He is also a skater, which led to his career in hip hop; after an accident in 1998, he took time to focus on rap and was noticed by Trevor McNevan of Ontario-based band Thousand Foot Krutch. This led to his signing to an internationally distributed label, BEC Recordings, and debut release Epiphany, which was made primarily of West Coast hip hop with several rapcore outings in the vein of Limp Bizkit.
He released two independent albums, Mislead Youth (2001) and My Own Thing (2003), prior to Epiphany in 2005. He has toured in Canada, the United States and Ireland to date.
His second album, Glory, emphasized rap-rock elements with more Linkin Park-esque nu metal, and included more authentic hip hop stylings.
Central themes of Manafest's music include nonconformity, hip hop culture, and walking with God.
Manafest says in regards to Glory that: "I wanted to allow all of my influences show on Glory. Musically, I wanted to blend the appeal of Linkin Park, Sum 41, and The Beastie Boys. Vocally, I wanted to merge that with popular hip hop à la Eminem and Kanye West. But beyond musical influence, I wanted to reflect on the issues around me in the most positive way possible. And whether I am talking about the loss of loved ones and abuse, or breakdancing and skate culture, it's all for the glory of heaven. In the end, my prayer is that people would not simply bob their heads to this, but feel a very real sense of healing from the words. However, this record is not all serious. Some of my favorite tracks are the most lighthearted ones."
Breaking Down The Walls
Manafest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I made the jump in 2000
To see if I can climb up this mountain
Every day seems like a thousand
Every year I'm hit I keep bouncing
Even if I'm hit I keep bouncing
I could complain but I keep playing
The games crazy run for safety
I live it daily, in choices no chances
Suck your thumb or start standing
Look up at the world, there's opportunities, girl
The possibilities stir, me up I'm willing to learn
I'm just saying
I want it all, cash, clothes, and the gold
I want it all, 1 wife, 3 kids and a home
I want it all, God show me the road
I want it all but won't forfeit my soul
I want freedom
Chorus
Free!!
All I want is to be Free
In your arms I'm gonna be
That's where I'm free
And I'm breaking down the walls
Just set me Free
Oh, oh, ho, oh, ho, ho, oh
I just got to believe that a, a, one day I'll be free uh huh, yeah
Verse II
I got so many things that I could scream about
But got too many dreams I can't leave them now
In my struggle and stress I wouldn't leave the house
In the hustle no rest I couldn't free myself
I was clouded, I doubted, I felt surrounded
Down in a cell, I needed counseling
I could speak to five thousand
But I was still drowning help me out!!!
Here's what I think about
Giving up, no
Dying young, no
Lying tongue, no
Maybe I should cheat, and no
I read books for inspiration
My constant motivation
In the bible found salvation
My only purpose is permanence
Make your mark and take courage
I got freedom
Chorus
Free!!
All I want is to be Free
In your arms I'm gonna be
That's where I'm free
And I'm breaking down the walls
Just set me Free
Oh, oh, ho, oh, ho, ho, oh
BRIDGE
We all searching for peace, I just got to believe that a, a
I just got a believe, one day I'll be free uh, yeah
We all searching for peace, I just got to believe that a, a
Uh uh, yeah
Oh oh, oh.. singing....
Set me free
Chorus Repeats
The song "Breaking Down The Walls" by Manafest Featuring Dustin Anstey talks about the struggles and obstacles that the artist has faced and how he is determined to overcome them. The first verse talks about his journey, how he took a leap of faith in the year 2000 and started climbing a mountain, and every day seems like a thousand to him. He faces obstacles but doesn't let them bring him down. He wants it all, like money, fame and success, but he won't compromise his soul to get there. He seeks freedom and wants to learn and grow in life.
The second verse continues the theme of his struggle and stress. The artist has many things to scream about, but he can't leave his dreams behind. He has been clouded by doubts and feels surrounded by obstacles; he struggles with his inner demons and needs help. However, he won't give up or take the easy way out. He finds motivation in books, personal experiences and finds salvation in the bible. He wants to make a permanent mark on the world and his only purpose in life is to achieve that. In the end, he finds freedom and peace.
The chorus of the song is repetitive, as the artist repeats "Free, all I want is to be Free, in your arms I'm gonna be, that's where I'm free, and I'm breaking down the walls just set me Free." The bridge emphasizes that we all search for peace, and he believes that one day he'll be free.
Line by Line Meaning
I made the jump in 2000
In the year 2000, I took a leap of faith
To see if I can climb up this mountain
To find out if I have the strength and determination to succeed
Every day seems like a thousand
Each day feels like an eternity
Every year I'm hit I keep bouncing
No matter how many obstacles come my way, I keep getting back up
Even if I'm hit I keep bouncing
Despite the hits, I continue to persevere
I don't like it, but it don't phase me
I'm not a fan of the hardship, but it doesn't deter me
I could complain but I keep playing
I could choose to whine and give up, but instead, I keep pushing forward
The games crazy run for safety
The game of life is challenging and unpredictable, so I focus on staying safe
I live it daily, in choices no chances
Every day, I make conscious decisions and take calculated risks
Suck your thumb or start standing
Cry and give up, or grow up and persevere
Look up at the world, there's opportunities, girl
Instead of being defeated by the world, look at it as a chance for growth
The possibilities stir, me up I'm willing to learn
The numerous opportunities motivate me to learn and grow
I want it all, cash, clothes, and the gold
I desire wealth, material goods, and success
I want it all, 1 wife, 3 kids and a home
I desire a loving family and a comfortable home
I want it all, God show me the road
I entrust my path to God, and ask for guidance
I want it all but won't forfeit my soul
I refuse to sacrifice my morals and values for success
I want freedom
Above all else, I want to be free
All I want is to be Free
My ultimate goal is freedom
In your arms I'm gonna be
Finding refuge and peace within myself
That's where I'm free
The only place where I am truly free
And I'm breaking down the walls
I am tearing down the barriers in my way
Just set me Free
I just want to be free and live my life fully
I got so many things that I could scream about
There are so many things that frustrate me
But got too many dreams I can't leave them now
I have too many dreams to give up now
In my struggle and stress I wouldn't leave the house
During difficult times, I tend to isolate myself
In the hustle no rest I couldn't free myself
When I'm busy with work, I struggle to find time for myself
I was clouded, I doubted, I felt surrounded
I felt lost, unsure, and trapped
Down in a cell, I needed counseling
I was trapped in my own thoughts and needed help
I could speak to five thousand
Even if I had an audience of thousands, it wouldn't change the way I feel
But I was still drowning help me out!!!
Despite my efforts, I was still struggling and needed help
Giving up, no
I refuse to give up
Dying young, no
I don't want to die young
Lying tongue, no
I don't want to be dishonest
Maybe I should cheat, and no
Cheating is not an option
I read books for inspiration
I seek motivation and encouragement from literature
My constant motivation
I am constantly motivated to succeed
In the bible found salvation
I found solace and hope in the teachings of the bible
My only purpose is permanence
My goal is to create something lasting
Make your mark and take courage
Leave your legacy and be courageous
We all searching for peace, I just got to believe that a, a
As humans, we all crave inner peace and happiness
I just got a believe, one day I'll be free uh, yeah
I believe that I will eventually achieve my ultimate goal of freedom
Uh uh, yeah
Affirming my belief and goal
Oh oh, oh.. singing....
Continuing to affirm my belief
Contributed by Stella T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.