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.”

 

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.”