BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN " BYRON O. THOMAS " GOES BY THE STAGE NAME " MANNIE FRESH " IS A RAPPER AND HIP=HOP PRODUCER : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

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HISTORY                                                                                                                     Mannie Fresh

Mannie Fresh
Birth name	Byron O. Thomas
Born	March 20, 1969 (age 45)
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana,United States
Genres	Southern hip hop, bounce
Occupation(s)	Musician, rapper, record producer, disc jockey
Instruments	Keyboard Synthesizer Roland TR-808 MPC2000 Bass guitar
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Cash Money Universal Records Def Jam South Def Jam Chubby Boy Records
Associated acts	Cash Money Millionaires,Yasiin Bey, T.I., Rick Ross,Mystikal, KLC, Lil Wayne
Website	[1]

Byron O. Thomas,^[1] (born March 20, 1969) professionally known by his stage name Mannie Fresh, is a rapper and hip-hop producer who is best known for his work with Cash Money Records from 1993 to 2005 and one half of the hip-hop duo Big Tymers. Mannie Fresh is currently signed to both Def Jam South and his own division company, Chubby Boy Records.

Biography

Thomas began loving music at the age of nine as a local New Orleans DJ, playing songs at parties and clubs. In the late 1980s he began a partnership with New Orleans rapper MC Gregory D. They released their first album together Throwdown in 1987, with Mannie Fresh producing and MC Gregory D rapping. They would release two more records together in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After their last album together, in 1993 Thomas met Bryan "Baby" Williams who gave him an opportunity to become the in-house producer of his record label Cash Money Records. With Williams's help, Thomas made chart-topping albums for the Hot Boys, which was composed of Lil Wayne, B.G., Juvenile, and Turk, producing all of the group’s singles. He also produced all tracks on the members’ solo works as well.^[2] Later, Thomas formed the Big Tymers along with Williams, as Mannie Fresh and Birdman respectively bringing him fame, and released five albums.^[3] In 2004, he released his own debut solo album The Mind of Mannie Fresh, which consisted of 30 tracks and featured the single “Real Big,” which peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[4] In 2005, he split from Cash Money for financial reasons, and later joined Def Jam South, to which he is currently signed.^[5] On October 27, 2009, Mannie Fresh released his second solo album, Return of the Ballin'. The album was entirely produced by Fresh himself and featured prominent guests Rick Ross and Lil Jon.

Discography

Main articles: Mannie Fresh discography and Mannie Fresh production discography

Studio albums

• 2004: The Mind of Mannie Fresh
• 2009: Return of the Ballin'
• TBA: The Mind of Mannie Fresh 2

Collaborations

• 2015: OMFGOD (with Yasiin Bey)^[6]