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."
I Made It
Manafest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Intro:
I made it, yeah,
not famous but I made it
I thank God that I made it
Ring that bell if you still hustle you know what I’m saying
I made it
ha ha ha
Verse I
Born in the middle class
Torn left without a dad
Porn I was into that
Lost just about to crash
Mom prayed the night black
God tapped me on the back
Snipping on a night cap
Epitome of white trash
Dirty, why y’all in a worry
Waking up early, yo
I’m not in hurry
But I made It
I thank God
Not famous but I made it,
yeah I made it
Chorus
It’s good to be alive
It’s good to be alive
Through the hell and the struggle
Ring the bell if you hustle
Cause you made it
Yeah you made it
It’s good to be alive
It’s good to be alive
From the day you was born
Ye coming out of the storm
Cause you made it,
Yeah you made it
Verse II
Bullies tried to rookie me
Oh, pour little me
Overweight cut deep
Fat until I’m fourteen
Skater boy had a dream
See me on ye wide screen
Hear me rock a dope beat
Homie you ain’t got heat
The greatest
That’s Christ
No favorites
Underated
I thank God that I made it
Through the hell and the struggle
Ring the bell if you hustle
Cause you made it
Yeah, ye made it,
Chorus
It’s good to be alive
It’s good to be alive
Through the hell and the struggle
Ring the bell if you hustle
Cause you made it
Yeah you made it
It’s good to be alive
It’s good to be alive
From the day you was born
Ye coming out of the storm
Cause you made it,
Yeah you made it
Bridge
I made it, you made it
It’s in your hands take it
Proclaim it, no faking’
We’ll shake this generation
And you know that I made it
No way you can take it
While others been faking
I made it, yeah I made it
Chorus
It’s good to be alive
It’s good to be alive
Through the hell and the struggle
Ring the bell if you hustle
Cause you made it
Yeah you made it
It’s good to be alive
It’s good to be alive
From the day you was born
Ye coming out of the storm
Cause you made it,
Yeah you made it
In the song "I Made It" by Manafest, the lyrics express a deep sense of gratitude and resilience in the face of hardship and struggle. The intro sets the tone by acknowledging that despite not attaining fame, the artist has still achieved a level of success and is grateful for it. The mention of going through hell and the ongoing hustle highlights the perseverance and determination required to overcome challenges in life.
The first verse delves into the artist's upbringing and personal struggles, including the absence of a father figure, addiction to porn, and feeling lost and on the brink of destruction. Despite these difficulties, there is a moment of realization and spiritual awakening when God is mentioned tapping the artist on the back, symbolizing a turning point towards a better path. The references to being considered 'white trash' and feeling dirty portray a sense of self-awareness and past struggles.
The chorus celebrates the triumph of making it through tough times, emphasizing the significance of being alive and persevering through the storm. The call to ring the bell if you still hustle serves as a rallying cry for anyone who has faced challenges and fought to overcome them. The repetition of "made it" reinforces the message of accomplishment and the gratitude for surviving and thriving despite obstacles.
The second verse continues to reflect on personal challenges, such as being bullied and dealing with body image issues. The artist's childhood dreams of being a skater and musician are highlighted, showing a determination to rise above hardships and pursue passion and creativity. The mention of being underrated but acknowledging the greatness of Christ conveys a sense of humility and reliance on faith to navigate life's struggles.
In the bridge, there is a sense of empowerment and unity as the artist acknowledges both personal and collective achievements. The lyrics convey a message of seizing opportunities, speaking truth, and inspiring others to overcome challenges. The final chorus reiterates the theme of resilience and gratitude for making it through tough times, ending the song on a note of triumph and celebration of life. Overall, "I Made It" is a powerful anthem that inspires listeners to persevere, overcome obstacles, and appreciate the journey towards success and self-realization.
Line by Line Meaning
I made it, yeah,
Despite not being famous, I have overcome challenges and achieved success.
not famous but I made it
Although I am not a celebrity, I have accomplished my goals.
I thank God that I made it
I am grateful to God for helping me succeed and overcome obstacles in my life.
If you’ve been through hell and the struggle
If you have faced difficult times and challenges in your life
Ring that bell if you still hustle you know what I’m saying
Celebrate your perseverance and hard work during tough times.
Born in the middle class
I was born into a middle-class family
Torn left without a dad
I was left without a father figure in my life
Porn I was into that
I struggled with addiction to pornography
Lost just about to crash
I was close to hitting rock bottom
Mom prayed the night black
My mom prayed for me during dark times
God tapped me on the back
I felt God's presence and guidance in my life
Snipping on a night cap
I used to drink alcohol before going to bed
Epitome of white trash
I felt like the embodiment of a negative stereotype
Dirty, why y’all in a worry
Why are you concerned about me when I'm doing fine?
Waking up early, yo
I start my day early and stay motivated
I’m not in hurry
I am patient and take my time to achieve success
But I made It
I have succeeded and accomplished my goals
I thank God
I am grateful to God for his blessings and guidance
Not famous but I made it,
Even though I am not a celebrity, I have achieved success
yeah I made it
Yes, I have overcome challenges and reached my goals
It’s good to be alive
It is a blessing to be alive and experience life
Through the hell and the struggle
Despite facing tough times and challenges
Ring the bell if you hustle
Celebrate your hard work and dedication
Cause you made it
Because you have overcome obstacles and succeeded
It’s good to be alive
It is a blessing to be alive and experience life
From the day you was born
Since the day you were born into this world
Ye coming out of the storm
Emerging victorious from difficult times
Bullies tried to rookie me
Bullies attempted to intimidate me when I was young
Oh, poor little me
Expressing a sense of pity for my younger self
Overweight cut deep
Being overweight caused emotional pain
Fat until I’m fourteen
Dealing with weight issues throughout childhood
Skater boy had a dream
Even as a skater kid, I had big dreams and ambitions
See me on ye wide screen
Visualize me on the big screen achieving success
Hear me rock a dope beat
Listen to me create incredible music and inspire others
Homie you ain’t got heat
You can't match my talent and passion
The greatest
Acknowledging my greatness and potential
That’s Christ
I credit my success to my faith in Christ
No favorites
Not showing favoritism, but praising hard work and dedication
Underated
Being undervalued and underestimated by others
It’s in your hands take it
You have the power to shape your own future
Proclaim it, no faking
Declare your success with honesty and authenticity
We’ll shake this generation
Together, we can inspire change and make a difference
No way you can take it
No one can steal or diminish your accomplishments
While others been faking
While some pretend to be successful, I have truly achieved my goals
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC
Written by: Chris Greenwood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MayBeSomething
I'll be listening to this - right after "Victorious" by Skillet - when I finish Uni.
@lindaz231
It is a MANAFEST Day!! I will be cleaning to the album, driving to the store with your music. All day!!! God Bless and Merry Christmas to everyone.
@calebalejandroperezhernand7576
wow me e encantó ❤️😎💪
Saludos desde México🇲🇽
@giorgostsak427
Every time I listen to the song, it feels like an explosition of positivity all over me!I could be listening to this on repeat for my whole life and be positive!One of the best songs from the new album.Thank you Manafest!
@stevenmckinley9595
know god made you chris the gift from are god we love what you are doing chris keep it up don't quite or give up chris i you think of something chris thank you.
@maraman21
I already had the privilege of listening to this album (Fighter) and it is sooo good! Every song on the album is my favorite!
@JonathanNation
I made it,
You made it.
It's in your hands ... take it.
Congrats, this is one of my fav songs of this new album & I am glad you made it.
@candijholtzclaw1631
I bought this album a few months ago and I love it!!! Thank you!!! 💓🔥🙏🏻
@sggtv3
That was so good 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@knightlister715
Me at the beginning: ☺
Me at the middle:😮😁😆 (ooooo man this is straight fire🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥)
Me when the song ends: 😢😤
Time to replay it cuz he made it:😏😄