Mannie Fresh

If ever there was, anybody who knew how to skyrocket a successful career to a whole new level surely it has to be Cash Money Records in-house producer Mannie Fresh. With production credits on more than 20 albums totaling over 23 million units collectively sales, Mannie is unquestionably one of the most important hip-hop producers today. He is the musical mastermind behind the phenomenal rise of the Cash Money dynasty. As a performer, Mannie Fresh is one half of the platinum-selling duo the Big Tymers, whose five albums, How You Luv That Vol. 1, How You Luv That Vol. II, I Got That Work, Hood Rich and Big Money Heavy Weight have sold over four million units, making the Cash Money artist one of the more sought after producer/performers in hip-hop.

A New Orleans native, Mannie Fresh started his career in 1984, as a member of the infamous Crescent City DJ/hip-hop crew, New York Incorporated. Many local music historians credit NYI with being the first hip-hop crew in the City. Mannie soon earned a reputation as one of the most popular DJs in New Orleans. His skills for rocking parties were legendary as was his ability for scratching. In the early 90s, Mannie left NYI and formed his first duo with, the legendary MC Gregory D. The two landed a deal with RCA and dropped an album called the Real Deal in 1992.

Although hailed as a monumental album by fans of old school New Orleans hip-hop, the Real Deal failed to make any real noise outside of the Deep South, as a result the duo was unceremoniously dropped. Although the two remain friends to this day, they eventually parted ways, leaving Mannie on his own once again until a mutual friend introduced him to Brian “Baby” Williams, co-CEO of the fledging Cash Money Records.

Recognizing that Mannie Fresh was the key ingredient to his label’s success, Williams offered the producer an opportunity to roll with the Cash Money Millionaires. It was an offer he could not refuse. “I was like if y’all willing to start at the bottom and work y’all way to the top, then I was with that.” Upon hooking up with Cash Money Records, Mannie Fresh was a key player in their meteoric rise in the world of popular music.

For the past six years Mannie’s patented sound has virtually dominated the Billboard Rap and R & B charts with such popular albums as the Hot Boys’ platinum LP Guerilla Warfare, BG’s platinum-selling Chopper City In The Ghetto, Juvenile’s multi-platinum albums 400 Degreez, the Big Tymers’ platinum selling Hood Rich and gold selling Big Money Heavy Weight, Baby’s platinum selling solo effort entitled The Birdman, Lil

Wayne’s The Carter and Teena Marie’s La Doña. Moreover, just when you thought that Mannie has finally reached the pinnacle of his illustrious and successful career, he takes things to whole new level with his upbeat, fun-loving solo debut The Mind Of Mannie Fresh, which promises to be the party album to own this year. It is, according to Mannie, his most personal album to date.

“Everything on it is pretty much a reflection of how I feel,” says Mannie when asked how his album will differ from his work with Baby for a Big Tymers album. “When I doing a Big Tymers album I have to think about what would Baby like and how the songs will fit into our image. I can’t go edgy on a Big Tymers album. I can’t really do the different things that I want to do. If I feel like I want to sing a slow song and its off key, I can’t do that on a Big Tymers album.”

Produced almost entirely by Mannie, The Mind Of Mannie Fresh boast some his most daring and adventurous production to date, incorporating elements of jazz, bounce, dancehall reggae and 70s soul into a aural gumbo that is as spicy as fresh ground cayenne pepper. The song “Cookie Power,” is a good-humor tune about the power that women exercise over men, with its strong vibrant bass line and exotic drum track that is sublimely seductive. On the extremely heartfelt song entitled, “Nothing Compares To Love,” a beautiful song about the virtues of real true love, Mannie bears his soul and bears witness to the fact that no amount bling-bling could ever match the feeling of a true love. The beautiful thing about this song aside from its beautiful melody and heartfelt lyrics is how Mannie uses a children’s choir to evoke a gospel feel on the powerfully moving track.

In addition, for those of you, who long for the old larger-than-life merriment found on the Big Tymers album, fear not. Mannie did not forget you on the banging lead single “Real Big,” which celebrates the Big Tymers’ philosophy of doing it big on a completely new level. Mannie also includes “Shake That A**,” a fun loving song that not only features new Cash Money artist Tateeze, Roun’Table artist Lil Mo and an upcoming R&B artist named Reel. “Shake That A**” samples the Keith Sweat classic “Make It Last Forever.”

Not only is Mannie doing it ‘real big’ on his album, he’s doing it ‘real big’ when it comes to his second passion: cars. While working on The Mind Of Mannie Fresh, Mannie took sometime off to open a car shop that pimps out both vintage and modern cars called Fresh Rydes, in Houston, TX. Paying homage to his second love, Mannie is joined by David Banner, Bun B and Jasper on “How We Ride,” which rounds out this 30 track CD and helps to make The Mind Of Mannie Fresh one hell of a party!

The Mind Of Mannie Fresh is just a fun album from beginning to end,” says Mannie of his solo effort. It’s not dark, it’s not gloomy, and it ain’t gangsta music. It’s just something for you to enjoy!”