^ Bryan, Beverly (2012-09-27). "M.anifest Sells The Truth In Africa". Mtv Iggy. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  6. ^ Vita.MN. "Best New Bands: M.anifest Destiny". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  7. ^ a b "BEST SONGWRITER Minneapolis 2008 - M.anifest". City Pages. 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  8. ^ Rhonda Prast (2007-12-27). "'Undisputed' champ: The top local albums of '07". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  9. ^ Patrin, Nate (2009-11-20). "M.anifest's free album 'The Birds & the Beats' available now | City Pages". Blogs.citypages.com. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  10. ^ Toledo, Manuel (2012-09-09). "BBC News - The Africa Express rolls into London". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  11. ^ "M.anifest: Africa Express: African Music Going Places". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 2012-08-31. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  12. ^ "Interview: M.anifest Returns to Ghana « Okayafrica. Okayafrica". Okayafrica.com. 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  13. ^ "Ghana's M.anifest to rock Big Brother Africa StarGame | Entertainment News". Entertainment.myjoyonline.com. 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  14. ^ Categorized as (2012-11-03). "M.anifest, Ice Prince,Camp Mulla, others to perform at Channel O Awards". AmeyawDebrah.Com. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  15. ^ http://www.iweblimited.com (2012-09-01). "Sarkodie, D-Black, E.L, M.anifest nominated for Channel O Music Video Awards 2012 - Viasat1 Entertainment News". Viasat1.com.gh. Retrieved 2014-04-08. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  16. ^ "Most comprehensive and credible Political, Business, Sports, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Health and General news website in Ghana". citifmonline. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  17. ^ "M.anifest, Efya, Wanlov and others celebrate Ghana's Independence Day on Channel O". AmeyawDebrah.Com. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  18. ^ "Africa: Ghana wants the world to hear it - Travel - NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 2013-05-19. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  19. ^ Steps, Giant. "Giant Steps".
  20. ^ "American Composers Forum | Minnesota Emerging Composer Award (MECA)". Composersforum.org. Retrieved 2014-04-08.

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