It’s the middle of a very hot midweek afternoon and Ghanaian rapper M.anifest welcomes me into his place of residence.

The rapper’s home is located in a busy suburb of Accra, Ghana’s bustling capital city. His front yard is full of green shrubbery and flowers, a picturesque and serene haven that’s a sharp contrast to the busy road it’s located on. As we enter he exudes a joyful and carefree demeanor, and I’m reminded that's the only state I’ve ever seen the rapper in every time we’ve met. There’s a possibility that the momentary euphoria that precedes an album release could have a part to play in his mood, but regardless of whatever the source of his joy may be, you can just tell M.anifest is in a good place.

M.anifest is wearing his own merchandise, a black t-shirt adorned with custom artwork based on his upcoming album, Madina to the Universe, the self-promoting hallmark of his all-black getup. After some friendly discourse, the eccentric rapper proceeds to tell me the inspiration behind the album, the interesting stories behind some of its songs, and the inner details of his creative process.