“It’s nuts to me how today most hip-hop producers can’t DJ,” says an earnest Mannie Fresh. The innovative beat man—who during his plus decade run as Cash Money’s in-house studio giant led southern hip-hop’s new burgeoning renaissance through much of the late ‘90s—is dismayed. He doesn’t quite understand the lack of respect current producers have given to what he views as the backbone of rap culture. “You have a lot of producers that don’t do their homework,” he adds. “I feel like if you are a producer in this era you should know Pete Rock; you should know N.O. Joe, and you should know Hurby Luv Bug. They all started out as DJ’s and I was no different. These producers now could care less about the Bomb Squad. It’s like they are not educated. But that’s the music that shaped everything that we are doing now.”
Fresh’s passionate commentary is no mere bluster. His groundbreaking productions, personified by the New Orleans native’s trademark syncopated 808 drum workouts and futuristic synth-keyboard grooves, would help propel local heroes Juvenile, B.G., Turk,Lil Wayne and enterprising label head Bryan “Baby” Williams to mainstream stardom. Indeed, to paraphrase one of Fresh’s noteworthy musical statements, Cash Money was an army. The Big Easy crew racked up an impressive string of gold and platinum albums that contributed to opening up the Dirty South to hip-hip fans beyond the Mason-Dixon line. And Mannie Fresh was in the middle of it all.
By 2005, however, money issues would cause a very public split with the home that Byron O. Thomas helped built. Yet Fresh continues his beat innovations, backed by the sizable fact that he truly changed the trajectory of hip-hop. From his work with Cash Money to logging studio time with the headlining likes of Jay-Z, T.I. Rick Ross, and Young Jeezy, Mannie Fresh,42, won’t be retiring into that good night anytime soon.
Chopper City, Chopper City In The Ghetto--B.G. (1996, 1999)
True Story, It's All on U--B.G. (1995-1997)500 Degreez--Lil Wayne (2002)Big Money Heavyweight--Big Tymers (2003)Get It How U Live!!--Hot Boys (1997) Guerrilla Warfare--Hot Boys (1999)
The Block Is Hot--Lil Wayne (1999)
400 Degreez--Juvenile (1998)
"In My Life" Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh (2003)I Got That Work--Big Tymers (2000)Tha Carter—Lil Wayne (2004)
The Mind of Mannie Fresh--Mannie Fresh (2005)
"Top Back"/"Big Shit Poppin (Do It)"--T.I. (2006-2007)"And Then What"--Young Jeezy feat. Mannie Fresh (2005)
Return of the Ballin'--Mannie Fresh (2009)6th & Barronne, Straight out tha Gutta, and Mac Melph Calio--U.N.L.V. (1993-1995) The Real Deal--DJ Mannie Fresh & MC Gregory D (1992)
True Story, It's All on U--B.G. (1995-1997)500 Degreez--Lil Wayne (2002)Big Money Heavyweight--Big Tymers (2003)Get It How U Live!!--Hot Boys (1997) Guerrilla Warfare--Hot Boys (1999)
The Block Is Hot--Lil Wayne (1999)
400 Degreez--Juvenile (1998)
"In My Life" Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh (2003)I Got That Work--Big Tymers (2000)Tha Carter—Lil Wayne (2004)
The Mind of Mannie Fresh--Mannie Fresh (2005)
"Top Back"/"Big Shit Poppin (Do It)"--T.I. (2006-2007)"And Then What"--Young Jeezy feat. Mannie Fresh (2005)
Return of the Ballin'--Mannie Fresh (2009)6th & Barronne, Straight out tha Gutta, and Mac Melph Calio--U.N.L.V. (1993-1995) The Real Deal--DJ Mannie Fresh & MC Gregory D (1992)

