I don't want my contribution to music to be ‘whine your waist?' - M.anifest

Ghanaian rapper M.anifest has explained why his music leans towards depth and substance rather than casual party entertainment, insisting that he wants his music to be transformative rather than "cosmetic" or "fast food."

Speaking in an interview with Kafui Dey, the award-winning rapper said that, for someone with his level of curiosity, making shallow music simply is not an option.

"For a person like me, it can't simply be just casual entertainment. People take this like the World Cup. They might listen to Whitney Houston or Adele for their heartbreak, to solve a very important life crisis.

"So what business do I have as somebody who is so curious about the world, has rich experiences in the world in terms of engagement with the world, to be making cosmetic music or fast food music? No, I want things that are transformative that I myself would love to hear," he said.

He was direct about the kind of music he does not want to be remembered for.

"I don't want my contribution to be 'Hey baby' or 'Whine your waist.' It's not going to be mine. I'm sorry. Nothing against it. If I went out to a party, I probably wouldn't want to listen to M.anifest's 'Ozymandias,' but how much of my life is partying versus how much of my life is other things?" he said.

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M.anifest praised fellow musician Kofi Kinaata for successfully striking a balance between meaningful music and humour, a blend he described as clever and effective.

"That's why I brought up Kofi Kinaata. I like that he's found this clever balance of meaningful music, but he has a good sense of humour. But it's also because of the style that he's chosen," he said.

He acknowledged that different artists have found success in their own respective lanes but stressed that he intends to remain true to his own artistic vision.

"People are doing phenomenal stuff in their own different pockets, and mine is to do mine how it's supposed to be done, not how it's supposed to be, how I choose to have it done, and hopefully it has this impact," he said.

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