Mannie Fresh Explains His History With Kanye West

It's a well known fact that Mannie Fresh and Kanye West have maintained a relationship since before to 'Ye rose to super-stardom. Now, in a recent interview with Vibe, the former Cash Money producer recalls how he first linked up with the Chicago producer/emcee.

Mannie Fresh said that he was first introduced to Yeezy through former partner Mikkey Halsted when the Chicago duo were in talks to sign with Cash Money in the late '90s. Fresh said that Halsted ultimately signed with the label as a solo artist,  and that 'Ye went on to join the Roc-A-Fella army in 2000.

"I knew Kanye way before he was signed,” he recalled. “He came to Cash Money with Mikkey [Halsted], who was an artist on Cash Money. They came together as a group and Kanye was the producer, and he decided to split out and later did his thing with Jay-Z. So I’ve been knowing dude forever. Kanye knows what I’m about.”

Mannie Fresh also spoke on the impressive roster of artists signed to Yeezy's G.O.O.D. Music imprint. He said that the talent at G.O.O.D. Music is so extensive that the label's more akin to a factory, with 'Ye at the head of the pack overseeing the product.

“There are so many talented people that are on G.O.O.D. Music that it’s nuts,” he said.. “You have so many people that you are working with that it’s unlimited. I can’t say what it’s structured around. It’s more so a music factory. It’s like, hey, everybody that walks through those doors play Kanye something. If he likes it they give it to him. It’s as simple as that.”

Mystikal Says He's Not Involved With Birdman & Mannie Fresh Beef

Mystikal says he's an impartial party in the rift between Birdman and Mannie Fresh.

It's no secret that Bryan and Mannie Fresh haven't been on good terms over the past few years, but Mystikal, who recently signed to Cash Money, isn't involved in the beef. During an interview with MTV's RapFix Live, the New Orleans, Louisiana rapper said that he was in prison when their differences arose.

"I was gone, I wasn’t out here. What I do with Mannie is what I do with Mannie. What I do with my company is what I do with my company," he says.

Mystikal has been working with Mannie Fresh on his upcoming Cash Money debut Original, stating that there are about five tracks completed with Fresh for the project.

"I did some hot tracks with him, when I first came home, like some mixtape kinda stuff. We just ain't ever released it yet," he said. "Me and Mannie, we have about five under our belt right now, so I'm just tryin'a keep it movin'. I got what I need from KLC, the Beats by the Pound stuff. Lord, it's gonna be an awesome album."