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Reborn (Manafest album)

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Reborn is the eighth studio album by the Christian rapper Manafest. It was independently released on October 2, 2015. The album was distributed by The Fuel Music.[1][2] The release was fan-funded through a PledgeMusic campaign and is Manafest's first fully independent album in over a decade.[3][4]

According to Manafest, the album is titled Reborn because it speaks to the "rebirthing" of his personal status of becoming an independent artist again, as well as the fact he decided to use the album to retrace his hip-hop origins and roots.[5]

Background

In the later half of 2014, Manafest released the single "Let Go", featuring Dave Stovall. The song was later pulled from iTunes, but remained in Manafest's store.[6][7][better source needed]

On April 24, 2015, Manafest announced a new PledgeMusic campaign for his next full-length, fully independent album, Reborn.[3][4][8] He stated the album was to be more hip hop-inspired in its sound and return to his roots of straighter hip hop.[5][9] The record is to be released in October, 2015[3] with 5% of the money raised by the project going to the Epilepsy Foundation to support awareness for the condition.[4][10][11]

On June 16, Manafest announced that Soul Glow Activatur, former lead singer of Family Force 5, would be featured on the new album for the track "Stick to Your Gunz".[12] On June 27, Manafest revealed that Tedashii would be featured on the track "I Have a Dream" (which will also feature some excerpts from Martin Luther King).[13] On July 2, Manafest announced that Shonlock would also be featured in collaboration on the song "I Have a Dream".[14] Trevor McNevan was then announced to be expected to be featured on the track "Shine On".[15][16]

On July 29, Manafest announced to pledgers the release date of the album to October 2, 2015.[17] This was followed by a general announcement to the public on August 6, via YouTube.[2][18]

On August 4, Manafest announced that the first music would be released to people who pre-ordered the album.[19] On July 12, Manafest released a brief preview of the song "Army" on YouTube which showcased the total line-up of all the featured artists that will be on Reborn.[20] On July 17, the album project reached 100% funded.[3] On July 31, Manafest gave pledgers previews to two songs off the album: "Reborn" and "Let You Drive."[21] As promised, Manafest released both full songs free, as singles, to the pledgers on August 4, 2015.[22] The lyric videos for both "Let You Drive" and "Reborn" were released the next day on August 5.[23][24][25] On August 7, "Let You Drive" was released globally on iTunes.[26] On August 17, Manafest informed pledgers he would be sending out their pre-ordered albums in early September.[27] On July 19, Manafest released the official track listing for the album to pledgers.[28] On August 28, Manafest released the music video for "Let You Drive", a day after releasing it to pledgers.[29]

On September 3, 2015, a pre-order option for Reborn was put on iTunes.[30][31] On September 9, 2015, Manafest released the album early in digital download format to all album pledgers.[32] On September 9, according to Manafest, shipping had begun for all album packages to pledgers.[32]

After privately releasing it to pledgers on September 17,[33] Manafest released the official music video for the song "Pray" on September 22, 2015 via YouTube.[34]

On October 5, Manafest released three bonus tracks to pledgers via PledgeMusic.[35]

When addressing the genre of the album, Manafest stated: "I've always rapped, even on the rock stuff, but I've wanted to do a more hip-hop influenced record for a long time. I started thinking about that just after Fighter came out, which was my second kind of more real rock record like The Chase, and then last year's The Moment was a bit of a hybrid record. For Reborn, I decided to go back to hip-hop, but even the way I do hip-hop isn't the traditional 'boom, bap,' stuff, so I don't think the fans who like more of the rock stuff will be disappointed."[1][2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
CCM Magazine[36]
The Christian Beat[37]
Jesus Freak Hideout[38]
Louder Than the Music[39]
New Release Today[40]

The album received generally positive to average reviews from multiple professional music sites and reviews.

Awarding the album three stars from Jesus Freak Hideout, Kevin Hoskins states, "Reborn is positively focused in its message and most of the beats are decent".[38] Mark Ryan, giving the album two and a half stars at New Release Today, writes, "Reborn is the renewal of an artist who has taken his new found creative freedom and produced an album that fans new and old will appreciate."[40] Rating the album four stars for The Christian Beat, Chris Major says, "Reborn takes a different stylistic direction with familiar echoes of past works, making for a satisfying album."[37] Carolyn Aldis, indicating in a five star review by Louder Than the Music, recognizes, "Reborn reminds us of all the great things about a new life, without glossing over the tough stuff."[39]

Singles

On August 4, 2015, Manafest simultaneously released the first two singles off the album: "Let You Drive" and "Reborn" to pledgers. This was followed by the re-releasing of "Let Go" on August 19. Finally, "Shine On", featuring Trevor McNevan, was released to pledgers on August 24.

On August 7, "Let You Drive" and "Reborn" received simultaneous official releases as singles on iTunes.[41][42]

In September 2015, "Let You Drive" reached No. 1 on the CMW Rhythmic chart.[43]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Chris Greenwood and Joel Bruyere, except where noted

Album release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Reborn" (featuring The Drawing Room) 3:08
2."Let You Drive"Greenwood, Seth Mosley3:29
3."Fearless" (featuring Alicia Simila of Newport Worship) 3:30
4."Army" 3:20
5."Shine On (Shine)" (featuring Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch)Greenwood, Bruyere, Trevor McNevan3:39
6."Pray"Greenwood, Mosley3:48
7."Stay Close" 3:48
8."Stick to Your Gunz" (featuring Soul Glow Activatur)Greenwood, Bruyere, Solomon Olds4:12
9."Last Train" (featuring DJ Versatile) 3:18
10."I Have a Dream" (featuring Shonlock and Tedashii)Greenwood, Chris Stacey3:26
11."Jack & Jill" 2:37
12."Let Go" (featuring Dave Stovall)Greenwood, Jasen Rauch, Dave Stovall3:07
Total length:41:22
PledgeMusic bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Pray" (featuring Yosh of Survive Said the Prophet)Greenwood, Mosley3:52
14."I Won't Give Up" (Demo) 3:51
15."Transform" (featuring Relic the Oddity)Greenwood3:09

Personnel

-Numbers in parenthesis symbolize track numbers

Additional musicians and production
  • Kelly Hoppe - harmonica on track 1
  • Seth Mosley - co-producer, background vocals, keys/programming: track 2 and 6, bass (on track 6 only)
  • Michael X O'Connor - co-producer, engineering, sound editing: track 2 and 6
  • Jerricho Scroggins - backing vocals on track 2, sound editing (2, 6), production assistant (2, 6)
  • Jerry McPherson - guitars on track 2 and 6
  • Miles McPherson (former live drummer of Paramore) - drums on track 2 and 6
  • Tony Lucido - bass (on track 2 only)
  • David Davidson - violin, strings arrangement: track 6
  • David Angell - violin on track 6
  • Monisa Angell - viola on track 6
  • Carole Rabinowitz - cello on track 6
  • Sean Moffitt - mixing on track 2 and 6
  • Austin Atwood - engineering on track 2 and 6
  • Bobby Shin - engineering on track 2
  • Michael Sanders - sound editing on track 2 and 6
  • Graham Brozyck - vocal recording/engineering for Alicia Simila (on track 3)
  • Scott Wandrey - vocal recording/engineering for Alicia Simila (on track 3)
  • Phil Demetro - mastering
  • Ryan Clark - art direction/design
  • Melanie Greenwood - photography

Chart performance

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[44] 34
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[45] 20

Music videos

Lyric videos

Notes

  • "Let Go" featuring Dave Stovall was originally a song that didn't make the final cut of Manafest's previous album The Moment,[6] but was later released as a late 2014 single which preceded Reborn.
  • The song, "I Have a Dream", is based in part on the famous speech of the same name, given by Martin Luther King in 1963. The track contains the recorded excerpt of King uttering the famous phrase.
  • On multiple occasions leading up to the album's release, Manafest referred to the song Trevor McNevan was to be featured on as "Shine"[46][47] and it is also attributed as this in the album credits. However, according to the official track listing and the back of the physical album casing, the track is called "Shine On".[48]
  • The lyrics for the song "Fearless" were written just before Chris Greenwood's daughter London was born in March, 2014. The track speaks to his thoughts on being a father, but never really having a father himself.[49][50]
  • The last line in the song "Jack & Jill" was originally from the opening verse of Manafest's previous track "Live On" off his 2008's album Citizens Activ.
  • Though originally intended to do some writing on the album,[4] this release marks the first Manafest album to not feature any contribution by Manafest's long-time producer and friend Adam Messinger.
  • According to Manafest, the bonus track "I Won't Give Up" may see release to the general public as a single.[35]
  • The bonus track "Transform" is an archived track from the earlier years in Manafest's career.

References

  1. ^ a b "Manafest Prepares to Release Reborn Oct. 2". New Release Today. August 7, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Manafest Returns To Indie Roots, Release Reborn Oct. 2". Jesus Freak Hideout. August 7, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d "Manafest PledgeMusic Reborn Campaign". PledgeMusic. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d "Manafest - New Album Pledge Music Campaign". YouTube. April 24, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Manafest X PledgeMusic Interview Reborn". YouTube. May 22, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Manafest Listening Party Live Q&A". YouTube. August 19, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  7. ^ ""Let Go" Single on Manafest's official store". Shopify. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  8. ^ "Manafest Going Independent With 9th Studio Album". New Release Today. August 4, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "Manafest PledgeMusic: Manafest Live in Japan (Unreleased)". PledgeMusic. June 12, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  10. ^ "Manafest to release new album, raise money for epilepsy as sister has third brain surgery". Rapzilla. May 6, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  11. ^ "Manafest Raising Funds for New Album Reborn". Indie Vision Music. May 29, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  12. ^ "Manafest PledgeMusic: Manafest X Soul Glow Activatur". PledgeMusic. June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  13. ^ "PledgeMusic: Tedashii X Manafest". PledgeMusic. June 27, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "PledgeMusic: Manafest X Shonlock". PledgeMusic. July 2, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  15. ^ "Manafest PledgeMusic: Hip Hop Track & Trevor Feature Update". PledgeMusic. May 13, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  16. ^ "PledgeMusic: Manafest X Trevor McNevan". PledgeMusic. July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  17. ^ "PledgeMusic: 110% and Big Announcement". PledgeMusic. July 29, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  18. ^ "Manafest Reborn 10.2.15". YouTube. August 6, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  19. ^ "PledgeMusic: Manafest Reborn Logo". PledgeMusic. July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  20. ^ "Manafest Coming with an Army Features!". YouTube. July 12, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  21. ^ "PledgeMusic: New Music>>> REBORN is almost here!". PledgeMusic. July 31, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  22. ^ "PledgeMusic: Reborn Cover & New Music.. Links Fixed :)". PledgeMusic. July 15, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  23. ^ "Manafest "Let You Drive" Lyric Video". YouTube. August 5, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  24. ^ "Manafest "Reborn" Lyric Video". YouTube. August 5, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  25. ^ "Music Premiere: Manafest - "Reborn" ft. The Drawing Room". Rapzilla. August 5, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  26. ^ ""Let You Drive" single on iTunes". iTunes. August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  27. ^ "PledgeMusic: "Let You Drive" Video Shoot & Europe Tour". PledgeMusic. August 17, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  28. ^ "PledgeMusic: Track listing and "Let Go"". PledgeMusic. August 19, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  29. ^ "Manafest "Let You Drive" Music Video". YouTube. August 28, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  30. ^ "Manafest announces iTunes preorder for Reborn". Facebook. September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  31. ^ "Manafest Offers Two New Tracks with iTunes Pre-Order of Reborn". Soul-Audio.com. August 26, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  32. ^ a b "PledgeMusic: Reborn Album Download". PledgeMusic. September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  33. ^ "PledgeMusic: Pray Music Video". PledgeMusic. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  34. ^ "Manafest "Pray" Official Music Video". YouTube. September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  35. ^ a b "PledgeMusic: Manafest Reborn Bonus Songs!". PledgeMusic. October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  36. ^ Argyrakis, Andy (October 15, 2015). "Manafest: Reborn album review". CCM Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ a b Major, Chris (October 10, 2015). "Manafest Establishes As A Landmark In Christian Rap With "Reborn"". The Christian Beat. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  38. ^ a b Hoskins, Kevin (September 25, 2015). "Manafest, "Reborn" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  39. ^ a b Aldis, Carolyn (February 8, 2016). "Review - Manafest - Reborn". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  40. ^ a b Ryan, Mark (October 6, 2015). "(In)dependent Spirit". New Release Today. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  41. ^ ""Let You Drive" single on iTunes". iTunes. August 7, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  42. ^ ""Reborn" single on iTunes". iTunes. August 7, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  43. ^ "Manafest Inspires Fans to "Pray" in Second Video From Reborn". Jesus Freak Hideout. September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  44. ^ "Manafest Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  45. ^ "Manafest Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  46. ^ "Manafest "Shine" featuring Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch (TFK) Christian Rock". YouTube. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  47. ^ "Manafest Promotes "Shine" on Facebook". Facebook. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  48. ^ "Manafest Reveals Tracklisting for New Album, Reborn". Rapzilla. August 18, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  49. ^ "Manafest Explains "Fearless" on Facebook". Facebook. June 10, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  50. ^ "Manafest "Fearless" Song Explanation". YouTube. October 5, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
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