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Exclusive: Cash Money's former sound provider tells all to DX, including on where the rift between Cash Money and No Limit Records started, over an allegedly stolen hit hook.
There aren’t too many artists who have their name stamped on records from 1987 who can still claim “active” status in the 2011 Hip Hop scene, but Mannie Fresh has mastered the art of making his Bounce-based brand of Hip Hop sound contemporary in any era. From his early work providing the sonic foundation for the rhymes of New Orleans Rap pioneer Gregory D to his impressive tenure with Cash Money Records from 1993 to 2005, in which time he created the sound-beds to some of the most important songs in southern Hip Hop history, Fresh has lived up to his name and kept his sound from ever sounding stale.
But a half-decade removed from the last time he dominated the charts with creations for T.I., Young Jeezy, and both Baby and Lil Wayne (before splitting from CMR’s then last-men-standing due to reported royalty disputes), Mannie is growing impatient with waiting on both veteran and rookie artists to help him help them bring southern Hip Hop back to a position of respect within the culture (and not the derivative caricature that artists of all regions have adopted in recent years as their interpretation of what they think southern Hip Hop sounds and looks like).
And it was with an air of frustration, yet hopeful optimism, that Mannie Fresh spoke to HipHopDX for one of the most revealing conversations of the deejay/producer/rapper’s quarter-century long career. The man for whom Lil Wayne proudly declared “that’s my deejay” in 2004 revealed his standing seven years later with the spitter he helped groom for superstardom. Cash Money’s original aural architect also broke down some surprising New Orleans Hip Hop history, including the controversial origins of Master P’s “Bout It” breakthrough. During some of the most blunt commentary he has ever offered, Fresh additionally explained why he and Young Jeezy “bump heads,” why the reported Hot Boys reunion was “just a ploy,” and why working with Mystikal for the firey spitter’s much-anticipated comeback “is like pulling teeth.”
Mannie Fresh Reveals The History Between Cash Money And No Limit
DX: Let’s take it back a bit real quick. Break down for the HipHopDX readers your history with Mystikal. ‘Cause a lot of folks mistakenly think because he ended up on No Limit [Records] and you was on Cash Money [Records] that meant y’all didn’t mess with each other.
Mannie Fresh: Nah! The crazy thing is everybody that was artists from Cash Money [Records] to No Limit [Records] knew each other. We grew up in the same circle of doing music. … The two heads of those labels was the people that was beefin’. The artists were never beefin’. But it was just that ‘cause that was your side you had to go with your side. Shit, I been knowing Mystikal before he even made his first record.
DX: Wow, wow, you droppin’ some history here. So you know this is the part of the interview where we segue into the Cash Money stuff. I don’t wanna make you rehash like 15 years of history, but I do wanna kinda get some final clarification on just what really happened with the Big Tymers, if y’all fell out really over royalties or there was more to it?
Mannie Fresh: Yeah, all of that: royalties, loyalties, all of that. That could go on for forever [breaking that down]. But it’s the same situation that you hear [about business relationships ending] everyday: over money, over what’s right morally and all of that.
DX: I thought – from an outsider’s perspective – that the apologetic gesture was gonna be the Hot Boys reunion. Last time I spoke with Juvenile he kinda got a little aggy actually when I went into my Hot Boys reunion questions.
Mannie Fresh: Well, I always did say that’s not happening. It was just a ploy; it was just something to make them look good at the time. It was like, okay, we saying this, but I’m like, “How are y’all saying this, and y’all not getting in touch with nobody about it?” It’s like asking somebody something in an interview and you don’t know how to dodge that question ‘cause the next question might be the same thing you asking me. Like, “Well, dude, okay, if it ain’t gonna be that, then how you gonna straighten out things with these people?” So the easiest way to get out of that is like, “Yeah, we working on it, we doing it.”
DX: So am I just reading too much into it, or was that on-stage reunion [in June] with Wayne at Bonnaroo a little awkward, a little uncomfortable?
Mannie Fresh: Nah, not really, because I still talk to [Lil] Wayne. I talked to dude like three days ago. I called him because he made a step that was so important to Hip Hop – I don’t know if you seen his latest YouTube video, where he’s telling the kids don’t do what he do, and the reason why he drunk syrup was because he thought [that since] we all grew up like that, we all grew up on UGK, and he thought it was the cool thing to do, so that’s why he did it. And he understands now that there’s a lot of people that’s following dude and doing what he does. And he was being sincere. Like, he said some cool shit, and I was just like, “Wow.” So I called him myself and was like, “Hey dude, I’m proud of you. I’m super-proud of you for what you said and what you did.” Because, you know, if I said that during our little reign when we was there it was taken as like, “Dude, you soft. You being soft right now.” And I’m like, “Dude, this shit is real right now. It’s kids that do everything that we do.” I’m not saying like my credibility is shot, or even losing credibility, by telling you like, dude, this is only entertainment. Don’t get it twisted.
DX: [Laughs] Oh, man. Well, I’m not gonna ask you any more Wayne shit. I know folks wanna know if you’re ever gonna produce anything for Wayne again, but shit, I wanna know if you’re ever gonna do anything for [Young] Jeezy or T.I. again too?
Mannie Fresh: I just sent some stuff to [T.I.]. And … I love [Young] Jeezy. I think he’s a good artist, but it’s time for Jeezy to show growth. So, that’s kinda like where me and Jeezy bump heads at. And it’s supposed to be that, he’s supposed to have his opinion and I’m supposed to have my opinion, and we still can be friends and we still can hang out. But, basically what I see is – It’s like, if I present some songs to Jeezy, it’s not the songs that he’s looking for. He like, “Dude, I want that shit that’s like right now.” And I’m like, “Dude, but if you hired me to do something,” and I’m telling you, I’m like, “Hey bruh, I wanna give you what it sound like right now but it’s time for you to get on another train. You gotta show some growth.”
Mannie Fresh Reveals Mystikal Project Has Stalled, He And Lil Wayne Are Talking, And Hot Boys Reunion Was Staged | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop | HipHop DX
Exclusive: Cash Money's former sound provider tells all to DX, including on where the rift between Cash Money and No Limit Records started, over an allegedly stolen hit hook.
There aren’t too many artists who have their name stamped on records from 1987 who can still claim “active” status in the 2011 Hip Hop scene, but Mannie Fresh has mastered the art of making his Bounce-based brand of Hip Hop sound contemporary in any era. From his early work providing the sonic foundation for the rhymes of New Orleans Rap pioneer Gregory D to his impressive tenure with Cash Money Records from 1993 to 2005, in which time he created the sound-beds to some of the most important songs in southern Hip Hop history, Fresh has lived up to his name and kept his sound from ever sounding stale.
But a half-decade removed from the last time he dominated the charts with creations for T.I., Young Jeezy, and both Baby and Lil Wayne (before splitting from CMR’s then last-men-standing due to reported royalty disputes), Mannie is growing impatient with waiting on both veteran and rookie artists to help him help them bring southern Hip Hop back to a position of respect within the culture (and not the derivative caricature that artists of all regions have adopted in recent years as their interpretation of what they think southern Hip Hop sounds and looks like).
And it was with an air of frustration, yet hopeful optimism, that Mannie Fresh spoke to HipHopDX for one of the most revealing conversations of the deejay/producer/rapper’s quarter-century long career. The man for whom Lil Wayne proudly declared “that’s my deejay” in 2004 revealed his standing seven years later with the spitter he helped groom for superstardom. Cash Money’s original aural architect also broke down some surprising New Orleans Hip Hop history, including the controversial origins of Master P’s “Bout It” breakthrough. During some of the most blunt commentary he has ever offered, Fresh additionally explained why he and Young Jeezy “bump heads,” why the reported Hot Boys reunion was “just a ploy,” and why working with Mystikal for the firey spitter’s much-anticipated comeback “is like pulling teeth.”
Mannie Fresh Reveals The History Between Cash Money And No Limit
DX: Let’s take it back a bit real quick. Break down for the HipHopDX readers your history with Mystikal. ‘Cause a lot of folks mistakenly think because he ended up on No Limit [Records] and you was on Cash Money [Records] that meant y’all didn’t mess with each other.
Mannie Fresh: Nah! The crazy thing is everybody that was artists from Cash Money [Records] to No Limit [Records] knew each other. We grew up in the same circle of doing music. … The two heads of those labels was the people that was beefin’. The artists were never beefin’. But it was just that ‘cause that was your side you had to go with your side. Shit, I been knowing Mystikal before he even made his first record.
DX: Wow, wow, you droppin’ some history here. So you know this is the part of the interview where we segue into the Cash Money stuff. I don’t wanna make you rehash like 15 years of history, but I do wanna kinda get some final clarification on just what really happened with the Big Tymers, if y’all fell out really over royalties or there was more to it?
Mannie Fresh: Yeah, all of that: royalties, loyalties, all of that. That could go on for forever [breaking that down]. But it’s the same situation that you hear [about business relationships ending] everyday: over money, over what’s right morally and all of that.
DX: I thought – from an outsider’s perspective – that the apologetic gesture was gonna be the Hot Boys reunion. Last time I spoke with Juvenile he kinda got a little aggy actually when I went into my Hot Boys reunion questions.
Mannie Fresh: Well, I always did say that’s not happening. It was just a ploy; it was just something to make them look good at the time. It was like, okay, we saying this, but I’m like, “How are y’all saying this, and y’all not getting in touch with nobody about it?” It’s like asking somebody something in an interview and you don’t know how to dodge that question ‘cause the next question might be the same thing you asking me. Like, “Well, dude, okay, if it ain’t gonna be that, then how you gonna straighten out things with these people?” So the easiest way to get out of that is like, “Yeah, we working on it, we doing it.”
DX: So am I just reading too much into it, or was that on-stage reunion [in June] with Wayne at Bonnaroo a little awkward, a little uncomfortable?
Mannie Fresh: Nah, not really, because I still talk to [Lil] Wayne. I talked to dude like three days ago. I called him because he made a step that was so important to Hip Hop – I don’t know if you seen his latest YouTube video, where he’s telling the kids don’t do what he do, and the reason why he drunk syrup was because he thought [that since] we all grew up like that, we all grew up on UGK, and he thought it was the cool thing to do, so that’s why he did it. And he understands now that there’s a lot of people that’s following dude and doing what he does. And he was being sincere. Like, he said some cool shit, and I was just like, “Wow.” So I called him myself and was like, “Hey dude, I’m proud of you. I’m super-proud of you for what you said and what you did.” Because, you know, if I said that during our little reign when we was there it was taken as like, “Dude, you soft. You being soft right now.” And I’m like, “Dude, this shit is real right now. It’s kids that do everything that we do.” I’m not saying like my credibility is shot, or even losing credibility, by telling you like, dude, this is only entertainment. Don’t get it twisted.
DX: [Laughs] Oh, man. Well, I’m not gonna ask you any more Wayne shit. I know folks wanna know if you’re ever gonna produce anything for Wayne again, but shit, I wanna know if you’re ever gonna do anything for [Young] Jeezy or T.I. again too?
Mannie Fresh: I just sent some stuff to [T.I.]. And … I love [Young] Jeezy. I think he’s a good artist, but it’s time for Jeezy to show growth. So, that’s kinda like where me and Jeezy bump heads at. And it’s supposed to be that, he’s supposed to have his opinion and I’m supposed to have my opinion, and we still can be friends and we still can hang out. But, basically what I see is – It’s like, if I present some songs to Jeezy, it’s not the songs that he’s looking for. He like, “Dude, I want that shit that’s like right now.” And I’m like, “Dude, but if you hired me to do something,” and I’m telling you, I’m like, “Hey bruh, I wanna give you what it sound like right now but it’s time for you to get on another train. You gotta show some growth.”
Mannie Fresh Reveals Mystikal Project Has Stalled, He And Lil Wayne Are Talking, And Hot Boys Reunion Was Staged | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop | HipHop DX
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