His bars are cerebral, evoking tendencies that were long thought latent – sending listeners on a head trip. Hansaka Wickramarathna, aka ‘Manasick’ is an unmatched poet and hip hop harbinger.
Manasick is part of the Drill Team Westnahira – a rap crew that is redefining Sri Lankan music. However, following a slew of successful releases and shows, the artists suffered a massive setback after the place they were slated to perform was destroyed.
Observer Muse reached out to Manasick to see what’s going on his world:
Hansaka Wickramarathna, aka ‘Manasick’
Q: How is Dubai treating you?
A: Hey brother! It’s a peaceful, safe place and it’s given me so many opportunity to grow, support my family, and develop both financially and mentally. Dubai has truly been amazing, man.
Q: The venue burned down and you had to call off the concert. How are you taking this setback?
A: Honestly, it was truly heartbreaking because so many people were looking forward to this. Many fans had bought tickets months in advance, and some were travelling from far-off and remote places such as Arugam Bay, Jaffna, Polonnaruwa, Moneragala, and Hambantota. They were ready to share this moment with us. Unfortunately, there are things in life that are simply beyond our control. Once we received the disappointing news, we worked on a few plans for how to execute the concert without tarnishing the experience. Kataka is unique in its own way; the concept of the concert entails creating a very intimate, adrenaline-fuelled event for the audience.
We are very concerned about the value proposition we deliver at our concerts. We spoke to all our teams and checked whether we could provide the same experience at another venue. Unfortunately, there were none available in Sri Lanka. That’s when we decided that rather than doing a mediocre show, we would cancel it. For any other reason, we wanted Kataka to be remembered as one of the best shows in Sri Lanka, so compromising on quality was an absolute no.
Of course, we had the option to relocate the venue to either an outdoor or cheaper site if we were concerned about financial gains. But at the end of the day, as an artist, I believe our integrity reflects our art and personality. As always, we chose the fans. We wanted to give them a proper experience, not something compromised. So, we made a sacrifice on our end and informed our fans that the show was being cancelled.
Q: Tell us some of the challenges you face as an underground artist?
A: In major music industries like that of the U.S., when someone is described as ‘underground’, it usually means they are independent, not signed to any record label, and not backed by mainstream platforms, radio, or large streaming outlets. They often do not use conventional artistic expression to deliver their creations. However, in Sri Lanka, we don’t really have record labels or a significant music industry, especially for rap music.
Most of the time, particularly due to the influence of social media platforms, the line between ‘underground’ and ‘mainstream’ becomes blurred. Since there is no major distinction between the two, I no longer see my purpose as being an underground act solely for branding purposes. As an artist, I want people to recognise my skills, my techniques, the subjects I discuss, and the depth of my work. I create mainly for my own pleasure, without considering fame, going viral, or changing my identity to fit into what is popular.
In answer to your question, one of the biggest challenges in creating art is the production. People don’t realise the amount and quality of resources required to deliver high-quality art. None of this comes for free. Every time we think about levelling up the hip-hop game, we are confronted with challenges related to time, resources, and quality. Honestly, since the very beginning, we have not had any form of assistance from external sponsors or angel investors. Most of the time, we have relied on our own savings, without even considering the possibility of making it back. As a result, when attempting proper production in Sri Lanka, we often end up facing financial losses.
This is not only a challenge but also a concern we have as artists. I believe the audience has become accustomed to consuming superficial, cotton candy-like entertainment rather than well-crafted art pieces. We spend months creating and perfecting our craft, and unfortunately, there are very few people who understand the meaning behind it. People need a bit of education to experience art in its true form, which is something that is lacking among the majority of people nowadays.
Q: Mainstream audiences in Sri Lanka still view Hip Hop and Rap from its ‘Gangsta’ and ‘Cash Money’ eras, but what is your Conscious Rap all about?
A: Hip-hop is a broad and diverse culture, it stretches across a wide spectrum. There’s so much within it, and because of that, we can’t just say ‘this is right’ or ‘this is wrong.’ But most people tend to think that rap music only talks about the things you just mentioned, that’s a misconception by the majority. There are plenty of other topics we and many other rappers in Sri Lanka, talk about: political issues, corruption, gender-based violence, child abuse, depression, suicide you name it. If people actually take a moment to look a bit deeper, they’ll see it’s all there. The bigger issue is that these types of messages don’t often reach the mass audience.
What I create comes from a real place it’s rooted in my own experiences, in the environment I grew up in, and in the thoughts that matured with me over time. I’m not fabricating these stories. What I rap about is the pain I’ve lived, the breath I’ve taken in this society, and the emotional release of everything I’ve absorbed. What flows through me in those moments is what comes out in my music.
I’ve never created music with the belief that my art will change society. But what I do hope to do is to spark something, even something small, in the minds and hearts of the people who listen. If that little spark leads them to reflect, to connect with their own experiences, and maybe even contribute something meaningful to the world around them that’s powerful.
Q: You previously called yourself “Born Lord” before choosing the stage name “Manasick”. You also wear face paint during your performances. Enlighten us about your persona.
A: What first drew us in was the culture behind rap music. That’s where the name ‘Born Lord’ originally came from too. It was born out of my passion for that rap culture. But over time, I started to realize that this identity didn’t fully reflect who I truly was. In my everyday life, I’m an introvert. I’m someone who tends to keep to himself, not talk much, and stay in my own space. But the moment I step behind a mic or into my music I become someone else entirely. I genuinely believe I have an alter ego. Eventually, I gave that alter ego a name: ‘Man-a-sick.’ I felt like that name really fit me. Because when I create music, I become a different version of myself, more intense, more expressive.
As for the face paint, it’s actually inspired by Tech N9ne’s ‘K.O.D Jaws’. He was a huge influence on me and played a big part in why I even wanted to become a rapper in the first place. That face paint for me, became a kind of armour; a way to visually express that transformation.
Q: Some say that underground artists are only “underground” till they hit the big time.
A: The definition of an ‘underground artist’ in Sri Lanka is very different from what it means in places like America. In countries with well-established music industries, being underground often means you’re independent, you’re carving your own path, without the backing of a label or mainstream exposure. But in Sri Lanka, ‘underground’ is often defined simply by how few people are aware of you. And that’s where the lines get blurred. For example, Someone might be actively trying to get famous, putting out music with the goal of reaching a large audience but if not many people know them yet, they still get labelled as ‘underground’?
In reality, that’s not quite accurate. It’s better to say they’re underrated, not underground. Like I said before, it’s a very subtle difference, but an important one. You might have someone out there who genuinely has no desire to go mainstream, no intention of catering to anyone else’s expectations. They creat purely for personal satisfaction. They don’t chase fame, and they’re not interested in validation.
But what if one day, someone records their work and posts it on social media, and overnight they go viral? Suddenly, he/she have an opportunity in front of them. And in that moment, they have to decide: what is their purpose? What path do they want to take? I think that moment where they have to make that choice is where the true line between underground and mainstream lies.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with either side. Everyone should have the freedom to do what they love, whether that’s staying true to a niche path or stepping into the spotlight.
Q: Let’s talk about KATAKA. The album comes in the heels of Deviyange Bare which was also a massive success. Can you tell us how much work went in?
A: We also dropped an album called Nara Sandeshaya, and Kataka is our second album. The reason we named it KATAKA is because that’s my astrological sign. Growing up, I was always told by astrologers how my life and future would unfold. But I’ve ended up walking a different path. Through all the things I’ve experienced in life, I had to prove to myself that none of those predictions define me. So this album became a personal challenge.
I pushed myself to evolve my rhymes, my techniques, my concepts. The goal was to create something that stood apart from what I’d done before. Shout out to producers BEE, Dinesh, Hiroo, who’s been a huge part of creating music. We never stopped after this album dropped. We went on to create music videos for “Aruma” And “Pudumayak Wage”. “Aruma” which we made entirely an animation video and it paid off. The video ended up winning four international awards and four nominations. I whole heartedly dedicate those winnings to Ravindu and Nishan. Kataka was a year-long project, which had many deliverables, including the concert. This project came together thanks to a solid team and it’s a long list.
Q: Your message is loud and clear, but as you have talked about struggles as an artist, what lessons would you impart on aspiring young talents?
A: I believe that when we’re young, we should follow what we love. Life isn’t always about getting everything right. Along the way, we make mistakes and that’s okay. Sometimes we need to do the wrong thing just to learn what the right thing is. That’s part of the journey. Our path isn’t a straight line. To get to where we are now, we’ve all made mistakes and learned from them. I don’t think I’m at a place yet where I can teach others because I’m still learning myself.
Every day, I’m growing. Every tomorrow brings something new for my craft. So, what I always say is this: do what you love. Let every experience, good or bad teach you something. Because at the end of the day, you are your own teacher, and everything you do should be in service of your purpose.
