Manafest

After a skateboarding accident in 1998,{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2013 |title=Manafest - Skate Accident Story |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EEFamNHCVo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/9EEFamNHCVo |archive-date=2021-12-13 |access-date=August 11, 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Greenwood shifted his focus to musical writing. He and fellow rapper Jusachyl started a hip-hop group, Under One King.{{Cite web |date=July 5, 2012 |title=Manafest Explains the Meaning Behind the Name 'Manafest' |url=https://www.breathecast.com/articles/manafest-christian-music-news-the-meaning-behind-the-name-3536/ |access-date=September 22, 2017 |publisher=BC News: BREATHEcast}}{{Cite web |title=Manafest Music - Reviews |url=http://www.christianmusictown.com/artist/manafest/rev_youth.html |access-date=September 25, 2017 |publisher=Christian Music Town}} During this time, Greenwood used his skater nickname 'Speedy' as his moniker. In 2000, Greenwood shifted to the stage name Manafest and began to produce music independently.

In 2001, Manafest debuted 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.{{Cite web |title=Covenant Awards Archives |url=http://www.gmacanada.ca/covenant-awards-archives/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218065318/http://www.gmacanada.ca/covenant-awards-archives/ |archive-date=December 18, 2014 |access-date=March 22, 2015 |publisher=GMACanada.ca}} 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.{{Cite web |date=August 19, 2014 |title=Manafest Listening Party Live Q&A |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p-bR6N-AhE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/9p-bR6N-AhE |archive-date=2021-12-13 |access-date=March 22, 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2005 |title=Epiphany review on Jesus Freak Hideout |url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/Epiphany.asp |access-date=March 22, 2015 |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout}} This led to his signing with an internationally distributed label, BEC Recordings under the Uprok Records label.

After signing on with BEC, he released his second album Epiphany in 2005, The release achieved several nominations and awards.

He released his third album, Glory, in 2006,. The album won the Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year at the 2007 GMA Canada Covenant Awards, as well a nomination for Artist of the Year. The album also marked Manafest's first release to be nominated in the Juno Awards.

In 2008, his fourth album, Citizens Activ, received many nominations and awards. The album boosted Manafest's fame and reputation in Japan immensely.{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2008 |title=Manafest: Canadian gospel rapper with a surprising Japanese following |url=https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Manafest_Canadian_gospel_rapper_with_a_surprising_Japanese_following/34127/p1/ |access-date=June 23, 2015 |publisher=Cross Rhythms}}{{Cite web |date=June 26, 2010 |title=The Chase review by Cross Rhythms |url=https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Manafest/The_Chase/89256/ |access-date=June 23, 2015 |publisher=Cross Rhythms}}

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.{{Cite web |title=The Chase Award History on AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-chase-mw0001965114/awards |access-date=March 22, 2015 |publisher=AllMusic}}{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2011 |title=Manafest Celebrates First Career No. 1 Single |url=https://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/172-press/3560-manafest-celebrates-first-career-no-1-single |access-date=February 28, 2015 |publisher=Rapzilla}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Covenant Awards Archives |url=http://www.gmacanada.ca/covenant-awards-archives/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218065318/http://www.gmacanada.ca/covenant-awards-archives/ |archive-date=December 18, 2014 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |publisher=GMACanada.ca}}

In 2012, he 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.{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2013 |title=Dove Awards Announce "Hip-Hop/Rap Album of the Year" Nominations |url=https://www.rapzilla.com/rz/news/38-backstage/6862-44th-dove-awards-announce-hip-hoprap-album-of-the-year-nominations |access-date=March 22, 2015 |publisher=Rapzilla}} Because of this album's release, Manafest fans have since become known officially as "Fighters" amongst themselves, as well as Manafest himself.{{Cite web |date=July 10, 2015 |title=PledgeMusic: Manafest Reborn Logo |url=http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/handsoffthewheel/updates/56032 |access-date=July 10, 2015 |publisher=PledgeMusic}}

In late 2013, he released his first Christmas single "California Christmas", featuring Joel Piper.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

In 2014, he released his seventh album The Moment.{{Cite web |last=Spiegel |first=Jase |date=December 24, 2012 |title=Interview: Manafest |url=http://www.rockrevoltmagazine.com/manafestinterview/ |publisher=Rock Revolt Magazine}} The genre of the release deviated from his hard rock style and featured a more electronic hip hop sound.

In late 2014, he 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 briefly pulled from iTunes. He also hinted it might make his next album's track listing.

He started a PledgeMusic campaign for Reborn on April 24, 2015.{{Cite web |date=August 4, 2015 |title=Manafest Going Independent With 9th Studio Album |url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=901 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |publisher=New Release Today}} The album released globally on October 2, 2015.

On their 2016 album Hold the Light, Bread of Stone featured Manafest on the track "Battleground".

On February 20, 2017, he launched a Kickstarter project for Stones.{{Cite web |date=February 24, 2017 |title=Manafest Launches Kickstarter Campaign for Upcoming Album Stones |url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=2117 |access-date=October 20, 2019 |publisher=New Release Today}}{{Cite web |last=Ivy |first=Brandon |date=February 21, 2017 |title=Manafest Launches Kickstarter For New Album |url=https://www.indievisionmusic.com/news/manafest-launches-kickstarter-new-album/ |access-date=October 20, 2019 |publisher=Indie Vision Music}} It was independently released on July 21, 2017.{{Cite web |date=July 18, 2017 |title=JFH News: Manafest Releases 1st Rock Album In 5 Years, Stones, July 21 |url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2017/07/18.ManafestReleases1stRockAlbumIn5YearsStonesJuly21.asp |access-date=July 27, 2017 |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout}} In May 2018, he launched another PledgeMusic campaign to fund Stones Reloaded,{{Cite web |date=June 11, 2018 |title=Manafest Reloads with Remix Record Via Pledge Music |url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=3256 |access-date=October 20, 2019 |publisher=New Release Today}} a remix album and companion piece to the original album. The release was fully funded and publicly released on September 21, 2018.{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2018 |title=Manafest Releasing Remix Album 'Stones Reloaded' |url=https://www.louderthanthemusic.com/document.php?id=7166 |access-date=October 20, 2019 |publisher=Louder Than Music}}

On September 17, 2019, after releasing several singles earlier in the year, he announced a new crowdfunding campaign in order to fund his tenth studio album This Is Not The End. The album was released on December 13, 2019.{{Cite web |last=Nikkel |first=Mary |date=September 18, 2019 |title=Manafest Launches Campaign For New Album This Is Not The End |url=https://rockonpurpose.live/2019/09/18/manafest-launches-campaign-for-new-album-this-is-not-the-end/ |access-date=January 17, 2015 |publisher=apostlesthatrockradio.com}}{{Cite web |last=J. |first=Brandon |date=September 29, 2019 |title=Manafest to Release New Album This Is Not The End, Drops New Single |url=https://www.indievisionmusic.com/news/manafest-to-release-new-album-this-is-not-the-end-drops-new-single/ |access-date=January 17, 2015 |publisher=Indie Vision Music}}

Manafest released his eleventh album I Run With Wolves on May 6, 2022, featuring Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. on the track "Nemesis".

Manafest's genre has developed and changed over his career. After starting with a classic urban hip hop style for his first four releases, Manafest developed a style of alternative rock and rap rock by lightly mixing it into Citizens Activ, and integrating it by the time of The Chase. In 2014, with the release of The Moment, Manafest's style changed to a mixture of rap rock and electronic-based hip-hop.{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2015 |title=Manafest Prepares to Release Reborn Oct. 2 |url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=963 |access-date=September 15, 2015 |publisher=New Release Today}}{{Cite web |date=August 7, 2015 |title=Manafest Returns To Indie Roots, Release Reborn Oct. 2 |url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2015/08/07.Manafest%20To%20Release%20Reborn%20Oct.%202.asp |access-date=September 13, 2015 |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout}}

{{main|Manafest discography}}

Studio albums

• My Own Thing (2003)
• Epiphany (2005)
• Glory (2006)
• Citizens Activ (2008)
• The Chase (2010)
• Fighter (2012)
• The Moment (2014)
• Reborn (2015)
• Stones (2017)
• This Is Not the End (2019){{Cite web |date=September 29, 2019 |title=Manafest to Release New Album 'This Is Not The End', Drops New Single - Music Videos, News |url=https://www.indievisionmusic.com/news/manafest-to-release-new-album-this-is-not-the-end-drops-new-single/ |website=Indievisionmusic.com}}
• I Run with Wolves (2022){{Cite web |title=New Album I Run with Wolves |url=https://www.manafest.com/go |website=www.manafest.com |accessdate=January 4, 2022}}
• Learning How to Be Human (2024)https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0D4587SJB{{cite web | url=https://www.thechristianbeat.org/manafest-drops-learning-how-to-be-human-album/ | title=Manafest Drops 'Learning How to be Human' Album | date=June 14, 2024 }}
• Silent Beast (2024){{Cite web|url=https://manafestshop.com/products/autographed-silent-beast-cd-pre-order?srsltid=AfmBOoqPXEwj7Wvl1W5XpuNUJpQVVXkibAQGRmIMq4f-USoNpcaY4ECm|title=Autographed "Silent Beast" CD + Digital Download (Pre-Order)|website=Manafest}}

GMA Canada Covenant Awards

• 2002 Modern Rock/Alternative Song of the Year: "Freedom"
• 2005 Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year: Epiphany
• 2005 Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year: "Let It Go" (with Nasri Atweh, Adam Messinger, Aubrey Noronha and Gerhard Thomas)
• 2006 nominee, Video of the Year: "Rodeo"
• 2007 Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year: GloryIn 2007 Manafest also received GMAC nominations for: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year: Glory, and Recorded Song of the Year: "Bounce". [http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/awards/C101/ CGMA 2007 Covenant Award Nominees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204121032/http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/awards/C101/ |date=February 4, 2009 }}. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
• 2007 Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year: "Bounce"
• 2007 nominee, Artist of the Year
• 2008 nominee, Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year: Citizens Activ
• 2008 nominee, Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year: "Good Day" (with Adam Messinger)
• 2009 Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year: "4-3-2-1" (with Adam Messinger)Manafest was also nominated as GMAC Artist of the Year in 2009. [http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/news/C45 GMAC 2009 Covenant Award Nominees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628051602/http://www.gmacanada.ca/go/site/news/C45 |date=June 28, 2009 }}. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
• 2009 nominee, Artist of the Year
• 2010 Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year: The Chase
• 2011 Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year: Live In Concert
• 2011 Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year: "Avalanche"

GMA Dove Awards

• 2007 nominee, Rap/Hip-Hip Recorded Song of the Year: "Skills"
• 2007 nominee, Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Album of the Year: Glory
• 2009 nominee, Rap/Hip-Hip Recorded Song of the Year: "So Beautiful"
• 2009 nominee, Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Album of the Year: Citizens Activ
• 2012 nominee, Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Album of the Year: Fighter

Juno Awards

• 2007 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Glory
• 2011 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: The Chase
• 2015 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: The Moment
• 2017 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Reborn
• 2018 nominee, Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year: Stones

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

• Josh Macintosh — lead guitar (2010–present){{Cite web |title=Josh Macintosh on LinkedIn |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pub/josh-macintosh/40/114/a15 |access-date=March 21, 2015 |publisher=LinkedIn}}
• John Panzer – rhythm guitar (2016–present){{Cite web |date=April 24, 2021 |title=John Panzer of Fight the Fury |url=https://www.solidrockradio.org/backstage-with-mothership/john-panzer-of-fight-the-fury/ |access-date=January 16, 2022 |website=Solid Rock Radio |quote=He has also been the touring guitarist for Veridia, Disciple, Manafest, and other rock bands in the faith-based music industry.}}
• Ian Hough – bass (2015–present){{Cite web |title=Ian Hough on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/theianhough |access-date=March 31, 2015 |publisher=Twitter}}
• Tyler Armenta – drums (2016–present)

Former

• Mike Crofts – bass (2010–2015){{Cite web |title=Mike Crofts on GHS |url=https://www.ghsstrings.com/users/2574988 |access-date=March 21, 2015 |publisher=GHS}}
• Joe Rickard – drums (2014–2016){{Cite web |date=January 6, 2013 |title=Joe Rickard on Instagram |url=https://instagram.com/p/xiDVdLB7y4/ |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/xiDVdLB7y4 |archive-date=2021-12-24 |access-date=March 21, 2015 |publisher=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}
• Travis Blackmore – drums (2010–2013){{Cite web |date=March 11, 2013 |title=Travis Blackmore tells fan he is no longer with Manafest |url=https://instagram.com/p/Wur2G8RCgW/ |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Wur2G8RCgW |archive-date=2021-12-24 |access-date=March 21, 2015 |publisher=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}

In 1984, at the age of five, Chris Greenwood lost his father to suicide, leaving only him, his sister Virginia, and his mother.{{Cite web |date=December 25, 2012 |title=Interview: Manafest |url=http://rockrevoltmagazine.com/manafestinterview/ |access-date=March 16, 2015 |publisher=Christian Revolt}} A few years after, at a Bible camp,{{Cite web |title=Manafest "Reborn" Behind The Scenes Song Explanation | date=October 7, 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22H5usWJ4_E |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/22H5usWJ4_E |archive-date=2021-12-13 |access-date=October 7, 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} 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.{{Cite web |date=February 26, 2014 |title=Manafest, a "Fighter" in Life - Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahodNA8c8hk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/ahodNA8c8hk |archive-date=2021-12-13 |access-date=March 16, 2015 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Greenwood later began songwriting and started his career as a Christian artist.{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2016 |title=Manafest - A Fighter Isn't Someone Who Never Fails, A Fighter is Someone Who Never Quits |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8jQIrCx-OU |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/m8jQIrCx-OU |archive-date=2021-12-13 |access-date=July 27, 2017 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

In 2003, Greenwood married his wife Melanie Cardoza. They have a daughter.{{Cite web |title=Manafest Announces Seventh Album The Moment |url=http://www.becrecordings.com/news/4565/Manafest_Announces_Seventh_Album_The_Moment/ |access-date=March 13, 2015 |publisher=BEC Recordings}}

In 2012, Greenwood and his wife moved to Los Angeles, California.{{Cite journal |last=Argyrakis |first=Andy |title=Moment at a Time - CCM Magazine Review of The Moment |url=http://ht.salemweb.net/ccm/ccmmagazine/digital/2014/sep15/index.html |journal=CCM Magazine |access-date=March 13, 2015 |quote=I'm a very different person than I was a few years ago. Since my move to California and having a daughter, my perspective on life and music has changed.}} In October 2015, he and his family moved back to Toronto, Canada.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|1=https://www.manafest.com}}
• {{allmusic}}

{{Manafest}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Canadian Christians

Category:Canadian performers of Christian music

Category:Performers of Christian hip-hop

Category:Canadian male rappers

Category:21st-century Canadian rappers

Category:Canadian rock singers

Category:Canadian rap rock musicians

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:Singers from Toronto

Category:BEC Recordings artists

Category:People from Pickering, Ontario

Category:21st-century Canadian male musicians