Mannie Fresh
New Orleans producer and DJ who served as Cash Money Records’ in-house producer from 1993 to 2005, shaping records by Juvenile, Lil Wayne, B.G. and the Hot Boys.
Early years and bounce
Mannie Fresh was born Byron Otto Thomas on March 20, 1969, in New Orleans. His father, DJ Sabu, was a local DJ, and Thomas began DJing as a teenager, working with the crew New York Incorporated from about 1984. In the late 1980s he partnered with rapper MC Gregory D; their 1987 album Throwdown was followed by further releases into the early 1990s, part of the period in which New Orleans rap and bounce took shape.
Cash Money's in-house producer
In 1993 Bryan “Baby” Williams brought Thomas to Cash Money Records as its in-house producer. From the late 1990s until his departure he was credited on nearly all of the label's output, including Juvenile's 400 Degreez, B.G.'s Chopper City in the Ghetto, Lil Wayne's early albums and both Hot Boys studio albums. His productions combined drum-machine patterns rooted in bounce with synthesizers and melodic hooks, and gave the label a consistent sound after its 1998 distribution deal with Universal.
Big Tymers
With Williams, who later recorded as Birdman, Thomas formed the duo Big Tymers in 1997. The group released five albums, from How You Luv That (1997) to Big Money Heavyweight (2003). “Still Fly” reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Hood Rich (2002) topped the Billboard 200. In December 2004 Cash Money released his solo album The Mind of Mannie Fresh, featuring the single “Real Big.”
After Cash Money
Thomas left Cash Money in 2005, citing financial reasons, which ended Big Tymers, and signed with Def Jam South. His second solo album, Return of the Ballin', followed on October 27, 2009, with guests including Rick Ross and Lil Jon. He has continued to produce and DJ, and reunited with Birdman as Big Tymers for the 2018 track “Designer Caskets.”
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