Review Fix Exclusive: Joey ManifestO Talks ‘Move’ and More

Review Fix chats with Joey ManiestO, who discusses his new single, “Move” and his new EP, as well as his creative process and goals for the future.

Review Fix: How did you first get involved in music?

Joey ManifestO: I’ve always been listening to music. I was that kid that always had headphones on. From the tape era, the CD era, to the MP3 era I was always listening to music. My earliest memory was watching Michael Jacksons performance on Motown’s anniversary on VHS. Since then I always needed to have music on and with me. I never started rapping and writing until later on after High School I got involved with my high school homies who have been rapping the whole time and I joined in with my 5 man crew Operation Industry Shut Down. Seeing them rap during high school planted the seed in me to rap too. I used to post songs on MySpace and through that I rely led with my homie JohnNY U and he brought me into the group. And it’s the same thing witbDope League. We(Dopeleague) were always cool, but it was more so from an outsiders perspective. Until recently they welcomed me into the fold off the strength.

Review Fix: Who inspires you the most musically?

ManifestO: My musical inspirations in no real order are Black Thought, Lupe, Mos Def, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Jay-Z, Nas, Curren$y. I’m really about lyrics. I like people who have put a lot into writing. Also, I like and anybody new including the non-lyrical dudes. It’s new energy. Ironically I rarely get into new artists by self because I’m stubborn and close minded but if my homies or someone I trust puts me on to somebody I’ll give it a chance maybe. I like new information. I like learning new words, and new things. I like pushing myself. And it helps me with writing material. I kind of entertain myself while writing. So I kind of inspire myself as well. Kanye voice Lol.

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

ManifestO: My creative process is kind of fast, initially. If I don’t like the beat, I move on. If I like a beat I know right away. It depends on the beat and how I feel when it comes on. From there, writing is fast and I’ll complete a 16 bar verse, then come back to it and make edits. I play with the verse after writing it, saying words different, changing/rewriting lines, looking for different meanings in the song I may not have realized that I wrote. I’m really about my lyrics. I’m very attention to detail when it comes to that. So after I get the initial emotion or reaction then I start to make sense of it.

Review Fix: What’s the story behind “Move”? How was it written?

ManifestO: The story behind Move was actually the story in the song. I and my homies went out to this spot were the DJ through dope music all night and there weren’t any cell phones allowed. You had to dance and chill like normal human beings without being attached to your notifications so it was dope.

Review Fix: What makes “Live From The Infinite EP” special?

ManifestO: Fresh Daily (who executive produced the project) and I sat down together and hand picked things to align for the project. From the art work that Fresh did as well as the beats, Fresh hooked up the whole thing. I feel like it is the first time I got a solid body of work that I wasn’t trying to over rap on. I have a habit of trying to spit 100 verses and no chorus or song premise and I feel like I got out of that. I really got to show my song writing ability. Also, I feel like the beat selection is better this time around. I have all of my O.I.S.D. and Dopeleague homies all through the project because that’s the vibe we wanted. I have ScienZe, Fresh Daily, J. Monopoly, JohnNY U., Red Wilkins and Latasha Alcindor. Production of The Other Guys, 00Genesis, Chuk, Ment Plus, MosEl and Good Food. Overall the music is just solid. I’m looking to release it near the end of spring.

Review Fix: How did it feel to work with “Scienze”?

ManifestO: It’s cool, and easy. We’re rappers. We rap. It’s not exactly rocket science. No pun intended. Sci is the homie. Also, he was with us at the spot the night of, that I was describing on “Move” so he matched the vibe precisely. We have other songs that I did on his Traveling Man projects and other things that’re tucked in the safe. Other than that it’s just dope.