The Hip Hop crew|group, Manifesters, was founded|formed on March 1, 1999 by emcee, Versifier, at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Versifier started Manifesters with original members Mesia (emcee), and DJ Slow Motion.
Versifier began learning to freestyle and write rhymes in 1993. By 1995 he was freestyling in cyphers and reciting written rhymes in front of crew/family. In late 1996 Versifier’s family moved from Fairfax County VA (DC metro) to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, and Versifier began his journey to become an emcee. Versifier spent the next two years in any cypher he could find, performing at school events, learning to song write, and engaging with the Twin Cities Hip Hop community. On May 1, 1998, he took the stage name, Versifier.
In September 1998, at Minnesota State University, Versifier meets St. Paul emcee, Mesia, and DJ Slow Motion from Germany. After months spent freestyling together, in March of 1999, Manifesters was born.
From 1999 to 2002 Versifier was a staple in cyphers and the Minneapolis open mic scene, while Manifesters was performing shows with an ever-evolving line-up that included new comers NiiBox (musician|performer), Don't Sleep (emcee), Online (beatboxer|producer), and the Manifest Band.
By mid-2002 Manifesters had settled into a concrete roster consisting of Versifier, NiiBox and Online. Manifesters’ quickly became revered as one of the most diverse live Hip Hop acts in the Twin Cities. Combining beats, rhymes, beatbox, African percussion, vocals, bass, flute, and choreography into their performances, Manifesters have performed in hundreds of shows across the Midwest. Manifesters have performed with such great artists as Mos Def, Mystic, Digital Underground, Brother Ali, Binary Star, Eyedea and Abilities, Unknown Prophets, Toki Wright, Los Nativos, Heiruspecs, Desdamona, Carnage, Staija, Far From Falling, SUSPECTS, Chill 7, and Leroy Smokes, among countless others.
On March 1, 2024, Manifesters celebrated their 25th anniversary, and to date, Versifier continues to release new music.
