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."
Down town
Manafest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The place that I'm chilling at is Down Town
Where people get the party on its Down Town, Down Town
When I'm skating with my posse, it's Down Town Down Town
And If you wanna get live than come Down Town
I
I Place to be at, where we spit raps the DJ scratch B-boy's with the Air Tracks Battle kats, Grafeedi, Jimmy's smoking crack I rap a prayer,
God's army got me strong Rocking Psalms
Home to the homeless, dope Trojans and stone folk hopelessm, Coke addicts and roach clips
Focus on the frontier, CN Towers Engineered, here, All my peers here, chill, and spend years here
No the city, grab ye girl and look pretty, Flex a fifty, and give away ye pennies
Not to be trusted, gang busted, and rugged
Tourists Subject to loss so keep your eyes on your luggage
Towns that never sleep, from New York to Wall Street Miles of
Concrete that rocks without a beat
II
Down town, like new years countdown
Skate and crowd around till the police turn it out, Bounce to the next spot, watch,
I scene a lot cops, I got caught stopped eating a vendor dog
Rep my cross I gotta be it, rap in coliseums
God I see him looking down daily and the weekend Seeing night life, and the fights and the mic's,
And the wrongs and the rights and the cause is the pride My side of the track, is for truth and the facts
Where I'm going when I rap through God I'm intact
The fast pace of life, ye forget who ye are
Try to get that girl, or sup up your car Job, dialogue, the cost to get it all
You Got a 5 year plan but who's there when ye fall There's nothing wrong with it downtowns explicit
Most peeps after it check it when ye visit
III
If you wanna chill above average Get passed the madness
Find Jesus of Nazareth or God fearing activists Toronto's a classic, and has all the matches The fashions corn rolls gadgets attractions
Traffic cars, girls, the ahhs Left a life of God, living by no man's laws
Why's the truth hard to see, when God's in yer dreams Put it down, follow me, Matthew 4: 19 Poisonous living, boy struck ye illin
My voicetrous opinion minds got ye thinking
The T-dot don't stop or sleep
Watch clocks in streets, party blocks loose is
How we do is everything fair in the city?
Why don't you ask the squeegees homeless, or the needy
Regardless or not, I still call it my home
Residing in the Downtown, land of broken souls.
Manafest's song "Downtown" is an introspective take on the highs and lows of city life. The song starts with the chorus, "On on, and on and, Downtown, downtown," setting the stage for a celebration of the downtown area where people come together to party, skate, and live their lives.
In the first verse, Manafest describes the "place to be" downtown where artists are free to express themselves through music, graffiti, and breakdancing. He also acknowledges that the area is not without its struggles, with homeless people and drug addicts coexisting with the lively atmosphere of the neighborhood. Nevertheless, following the chorus, Manafest invites people to come to downtown if they want to "get live."
In the second verse, Manafest reflects on the fast-paced life of the city, where people forget who they are in their pursuit of success, love, and happiness. He emphasizes the importance of staying grounded in one's faith and purpose, calling on the listener to "follow [him]" and find a higher purpose. He also notes that while downtown has its issues, it is still a vibrant and exciting place to be.
In the final verse, Manafest uses biblical references to encourage listeners to embrace the truth and see God's presence in their lives. He acknowledges that downtown is a place of contradictions, where the affluent and needy coexist, and encourages listeners to take the time to hear the stories of those less fortunate.
Overall, "Downtown" is a reflective yet upbeat song that celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of downtown living, while also encouraging listeners to stay grounded in their faith and perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
On on, and on an, Downtown, downtown
We keep coming back to Down Town, where the party never ends.
The place that I'm chilling at is Down Town
I hang out in Down Town, where there are lots of people, things to see, and things to do.
Where people get the party on its Down Town, Down Town
People come to Down Town to have fun and party.
When I'm skating with my posse, it's Down Town Down Town
I skate around Down Town with my friends and have a good time.
And If you wanna get live than come Down Town
If you want to have an exciting and fun experience, you should come to Down Town.
I Place to be at, where we spit raps the DJ scratch B-boy's with the Air Tracks Battle kats, Grafeedi, Jimmy's smoking crack I rap a prayer,
Down Town is the place to be where people rap, DJs scratch records, breakdancers show off their moves, and street art is displayed. Despite the bad things that happen, I still pray for peace and positivity.
2 fingers in the air Party on with Bacardi kardi's song Body guards folly's on,
People at Down Town lift two fingers in the air to have a good time and party with Bacardi rum. Bouncers are also present to maintain order and safety.
God's army got me strong Rocking Psalms
I have faith in God, and it helps me stay strong. I use my music to express my beliefs and spread positivity.
Home to the homeless, dope Trojans and stone folk hopeless, Coke addicts and roach clips
Down Town is a place where homeless people live, drug users seek refuge, and people with addictions struggle. It is a place of despair.
Focus on the frontier, CN Towers Engineered, here, All my peers here, chill, and spend years here
Despite its problems, Down Town is an exciting and innovative place. Its modern architecture and engineering, such as the CN Tower, attract young people who stay and hang out for a long time.
No the city, grab ye girl and look pretty, Flex a fifty, and give away ye pennies
I know the city well, and it is a place to show off, impress, and enjoy life. You spend money to have a good time and show your style.
Not to be trusted, gang busted, and rugged Tourists Subject to loss so keep your eyes on your luggage
Down Town has a reputation for being unsafe, with gangs and crime. Tourists should be cautious and protect their belongings.
Towns that never sleep, from New York to Wall Street Miles of Concrete that rocks without a beat
Down Town is a place that never stops, where people are always busy and moving. It is full of energy and excitement.
Down town, like new years countdown Skate and crowd around till the police turn it out, Bounce to the next spot, watch, I scene a lot cops, I got caught stopped eating a vendor dog
Down Town is like New Year's Eve, where people skate and party until the police come and end the festivities. People then move to another location. Sometimes, the police arrest people for minor crimes, like eating food from a street vendor without paying.
Rep my cross I gotta be it, rap in coliseums God I see him looking down daily and the weekend Seeing night life, and the fights and the mic's, And the wrongs and the rights and the cause is the pride
I represent my cross (religious beliefs) wherever I go, even when I perform in big arenas. I know that God watches over me every day, and I witness both the good and bad aspects of night time in Down Town. Despite its problems, I am proud of where I come from.
My side of the track, is for truth and the facts Where I'm going when I rap through God I'm intact
I believe in honesty and stand up for what is right. I use my music to spread positivity and stay true to my beliefs in God.
The fast pace of life, ye forget who ye are Try to get that girl, or sup up your car Job, dialogue, the cost to get it all You Got a 5 year plan but who's there when ye fall
The fast pace of life in Down Town can cause people to lose sight of themselves and their values. People often focus on their career, relationships, and material possessions but forget about important things in life. Although people have plans for their future, there is no guarantee that someone will be there to support them when things go wrong.
There's nothing wrong with it downtowns explicit Most peeps after it check it when ye visit
Down Town can be explicit and bold, but there is nothing necessarily wrong with that. Many people come to see what Down Town has to offer.
If you wanna chill above average Get passed the madness Find Jesus of Nazareth or God fearing activists Toronto's a classic, and has all the matches The fashions corn rolls gadgets attractions Traffic cars, girls, the ahhs Left a life of God, living by no man's laws
If you want to have a more meaningful and fulfilling experience, you need to look beyond the chaos of Down Town. You can find inspiration in religion or through social activism. Toronto is a classic city with many things to offer, from fashion to technology. Despite having left behind God, some people still defy conventions and norms.
Why's the truth hard to see, when God's in yer dreams Put it down, follow me, Matthew 4: 19 Poisonous living, boy struck ye illin My voicetrous opinion minds got ye thinking
Sometimes, it is hard to see the truth even though it is right in front of you. God can reveal the truth to you in your dreams. If you listen to my message, I can guide you to the truth through the Gospel (Matthew 4:19). Poisonous and harmful living has made people sick, but my music can inspire and make people think.
The T-dot don't stop or sleep Watch clocks in streets, party blocks loose is How we do is everything fair in the city? Why don't you ask the squeegees homeless, or the needy Regardless or not, I still call it my home Residing in the Downtown, land of broken souls.
Toronto (T-dot) is a city that never stops and is always active. People watch the time on the streets, and party blocks are loud and fun. However, not everyone has the same opportunities or experiences in Down Town. Homeless and needy people suffer in this environment. Despite its problems, Down Town is my home, and I identify with it even though it is a place of sadness and despair.
Writer(s): Tony Hatch
Contributed by Gianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.