M.anifest enlists The Cavemen. and Flea for PUFF PUFF single

17 Oct 2024 - 14:22

Ghanaian rapper M.anifest has released his new single titled ‘PUFF PUFF’, featuring Nigerian highlife band The Cavemen., and Flea, the bassist for American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers.

M.anifest.

Arriving with a Kevin Noonan-directed music video, the record, co-produced by Budo (Doja Cat, Lil Yachty, Macklemore) and The Cavemen., is now available for streaming and download on all major digital platforms.

“‘PUFF PUFF’ was born out of a chance conversation between M.anifest and The Cavemen. at his annual music festival Manifestivities in Accra two years ago, and seamlessly evolved over time, with M.anifest and The Cavemen. reconnecting in Lagos to work on the track,” a statement explains.

“M.anifest would then link up with Flea in Los Angeles to bring the track further to life. While bonding over a shared love for jazz music, books, and Tony Allen, Flea offers up an unexpected and yet resounding trumpet solo on ‘PUFF PUFF’, despite being one of the two best bassists of all time. The result is a powerful song that is a melting pot and collision of three diverse musical worlds.”

Sonically, ‘PUFF PUFF’, a “meditation on life’s challenges and the resilience required to navigate them”, blends hip hop, jazz and highlife.

“‘PUFF PUFF’ is one of the most seamless blends of highlife and hip hop you’ve ever heard,” M.anifest said. “I really dig how we switch up from the dreamy highlife hook into the pithy verses driven by head-banging 808s, and then cap it off with that jazz trumpet solo.

“The song speaks for itself, so we shot easy-going visuals where we could amplify the feel of the song through performance. It’s got this free-spirited vibe that flows effortlessly, harmonious yet reflective, set against these warm, natural backdrops. It’s cruising in a vintage car down empty streets, laid back but vibing with the energy of the moment”.

Widely acclaimed for his socially relevant approach and intriguing cross-genre and cross-disciplinary collaborations, M.anifest has maintained mainstream relevance for over a decade. His discography consists of five studio albums, two EPs, one mixtape, and numerous singles.

He is reportedly readying his sixth studio album.