The Mind of Mannie Fresh

by Mannie Fresh

Overview

With a track list 30-long and a thousand things going on at once, The Mind of Mannie Fresh is just about as good a title as you could find for this crazy ride. The album brings to mind a Southern, crunked-up version of Prince Paul's Psychoanalysis: What Is It?, an album that could be seen as self-indulgent, but could also be seen as a rare journey through a busy producer's mind. Tracks like "Real Big," "How We Ride," and "Tell It Like It Is" are just some of the straight-ahead party pleasers with impact and grooves that stand up to any other chart-topping crunk. That shouldn't be too surprising considering the amount of massive tracks Fresh has helmed in the past, but his scatter-shot humor and crazed-player attitude haven't been explored this hardcore before, not even on a Big Tymers' record. He's hornier than ever too, which makes the "clean" edition of the album sound like a scratched, skip-filled affair. The skits are hilarious and with marching band percussion and soulful horns, Mannie's earned the "intro of the year" award for 2004. Not that he's ever going to be mistaken for Biggie, but his lyrical skills keep improving. He keeps it simple most of the time but adds little twists and stingers to his standard-issue chants. Offering Eminem-styled rebellion commentary, "Mayor Song" takes an entirely different lyrical route, and just when you tire of Mannie's mouth, Petey Pablo and David Banner show up. Clocking in at just less than 80 minutes -- 30 or so of those given up to skits and interludes -- The Mind of Mannie Fresh is a lot to take in. It could have been cut down to the hits and baller tracks, but then it wouldn't have been so special, so unique. Not for everyone, but defenders of Cash Money Records and those that think there's a lot more creativity in this Southern smoke music than it ever gets props for are going to be revisiting this album for years. ~ David Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	11/15/2024
Label:	Universal Import
UPC:	0810143931501

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mannie Fresh   Primary Artist,Various Instruments,Rap
6 Shot   Primary Artist
Birdman   Primary Artist
David Banner   Primary Artist,Various Instruments,Rap,Multi Instruments
Reel   Primary Artist
Jasper   Primary Artist
Lil' Mo   Primary Artist
Lil Wayne   Primary Artist
Sixshot   Primary Artist
Baby   Primary Artist
Bun B   Primary Artist
Tateeze   Primary Artist
Danielle Premone   Vocals
Thomas Marasciullo   Vocals (Background)
Charles Pettaway   Multi Instruments
Fabian Marasciullo   Vocals

Technical Credits

Fabian Marasciullo   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Mixing
Humberto Martinez   Audio Engineer
David Banner   Audio Production
Mannie Fresh   Audio Production
Byron Thomas   Composer
T. Riley   Composer
Teddy Riley   Composer
Bernard Freeman   Composer
B. Williams   Composer
Reel   Performer
Chris Gehringer   Mastering
R. Kelly   Composer
Sixshot   Composer
Mike "Hitman" Wilson   Engineer
Tommy Mara   Assistant
Lavell Crump   Composer
Al B. Sure!   Composer
Dwayne Carter   Composer
James M. Wisner   Assistant Engineer,Assistant
Jasper   Composer
Russel Neblett   A&R
Heriberto Martinez   Assistant,Engineer
Robert Dickerson   Composer
Jonathan Mannion   Photography
R.Q. Dickerson   Composer
A. Brown   Composer
K. Sweat   Composer
Bryan Williams   Composer
Keith Sweat   Composer
B. Thomas   Composer
Tateeze   Composer
Bob Freeman   Composer