Albums That Deserve Another Chance: Mannie Fresh “The Mind of Mannie Fresh (Pt. 1)”

When a hip-hop click makes it big, which member is the most responsible? Is it the boss, the A&R person, the distributor? I can make a solid argument that the it's none other than the producer. After all, he's the one who makes these banging instrumentals responsible for the sound that stays in your mind-by that argument, Just Blaze and Kanye West built the Roc-a-Fella empire, as did KLC for No Limit and Swizz Beatz for the Ruff Ryders. So naturally, the man responsible for building the Cash Money dynasty is none other than Mannie Fresh. However, what makes him different from these other in-house producers is the fact that he was actively involved in the externals too, most notably as half of the Big Tymers. Yet for the longest time, Mannie resisted all the pressure to do his own solo set-pressure he finally gave into after the massive departure of most of Cash Money's former roster. So, near the end of 2004, we got "The Mind of Mannie Fresh," a 30-track ode to big-time shinin', pullin' the finest ladies, and all-around feel-good hip-hop.

Of course, this didn't get the mainstream attention it should have, explaining the low sales. However, at the Hype, we strive to be as neutral as possible, leading us to ask the question: Did it really deserve to be slept-on this much? Let's give it another chance!

(Note: Mannie did all the beats except for "Go With Me" by David Banner).

#1 "Intro"
Mannie leads off with a smooth jazz band over his dedicated vocalizations and happy-go-lucky shoutouts. However, things quickly get ugly when the band keeps playing even after he tells them to stop, making sure they know he pays the bills so he runs the show. Certainly a hilarious intro which has us eagerly anticipating the rest of that trip into his mind!

(Side note: If you don't like skits, be afraid-there are 12 of them on this album. However, if you're into laugh-out-loud humor, keep going-it only gets better!)

#2 "Conversation (ft. Tateeze)"
Just as it says, Mannie and Chicago femcee Tateeze trade bars over this bounce music beat (Mannie's the guy trying to take the girl home for the night, and Tateeze is quick to reject the shots he's taking.

Mannie: See I get my hair cut and I get my nails done(for real)
Everybody know my name and baby where I'm from
See they treat me like the mayor,
Some say that I'm a player
I'm a high noon tycoon sexy lady slayer

Tateeze: Damn! dude please I'm all about the cheese
You push it old school I dangle Mercedes keys
Ya bad credit havin' ass need to be ashamed
With everything in yo mama name everybody know
Mannie: Now I'mma tell the truth we ain't got to fuss
I don't own a car, pimpin' ride the bus
But you lookin mighty good,

Tateeze: Yea I am kinda hot

Mannie: We can get it on,

Tateeze: Boy go'ne do da wop

My other favorite piece of game he spits is: "Yea girl, I know how to getcha/I got a 54 inch flat screen picture...of me standin' by a tree with some khaki Dickies on and a white tee." By the time the chorus gets you to do these random dance moves, you're already in a feel-good groove and ready to swing the night away.

#3 "Answering Machine (Skit)"
The answering machine of my dreams..."If you are calling to borrow money, you should just hang up, cuz it ain't gonna happen bitch." in perfect computer monotone is exactly what I need to drive away that girl who's constantly been demanding my money!"

#4 "Chubby Boy"
The most hard-hitting track on the album thus far shows this Chubby Boy on full beast mode, showing how his "chubby boy swag" is what gets the whole hood movin'. Any XXL men who are proud of who they are need to check this out-I think you have some new theme music!

"When I come through your city they go who is that
Young fella pimpin yella in a yellow Maybach
Nigga I came to show my chain, hardcore to the bling
Playa let's go inside where the bitches at [ruff]
Let me see it, pussy nigga, couldn't be it
If ya get it like ya say ya get it, nigga 10 a ki it
Cut the whole cake down, flood out the town
Service cocaine, rogaine, x and that brown
Buy the new 7 playa, push on them hatas
Step out witcha left out, homie steppin in gators
I ain't reppin crystal that's a bunch of bullshit
Y'all ain't give a nigga nuttin', suck a niggaz dick
Than I open up my coat let her see what I tote
If a nigga feelin frog then it's murder she wrote
Hotter than Maimi in the month of July
Got your girl dick ridin', chubby boy still fly"

#5 "Phone Message #1 (Skit)"
And now folks, we get a look into what a typical message check is like after I get back from a long day out. In complete monotone:

"You have 3,742 new messages from that crazy bitch. Please tell that nasty ho to stop fucking calling."

After this, we get two messages (at 12:51 and 12:52 in the morning, respectively) from a crazy woman who claims Mannie owes her some money and she won't stop calling until she gets it. Once again, I wish I had Mannie's answering machine:

"Fuck this crazy bitch she calls too damn much...Damn that bitch desperate (boop) MESSAGE ERASED."

#6 "Beautiful Bitch (ft. 6 Shot)"
Well, at least Mannie got an upgrade-his new woman beats his old one by leagues and fathoms! She's willing to let him be him and be by his side for the rest of his life-wish I could say the same. Another old Cash Money artist chips in, this time with 6 Shot giving the uber-memorable opening verse. Certainly a couples' ideal riding music no doubt!

#7 "Wayne's Takeover (ft. Lil Wayne)"
Mannie takes a bathroom break, so Weezy takes an opportunity. Mannie had previously banned him from this album because of his propensity to rap about the streets and the violence therein (something Mannie wants to keep out of his album as much as possible). Now that Mannie is gone, Weezy spits a "Carter 1.5" freestyle, mixing the "album that saved Cash Money"'s sound with hints of his future speed-flow. After he does his work (my favorite line being "I gargle gumbo and spit jambalaya"), Mannie comes back, once again reiterating that there's not to be any gangsta talk on this album. Then he orders the next track, something the ladies can relate to.

#8 "Pussy Power"
Man, that woman's got the power to attract any man she wants-all she needs is to work her vagina just right! I can certainly see this being a club hit, with the ladies shouting along and joining in. "If you keep ya pussy tight, then ya man'll do ya right/If you got pussy skills, then ya man'll pay the bills!" Will he ever...Mannie demonstrates what that is-when a woman is flagrantly richer and in better shape than her man. "All the ladies go PUSSYYYYYYY-POWER!"

#9 "Phone Message #2 (Skit)"
Once again that crazy broad is trying to get Mannie's money outta him in the wee hours of the morning-and once again I wish I had his answering machine:

"Fuck man, this bitch trippin...Damn Mannie, what did you do to that ho?...www.bitchbeennaggin.com...Prissy bitch (boop) MESSAGE ERASED."

#10 "We Fresh (ft. Lil Wayne)"
After initially banning him outright from the album, Mannie gives in a bit and lets Weezy do the hook demonstrating how almost everybody in the past had fallen off (shots at Juvenile, B.G., etc. anyone?) but the Cash Money fam stays fresh (and Mannie even provides his signature phrase "Fre-fre-fr-fre-e-FRESH!" to cap it all off). Seeing how Mannie would split from Cash Money less than a year later, I wonder what Weezy said about him then?

#11 "Mississippi (Skit)"
"OK, for a million dollars, what has four eyes ("i"s) and can't see?" "Mississippi?" (drum tap): The entire track. Moving on now...

#12 "Go With Me (ft. Birdman)"
The only Big Tymers track on this album-also the only one Mannie didn't produce. Over David Banner's synth-heavy beat, it fits the mood just perfectly as a Southern rap tune-too bad it's the last we'd ever hear from the Big Tymers, as they broke up with Mannie's departure from CMR.

#13 "Lady Lady (ft. Lil Wayne & R. Kelly)"
Once again, Mannie lets Weezy get a hook on this track for the ladies, and once again Weezy's voice is just the perfect touch we need to pull these ladies-if it were released just 2 years later, it could have gotten to #1 on the charts! A smooth cruising jam which demonstrates the softer side of mackin'-the lovin' aspect. With the one and only R. Kelly on background vocals, this had quite a chance-I really wish it had been a single!

#14 "Nothing Compares to Love"
Even with all the property a man may accumulate, unless he's got some love in his life, it all seems pretty worthless in the end. Mannie demonstrates that fact, even bringing in a children's chorus and a synth-flute mix, counting his true blessings of good family and good friends-because when you lose them all, you can always fall back on these people!

#15 "Wayne's Takeover 2 (ft. Lil Wayne)"
Once again, Fresh has taken a break, so once again Weezy decides to sneak back into the studio and spit another Carter 1.5 freestyle. "Raw Tune that's real...We on Shrek, I met Annette like 'let's chill'...she give me more tongue, less chill...got ya out of position like Sheffield in left field!" Soon afterwards, Weezy's phone rings, and this time a much angrier Mannie reitierates his point that this album shouldn't have any gangsta talk because ladies are listening. Eventually, Mannie decides enough is enough-this is officially the last we are going to hear from DeWayne Michael Carter, Jr. on this album!

#16 "How We Ride (ft. Jasper Cameron, Bun B, & David Banner)"
The obligatory luxury car anthem features Jasper Cameron on the hook crooning about rolling in General Motors' finest marques. David Banner feels right at home, reminiscing of "Cadillac on 22s"' success. Hip-hop's most featured guest artist keeps it trill as usual on his verse (he's the highlight wherever he flows), and Mannie closes it all off with his typical mackin' (remember, he owns a car dealership in Texas).

#17 "Not Tonight"
The smooth slow-jam, which Mannie dedicates to all those looking for a woman-note he sings the whole track in a Jodeci-style groove (surprisingly, it actually sounds pretty decent). At that point he closes the "show," telling them when he'll be playing again (every 15 minutes).

A smooth end to Part 1 of this review-we still got 13 tracks to go, so keep it tuned to the Hype next week where I bring you Part 2!