Instruments Vocals Role Rapper | Name Christopher Greenwood Years active 2000–present | |
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Birth name Christopher Scott Greenwood Born July 19, 1979 (age 45) ( 1979-07-19 ) Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, rapper Albums Reborn, The Chase, Glory, Citizens Activ, Fighter Profiles | ||
Manafest - Pray (Official Music Video)
Chris Scott Greenwood (born July 19, 1979), better known by his stage name Manafest, is a Canadian Christian rapper and rock artist from Pickering, Ontario. He has been nominated and won multiple awards for the GMA Canada Covenant Awards, GMA Dove Awards, and Juno Awards. Signed for almost a decade with BEC Recordings, Manafest became fully independent as of early 2015 and continues to write and record music.
Contents
- Manafest Pray Official Music Video
- Manafest Every Time You Run
- Biography
- Musical style
- Discography
- Awards and recognition
- Touring band
- Other projects
- Personal life
- References
When asked about the meaning and development of his stage name, Greenwood has stated "it means to be a light in a dark place because when anything is made Manifest it's because it's been exposed by the light. I've always wanted my music to be encouraging and shine light or my perspective on life."
Manafest - Every Time You Run
Biography
After a skateboarding accident in 1998, Chris Greenwood shifted his focus to musical writing and began to produce music emerging under the stage name Manafest in 2000.
In 2001, Manafest debuted with his EP, Misled Youth. The release garnered "Modern Rock/Alternative Song of the Year" for the song "Freedom" at the GMA Canada Covenant Awards in 2002. The following year, Manafest released his first full-length album My Own Thing and attracted the notice of Trevor McNevan of the Ontario-based rock band Thousand Foot Krutch. This led to his signing with an internationally distributed label, BEC Recordings under the Uprok Records label.
After signing on with BEC, Manafest released his second album Epiphany in 2005. The release achieved several nominations and awards.
In 2006, Manafest released his third album Glory. The album received critical success and went on to win Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 2007 GMA Canada Covenant Awards, as well as receiving the artist a nomination for Artist of the Year. The album also marked Manafest's first release to be nominated in the Juno Awards.
In 2008, Manafest's fourth album Citizens Activ was debuted to similar success receiving many nominations, as well as awards. The album boosted Manafest's fame and reputation in Japan immensely.
In 2010, Manafest debuted his fifth full-length album The Chase. The album was well-received with the single "Avalanche" charting on the Billboard Christian Songs, as well as selling over 50,000 copies of the track as of September 2011. The album showcased a directional change for Manafest, moving from a more straight hip hop flare to a heavier rock-based rap style.
In 2011, Manafest released his first live album Live in Concert. The album won "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year" at the 33rd GMA Canada Covenant Awards.
In 2012, Manafest released his sixth studio album of Fighter. The album continued the previous release's heavy rock influence and garnered a nomination for Hip-Hop/Rap Album of the Year in the GMA Dove Awards. Because of this album's release, Manafest fans have since become known officially as "Fighters" amongst themselves, as well as Manafest himself.
In late 2013, Manafest released his first Christmas single "California Christmas", featuring Joel Piper. The track was additionally featured BEC's Christmas compilation release Christmastime All Year.
In 2014, Manafest released his seventh album The Moment. The genre of the release deviated from his hard rock style and featured a more electronic hip hop sound.
In late 2014, Manafest released the single "Let Go", featuring Dave Stovall of Wavorly. The track was a song that didn't make the final cut of The Moment and was later released by itself. The song was recently pulled from iTunes (it is however still available in Manafest's store). Manafest has also hinted it might make his next album's track listing.
On April 24, 2015, Manafest announced a new PledgeMusic campaign for his next full-length, fully independent album, Reborn. The album released globally on October 2, 2015.
When first announcing Reborn, Manafest also alluded to the fact his next album is already planned to be a rock record.
A new single called "I Won't Give Up" was released on April 29, 2016 from the album Stones.
On their 2016 album Hold the Light, Bread of Stone featured Manafest on the track "Battleground".
Musical style
Manafest's genre has developed and changed over the entirety of his career. Originally starting with a classic feel of urban hip hop for his first four releases, Manafest then developed a style of alternative rock and rap rock by lightly mixing it into Citizens Activ, and fully integrating it by the time of The Chase. In 2014, with the release of The Moment, Manafest's style then changed to a "hybrid" mixture of rap rock and electronic-based hip-hop. Manafest's 2015 album Reborn returned to his roots of straighter hip-hop as a way to reflect his return to independent status. Presently, Manafest's latest release Stones returns to the same hard rock/rap rock style of The Chase and Fighter.
Manafest is typically compared to other Christian rappers of his genre including Andy Mineo, Lecrae, KJ-52, Tedashii, and Shonlock. Musically, Manafest's rock style is often grouped with other Christian hard rock acts such as Thousand Foot Krutch, Skillet, and Red.
Discography
Awards and recognition
Touring band
Though a solo artist himself, Manafest travels with a touring band. Adam Messinger has provided the majority of instrumentation for Manafest's studio releases throughout the years, while the band supplies the music live on tour and at shows:
Current
Former
Other projects
In late 2012, Manafest independently released a side project EP, Stories Since Seventy Nine, that deviated slightly from his normal style and had a softer, pop sound, as well as more vocal singing (as compared to rapping) than his main work. The release contains Manafest's 2013 single "Overboard".
In late 2013, Manafest penned and published his first book, Fighter: Five Keys to Conquering Your Fear and Reaching Your Dreams. He plans to produce another book and do more public speaking in the future, as well as teach special seminars for people aspiring to enter the music industry.
In 2014, Manafest began posting videos on a YouTube channel entitled Smart Music Business. The channel contained videos regarding tips, strategies, trick, and advice regarding the music industry and how to make it a career.
In 2015, Manafest launched a full official online curriculum music course entitled Fanbase University which focuses on training independent aspiring music artists and giving them practical tools to make it in the music industry, with an emphasis on not signing yourself to a record label.
Presently, Manafest still currently runs the music course and channel actively.
Personal life
In 1984, at the age of five, Chris Greenwood lost his father to suicide, leaving only him, his sister Virginia, and his mother. A few years after, at a Bible camp, he accepted Christ and became a Christian. At the same camp, he also met his future wife, Melanie. Around the age of fourteen, Greenwood invested himself into skateboarding and aspired to make it a career. He however experienced an accident in 1998 which crippled his dreams to become a professional skater. After hearing God telling him to turn his attention to music, Greenwood began songwriting and started his career as a Christian artist.
In 2003, Greenwood married his wife Melanie. Besides being a part-time model, she runs the graphic design company Vision City (which designs the concepts for many of Manafest's designs, promotionals, and merchandise). In March 2014, they had their first child and daughter, London Grace Greenwood.
In 2012, Greenwood and his wife moved to Los Angeles, California. In October 2015, he and his family moved back to Toronto, Canada.