Ghanaian rapper, Kwame Ametepe Tsikata, popularly referred to as M.anifest, has revealed that he supported AratheJay before he gained traction in the Ghanaian music industry.
M.anifest revealed that he first discovered AratheJay’s music on Instagram and was immediately drawn to his unique sound.
“It’s funny. I think I connected with AratheJay maybe a year after I connected with the ‘Shake It To The Max’ hitmaker, Moliy, a couple of years ago, when both artists were relatively unknown in the industry. I heard snippets of his stuff, I think on Instagram or something.”
M.anifest
The ‘No Shortcut to Heaven’ hitmaker went on to describe what stood out about AratheJay’s music and why he felt connected to his sound.
“He had this very unique sound where it’s like, I could tell maybe this guy used to rap, but then he’s also soaked in highlife, and it feels very spiritual, like soulful. So, I connected with him.”
M.anifest
He shared that after building a relationship with AratheJay, he introduced him to music producers in the UK.
“We started working a while back. I even connected him to some producers from the UK at the time, but you know, sometimes it’s not time yet, you know.”
M.anifest
The rapper noted that, while working on his new album ‘New Read’ and ‘Guava Trees’, he felt that one of his songs needed AratheJay’s touch, trusting in his talent, he reached out to him for a collaboration. “I started working on it, and then he jumped on it,” he added.
That collaboration led to the creation of Wine and Blues, a standout song on the album. He also shared that just a few months after their recording session, AratheJay began gaining attention in the Ghanaian music industry on his own.
According to the ‘God MC’ rapper, expressed his happiness at seeing AratheJay’s rise, “So, it was beautiful to see that somebody who, I definitely saw, had the potential, is beginning to realise even before our song came out,” he said.
M.anifest Positions Himself as Leading Rapper in Africa
The Ghanaian rap luminary made headlines following a bold declaration, confidently positioning himself as the leading rapper on the African continent.
The award-winning lyricist revealed with characteristic wit and confidence, stating, “Only two rappers in Africa; me and nobody in particular.”
The comment, delivered with his signature charm and charisma, while some viewed it as lighthearted bravado typical of the genre, others saw it as a confident reminder of M.anifest’s lyrical dominance and impact on the African hip-hop scene.
The statement comes on the heels of international acclaim, with The Guardian recently naming M.anifest “Africa’s foremost rapper” in its 2025 global music review. The publication also praised his acclaimed album “The Gamble” as “a masterclass in pan-African storytelling through rap.”
Known for his intricate lyricism, intellectual depth, and masterful blending of African musical elements with global hip-hop influences, M.anifest has spent over a decade carving out a revered position in the industry.
His body of work connects the vibrancy of Accra’s streets with international audiences, boasting collaborations with renowned global acts such as Damon Albarn, Burna Boy, and Vic Mensa.
With a discography that reflects cultural pride and lyrical excellence, M.anifest continues to push boundaries and inspire dialogue, whether through his verses or his bold statements.
Despite the verses about human struggles, ‘Nowhere Cool’ includes the promise of a brighter end, which is captured on ‘Now Here Cool’, an anagram of the album title.
M.anifest has described Nowhere Cool as his best project yet. Its title came from a short story of the same name by the foremost Ghanaian author and poet, Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo.
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