Born and raised in Grenada, Jabari Manwa rose to global domination as one of the quintessential members of the Brockampton crew. The self-proclaimed boy band emerged as one of the most exciting hybrid acts of the ’10’s, with Manwa responsible for much of the innovative and compelling production across the group’s array of albums. Last year, Brockampton’s day in the sun came to an end, with each distinguished member now set to embark on their solo adventures. Manwa’s comes in the form of SAGA BOUY.

The name derives from Manwa’s Caribbean roots, with SAGA BOUY being an amiable slang term for “well-dressed man”, and from our first teaser, the clothing etiquette is reflected in the music. “DRUNK OFF LOVE” is an eclectic melting pot of generic influences. Borrowing from stylistic characteristics as far wide as hip-hop, Afrobeats, R&B, Soca and drill, Manwa finds himself weaving through a spacey trap-laden soundscape that is immersive, challenging and encompassing. The swirling synths and hard hitting percussion act as a guide for the rapper’s slick flow and vocality, as he projects a familiar narrative of heartache and lost love into his own lyrical nuance.

Speaking on the track, SAGA BOUY comments, “In 2021, I got into a relationship that really took a toll on me….simultaneously the group was falling apart. It felt like everything I built in LA was crumbling. So I took off to London to catch a new vibe and lock in on music and fashion there. All this set me down this new path to pursue my own vision and artistry as Saga Bouy.” 

A provoking tale atop an avant-garde and ambitious sonic palette, there is plenty of promise and intrigue in the debut offering from Manwa, and with his debut album due out this summer, we can’t wait to delve deeper into the world of SAGA BOUY.

Watch the trippy visuals below…