Inspired by a full-circle season that mirrors the hunger and predominant hip-hop flavors accompanying this versatile artist's self-released debut a dozen years ago, Reborn is part of a creative surge that's been churning in the performer's mind for quite awhile.

"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," says Manafest. "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.

"The whole concept of my faith is always all about being reborn and starting anew," continues Manafest. "I've done this for a long time, but at times I feel reborn because I'm basically starting over. And I say that as someone who's not jaded or broke, but as someone who's happy and stoked. I still have lots to say and lots to create."

Joining Manafest in the process of creating Reborn are producers Seth Mosley (Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, Sanctus Real) and Joel Bruyere (Thousand Foot Krutch), along with several eclectic guest performers. The signature rock vocals of longtime Manafest collaborator Trevor McNevan (Thousand Foot Krutch) lifts the chorus in "Shine," a song about living each day to maximum capacity and 'beaming your light' along the way. Rappers Tedashii and Shonlock vibe alongside Manafest on "I Have A Dream," a track that carries on the message of peace and unity that Martin Luther King, Jr. began. Former Family Force 5 lead vocalist Soul Glow Activatur (Solomon Olds) joins Manafest on the rhythmic party rocker "Stick To Your Gunz," an all-out anthem for surviving the struggle and never going down for the count.

The album also features musicians like guitarist Jerry McPherson (Jewel, The Neville Brothers) and drummer Miles McPherson (Paramore), whose pop/punk rhythms propel lead single and video "Let You Drive." The song is available now on iTunes, Spotify and more, and goes for radio adds nationally on Aug. 14. The single is about taking your hands off the wheel and knowing that God's got everything under control.

"So many times I've tried to take control of the wheel steering my life in the direction I wanted to go," reflects Manafest. "I came to understand, through experience, that every time I let God in, it was the better route - not only for having peace during the journey, but also arriving to the destination faster and not as bruised up from life's punches."

That theme carries over into the hip-hop centric album's title track, which premiered this week on Rapzilla.com and is sort of a "Manafest meets Johnny Cash and Mumford & Sons" eclectic offering. (See lyric video below)

"To me, being reborn is starting over and having a second chance," says Manafest. "It's like hitting restart, but without having to go back in time and start from the very beginning. This song is a confession that it's not easy, and that we can all have doubts, but just don't give into them. I fall down, but I rise and go!"

Taking the new music and messages of Reborn, along with his long list of fan favorites, on the road, Manafest brings his live concert experience to fairs, festivals and parks internationally this summer before returning to North America to launch his "Reborn Tour" Sept. 17 in Evansville, IN.

For all the latest Manafest tour dates, music, videos and more, go to www.manafest.com, as well as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest.com, ReverbNation, Spotify, Google+ and BandsInTown.

ABOUT MANAFEST:
Manafest (a.k.a. Canada native, Chris Greenwood) has organically built his fan base since his seminal indie EP Misled Youth launched in 2001. In 2005, Manafest released his first label recording, Epiphany, on BEC Recordings, which launched a series of seven best-selling, award-winning studio albums and one live DVD/CD. In 2006, Manafest's rock anthem "Impossible" from the album, Glory, that features Thousand Foot Krutch's Trevor McNevan, became a global hit. Two years later, Manafest's Citizens Activ gathered multiple TV placements and was followed by 2010's The Chase, which received a JUNO Award nomination and won a 2010 GMA Canada Award. In 2012, Manafest's Dove Award-nominated Fighter debuted at No. 16 on the iTunes® Rock album chart, No. 7 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and No. 8 on the Japan iTunes chart. The next year, Manafest released his first book, Fighter, followed by 2014's acclaimed album, The Moment. Selling more than 300,000 records worldwide, Manafest songs have been featured in video games, as well as on "CSI: Miami," "NFL," "Knight Rider," "NBC-GRIMM," "One Tree Hill," "Jockeys," "MTV Unplugged" and "So You Think You Can Dance Canada." He has also toured throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, China, Ireland and more, while sharing stages with artists like Thousand Foot Krutch, Skillet, RED and many others.

For more info on Manafest visit the JFH Artists Database.

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