Towards the end of 2023, Ghanaian artist, M.anifest, released the second edition of his previously released single, “Suffer;” which speaks on the reality of everyday life and the bitter necessity of experiencing struggle. In his second edition, M.anifest adds a more melodic feel by introducing a chorus of singers emphasizing the line, “You’ve never known joy if you’ve never had to suffer.” While M.anifest stays true to the origins of the song by reusing bars that speak to disproportionate ideas of capitalism such as, “shackles crippling dreams” and “greed is where corruption is,” in the updated version of his single, he also decides to place more emphasis on how ironically individuals need suffering in their lives.
Within this social commentary, M.anifest draws the audience in by highlighting how without setbacks within our daily lives we have nothing to look forward to. Conversely, M.anifest also places a looming shadow on the overprivileged by assessing that if an individual has always had access to certain luxuries, they become immune to just how advantageous those luxuries are; and thus never experience real joy. M.anifest’s intentional lingering on the joyous aspect of coming out on the other side speaks to the everyday individual who is bogged down by economic woes and lack of motivation, and reassures them that life’s hardships make for a greater appreciation of individual happiness and success.
In addition to the repetition of the chorus, it is also key to note the standout bars from the well-developed verses. M.anifest begins the song by speaking on the resources available to him with the limited amount of funds available. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, M.anifest addresses the crisis of food deserts and inaccessible food options by highlighting how affordable groceries are cheap and bad for one’s health, while natural and organic groceries are hard to come by and unaffordable. Under the greedy system of many political governments, which is addressed later within the song, low-income individuals are forced to deteriorate their health and are oftentimes left without the ability to seek out or afford a proper medical assessment, creating an endless loop of struggle.
Another area of the song that stands out is when M.anifest speaks on the dangers of warped priorities. Within his bar, he states, “These crabs in the barrel more concerned about apparel,” speaking on individuals who are not in tune with everyday societal issues that affect marginalized groups and the state of the economy. By calling out these individuals, M.anifest makes it a point to call out the fixed nature of individuals driven to earn money only to spend it on frivolous items.
By combining his lyrics filled with the appropriate kind of substance and an enthusiastic choir, M.anifest delivers a mixed-element hip-hop classic that speaks to the average citizen.
Listen to Suffer II: https://youtu.be/vYDh3cE_ERk?si=YYgtCOseZFfVa0xO