Versifier Unleashed: 2022

Versifier | Manifesters Timeline

1993 - February 1999

[Pre-Manifesters Era]

March 1, 2023 will mark Manifesters' 24th anniversary. The complete timeline and history of all that has occurred since I started the group/crew on 3-1-99 is an extensive and on-going project, to be available in its' entirety in due time. However, I'd like to share a condensed history of the time period prior, 1993 to February 28, 1999, what I consider the 'pre-Manifesters era'. This block of time covers me learning how to rhyme, becoming an emcee, taking the name Versifier, and starting the Hip Hop Manifesters student organization. From Day 1 to the day before Manifesters was formed/born.

Contents

Time Period Breakdown

Timeline Image 1 of 2

Timeline Image 2 of 2

Developing Versifier's Style

Photos

*Click on each image/photo to enlarge

Learning to Rhyme 1993 - August 31, 1996

Becoming an Emcee September 1, 1996 - April 30, 1998

Versifier May 1, 1998 - Current

Hip Hop Manifesters January - May 1999

Manifesters March 1, 1999 - Current

These two images provide a condensed, yet extremely informative, history of the 1993-Februray 1999 time period.

Photos

December 25, 1995

Wrote and spit a Christmas-themed rhyme for my family

It was the first time I spit a written rhyme in front of other people

October 1997

Lenny, Sgt. Green (not pictured) & I performing at Lenny and I's homecoming pep-rally our senior year of high school

January 1998

DaJuan, me, Lenny & DJ rockin' a Friday night "booster dance" at our high school

June 1998

DaJuan & I performing at our high school graduation Baccalaureate Ceremony

January 28, 1999

Article about the Hip Hop Manifesters Student Organization published in the Minnesota State University, Mankato's MSU Reporter newspaper

Shout outs and thanks to everyone during this time period who:

*I freestyled with

*I wrote with

*I cyphered and/or performed with

*I discussed & critiqued Hip Hop and rhyming with

*Supported me

DaJuan Gibson (R.I.P.)

Lenny McQuen [aka L, aka Don't Sleep]

Ruckus Squad

Steve Kim

David Thomas

Katie Piper

Kris Odem

Sgt. Green of the US Army

Bobby Hatfield

Chris Gillum [aka C.L.]

DJ Stage One

Alicia Adams

Joe Fessler [aka Online]

Mom and Dad (R.I.P.)

Zavier Smith [aka Nazareth, aka Mesia, aka Mannyfacez]

Dan Schweizer [aka DJ Slow Motion, aka Shape II]

The Prides of Nexu Museum
Hasbro 3-3/4” Action Figures – Evolutions Figure Packs

Evolutions
Boxed Action Figure 3-Pack Sets

Released 2005-2009 in three different action figure lines
*Revenge of the Sith (2005)
*The 30th Anniversary Collection (2007-2008)
*The Legacy Collection (2008-2010)

23    Total Evolutions Released
16    Unique
7    Re-Packs

13    Evolutions Currently in the Prides of Nexu Museum
8    Unique
5    Re-Packs

13 of 23 Total Evolutions
8 of 16 Unique
5 of   7 Re-Packs

Revenge of the Sith
4 of 5 Total | Unique

The 30th Anniversary Collection
5 of 7 Total
2 of 4 Unique
3 of 3 Re-Packs

The Legacy Collection
4 of 11 Total
2 of   7 Unique
2 of   4 Re-Packs

Photo of the Prides of Nexu Museum Evolutions Collection
As of November 2022

Complete List of Evolutions

Unique Packs
Revenge of the Sith (2005)
   Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader
   The Sith
   Clone Trooper to Stormtrooper
   Clone Trooper to Stormtrooper II
   Clone Trooper to Stormtrooper III w/ Bonus Extra Trooper
The 30th Anniversary Collection (2008)
   The Jedi Legacy
   The Sith Legacy
   The Fett Legacy
   Vader’s Secret Apprentice (The Force Unleashed)
The Legacy Collection (2008-2009)
   The Padme Amidala Legacy
   Clone Commandos (Walmart Exclusive)
   Imperial Pilot Legacy I
   Imperial Pilot Legacy II (Walmart Exclusive)
   Rebel Pilot Legacy I
   Rebel Pilot Legacy II
   Rebel Pilot Legacy III (Walmart Exclusive)

Revenge of the Sith Re-Packs
The 30th Anniversary Collection (2008)
   Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader
   The Sith
   Clone Trooper to Stormtrooper

The 30th Anniversary Collection Re-Packs
The Legacy Collection (2008)
   The Jedi Legacy
   The Sith Legacy
   The Fett Legacy
   Vader’s Secret Apprentice (The Force Unleashed)

I was/am a big fan of the Evolutions packs. The box/packaging design, size, shape, and ‘display-ability’ (in each of the three lines), is absolutely fantastic. And I love the concept. Even if a handful don’t quite align with the true theme, that doesn’t detract from what a great sub-line Evolutions is. Figure-wise, Evolutions features multiple character-to-figure debuts, and a plethora of Expanded Universe characters. To date there is still a handful of figures that have only been released inside Evolutions packs. There was great collectability appeal.
I picked up thirteen of the twenty three Evolutions packs at retail in 2005 & 2008. At one point in time I wanted the entire sub-line, but am now no longer interested. However, there are five figures I’d love to find loose/complete at a swap meet one month, to have a loose duplicate to display.

Evolutions that Most Embody their Namesake

Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader
From Jedi Padawan, to Jedi Knight, to Sith Lord. The beating heart of Star Wars. Need I say more?

Clone Trooper to Stormtrooper (I-III)
Imperial Pilot Legacy (I-II)
Each of these sets illustrates the “evolution” of the Grand Army of the Republic to the Imperial Military by featuring a Phase I clone trooper or pilot, a Phase II clone trooper or pilot, and a Stormtrooper or TIE Pilot.

The Sith Legacy
This pack features three different Sith from three entirely different eras in the Star Wars chronology, spanning roughly three thousand years.
The Jedi Legacy and The Fett Legacy fail in this regard, as each set contains two of three figures from the same era. Not quite the same level of “evolution”.

The Padme Amidala Legacy is simply Padme in each episode of the Prequel Trilogy.
Vader’s Secret Apprentice is simply three different versions of Starkiller from The Force Unleashed video games.

Clone Commandos is a little off the mark as it features a Phase I ARC Trooper instead of a Phase I Clone Commando, to go with the Phase II Clone Commando and Imperial Commando.
The Sith is nothing but Sidious, Maul & Dooku.
The Rebel Pilot Legacy (I-III) each features a mix of different pilots from the Original Trilogy (films & EU), and the New Republic era of the Expanded Universe.

Highlights – Individual Figures

*Darth Bane
   First & only Darth Bane figure released to date (does have Evolutions re-pack)
   Expanded Universe

*New Jedi Order era Luke Skywalker
   First & only NJO era Luke figure released to date (does have Evolutions re-pack)
   Expanded Universe

*Lord Starkiller
   First & only Lord Starkiller figure released to date (does have Evolutions re-pack)
   Expanded Universe

*Padme Amidala (EPIII Silk Nightgown)
   First & only Padme (in said outfit) figure released to date

*Queen Amidala (EPI Grey Dress)
   First & only Padme (in said outfit) figure released to date

*9th Assault Corps (Coruscant Landing Platform) Clone Commander
   First Coruscant Landing Platform Clone Commander figure released
   Expanded Universe

The Prides of Nexu Museum Evolutions Collection

Revenge of the Sith – Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader (2005)