M.anifest Pays Nostalgic Homage to ‘Hip Hop at 50’ in New Freestyle

Ghanaian Hip Hop artist M.anifest takes us on a nostalgic journey with a new freestyle, titled “50 YEARS.” Listen Here

Referencing Hip Hop icons like 2pac, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G, The Fugees, LL Cool J and the Wu-Tang Clan to name a few, M.anifest cleverly weaves this ode to a genre that he himself has come to contribute significantly to. A certified wordsmith, his skill allows him to craft a worthy tribute to Hip Hop’s enduring legacy as it celebrates 50 years.

From the genre’s origins on Sedgwick Avenue to the influence it’s had in many parts of the world, spurring genres like Hip Life (Ghana), there’s no patch of Hip Hop uncovered by the rapper affectionately called ‘the god MC’ by his fans, particularly when viewed through the lens of his lived experience.

Whether tipping his hat to Obrafour’s classic album “Pae Mu Ka”, or legendary Hip Hop albums like Kanye West’s “College Dropout” and Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint”, he poignantly comments on a culture that has left an indelible mark from marginalized beginnings.

The current torchbearers are of course not left out of the MikeMillzOn’Em-produced track. J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, A-Reece, Black Sherif, and Sampa The Great get honourable mentions as boundary pushers of the genre, emphatically suggesting that Hip Hop remains a vibrant and relevant force in contemporary music and perhaps in safe hands.

M.anifest’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary has gone beyond his music. This year, he has actively engaged in discussions in academia, with an appearance at Howard University as a special guest, where he shared his insights on Hip Hop’s evolution from an African perspective over the past five decades. In July 2023, he was in New York at GlobalCognac giant Hennessy’s invitation, joining a roster of world-renowned rappers to celebrate one of Hip Hop’s greats, Nas.