Ghanaian rapper M.anifest explores the sound, soul, and spirit of his vibrant and deeply rooted sixth studio album ‘NEW ROAD AND GUAVA TREES,’ presenting a genre-defying journey of self-discovery, resilience, and luminous musical fusion. By delving into each song, he provides an honest perspective on the creation of a bold and unconfined record that is both personal and expansive, solidifying his status as one of the most innovative voices in African music.
“PUFF PUFF” – M.anifest ft. The Cavemen. & Flea
Fire on this mountain / Flames so thrilling / We express gratitude through writing / For this new day – it has finally arrived.
* * *
M.anifest’s new album opens like a sunrise – confident and utterly magnificent, brimming with light and enthusiasm, embodying an innate joy for life. The Ghanaian rapper steps in with clarity and poise, making room for joy, presence, and the journey it took to reach this point – his sixth studio album, a global roster of collaborators, and the international arena. These lyrics transcend mere words; they represent a reckoning and an emotional release. A new day has begun, and he is confronting it boldly. Urgent, revitalizing, and unafraid to carve its own path, NEW ROAD AND GUAVA TREES showcases M.anifest in vibrant full bloom.
NEW ROAD AND GUAVA TREES – M.anifest
Released on March 13th via the iconic hip-hop label Mass Appeal, NEW ROAD AND GUAVA TREES radiates clarity and conviction – a bold and soulful body of work that synthesizes personal reflection with a wide-ranging cultural vision. It is both intimate and expansive, firmly rooted in West African heritage while resonating with global themes. For 42-year-old Kwame Ametepee Tsikata, who has been creating music under the name M.anifest since 2007, this album serves as both a musical achievement and a mission statement.
Atwood Magazine previously hailed M.anifest’s fifth album, 2021’s Madina to the Universe, as “an exhilarating deep dive into the artist’s world: A realm characterized by authenticity, embracing one's roots, overcoming challenges, pursuing dreams, and relentless perseverance.” While that album was adventurous, its successor feels like a homecoming on even more elevated ground – vibrant, compelling, and effortlessly enchanting. Blending elements of jazz, highlife, Afrobeats, soul, rap, and more, M.anifest presents a cross-section of the 2020s African music landscape through his unique perspective: He serves as the prism, the medium, the unifying force.
“Hybridization is fundamental to my music,” M.anifest tells Atwood Magazine. “This record was purposefully crafted to sound grander, with a global appeal, and more concise in how ideas are conveyed.” He notes that NEW ROAD AND GUAVA TREES emerged from a series of fortunate decisions, including reconnecting with his longtime producer friend, Budo, who was based in Seattle at the time. “We collaborated in 2023 for about a month, creating most of the album in Seattle and L.A., and I also recorded in Accra, with ‘Highlands’ being recorded in NYC.”
This album signifies elevation – not solely in artistry but also in emotional and existential experience. It fluctuates between the past and present, comfort and chaos, stillness and movement. Featuring collaborations with Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea, The Cavemen., King Promise, A-Reece, and Bien of Sauti Sol (among many others), it is diverse by design – the outcome of a storyteller constantly reaching, extending, and expanding his horizons. Crafted across locations such as Accra, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York, this record unfolded through a two-year journey of reconnection, collaboration, and bold experimentation. Described by M.anifest as “forward-looking, ambitious, and succinct,” NEW ROAD AND GUAVA TREES is a vibrant mosaic of resistance, grace, and growth, culminating in the introspective closer “Second Hand,” which reflects on memory, ego, and inherited truths.
For M.anifest, this album continues the journey that Madina to the Universe set forth. However, while that album reestablished him as a boundary-breaking force anchored in his Ghanaian identity, NEW ROAD AND GUAVA TREES takes even bolder steps: It is more liberated, risk-taking, and musically flexible – yet it retains its intentionality. “Every project I release forms part of a coherent thought and musical universe,” he reflects. “Another way to view it is that each album propels me further along the same journey. NEW ROAD AND GUAVA TREES represents further ascension up the same ladder that Madina to the Universe occupied.”
The title of the album pays homage to his childhood home in Madina – a suburb of Ghana's capital, Acc
Swedish singer/songwriter Boy in Space was in an erratic mood during an interview on a Friday evening. His plans for the night were to embrace his role as a "creative weirdo" by working on projects in his home studio, and his responses tended to be quite dramatic. Although I wasn't familiar with his music from what might be seen as his breakthrough phase in the late 2010s to early 2020s, his voice, a unique blend that stands out without electronic support or enhancement, intrigued me as he progresses as a storyteller and creator.
Nectar Woode offers a fiery and captivating exploration of identity, anxiety, and self-acceptance in “Only Happen” — a passionate, soulful, and gradually building success that highlights rhythm, resilience, and the reclamation of one’s origins.
Lowswimmer’s Ed Tullett guides us through each track of his latest album, Godspeed, Fantasy, exploring its ethereal soundscapes and rich emotions. He discusses the euphoric highs and personal revelations, revealing the melodies, interpretations, and experiences that contribute to this remarkable solo achievement.
The 1975 performed a dazzling set as headliners of the Glastonbury Festival tonight (June 27th). The days leading up to the performance were filled with speculation surrounding The 1975.
After a successful sold-out tour across the US, Malcolm Todd brings an energetic second performance to Los Angeles—paying tribute to the city where his journey began as a 21-year-old artist.
Ghanaian rapper M.anifest explores the essence, spirit, and sound of his dynamic and richly rooted sixth studio album ‘NEW ROAD AND GUAVA TREES.’ This genre-blurring journey reflects themes of self-discovery, resilience, and vibrant musical fusion. By delving into the intricacies of each track, he provides an honest glimpse into the creation of an audacious and limitless record that is both intimate and expansive, solidifying his status as one of the most innovative artists in African music.