Award-winning Ghanaian rapper M.anifest has joined forces with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Nigerian highlife duo The Cavemen for his new single, “Puff Puff.” The collaboration began at M.anifest’s festival, Manifestivities, in Accra two years ago, where he connected with The Cavemen. Later, he traveled to Los Angeles to work with Flea, bonding over a shared love of jazz, literature, and Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen. The result is a track that blends highlife, hip-hop, and jazz, with Flea contributing a trumpet solo that deepens the song’s warm, soulful vibe.

Produced by Budo and The Cavemen, “Puff Puff” is an anthem of resilience — a reminder to keep going despite life’s struggles. The Cavemen’s hook, “puff puff pass, keep the fire burning,” serves as a call to share strength and wisdom with others. M.anifest reflects on the challenges of daily life in his verses, while Flea’s solo adds a reflective, jazzy layer that ties it all together.

Reflecting on the song, M.anifest says, ““Puff Puff” is one of the most seamless blends of highlife and hip-hop you’ve ever heard. I really dig how we switch up from the dreamy highlife hook into the pithy verses driven by head banging 808s, and then cap it off with that jazz trumpet solo. It’s one of my favourite-ever collaborations because of how it’s so innovative and unexpected yet still so familiar.

He continues, “The video came out from a fortuitous happenstance where Flea, The Cavemen, and I were all in California at the same time.

The song speaks for itself, so we shot easy going visuals where we could amplify the feel of the song through performance. It’s got this free-spirited vibe that flows effortlessly, harmonious yet reflective, set against these warm, natural backdrops. It’s cruising in a vintage car down empty streets, laid back but vibing with the energy of the moment.”

With over a decade in the game, and projects like Madina to the Universe and The E.P.ilogue, M.anifest is known for his bold fusion of hip-hop and African sounds. Through his music, he brings the African experience to a global audience, all while continuing to push creative boundaries. Now, as he gears up for his sixth studio album, M.anifest keeps evolving, remaining a visionary in African music.

Listen to “Puff Puff” below.