Quotes from Mannie Fresh

There's been enough building of fences with labels trying to categorize artists, limiting artists' ability to be themselves.

I always felt like the trumpet or trombone player was always the coolest dude in the room.

A lot of artists are scared when they see trumpet players show up - they like, 'Nah, that ain't what I want.' I try to tell them, 'Dude, I'll give you trademark Mannie Fresh, but it's not about keyboards and a drum machine.'

I've had some bad business lessons and learned some things. It's not always about going platinum. So long as I know who is buying my records and I generate revenue that's mine, then it's cool.

With a lot of young entrepreneurs, it always start rotten, but then something good happens - but do you keep it good?

With time, everything changes. I know I'm not the same person who I used to be. I totally get that.

The streets buy records, but they don't really buy records in incredible numbers.

The whole '400 Degreez' album was inspired by what Outkast was doing, Organized Noize. That was what I was listening to around that time.

'Bling Bling' was originally a Big Tymers song.

When a lot of people are calling it a night at 2 A.M., New Orleans is coming alive.

New Orleans just embraces people who love music.

The name Hot Boys was based on a time in New Orleans where if you were really doing something or if the police were looking for you, people would be like, 'He hot. That boy hot.'

To have Run-DMC acknowledge you, something like that, you're like, 'Oh, I'm that dude.' To have Jay-Z do a verse, you that dude. To have Jay-Z shout you out in an intro, you're that dude. Like, it doesn't get any greater than that. Nobody can take that from you.

If you know Down South production, Roland 808 is in almost everything.

When 'And Then What' was made, Jeezy already had a street appeal, but 'And Then What' put him on the national appeal.

I think I have automobile skills and musical background.

B.G. was just like his lyrics.