Mannie Fresh RBMA Bass Camp
loading...

Mannie Fresh and Lil Wayne spent countless hours in the studio together during Weezy's formative years and Fresh was instrumental in helping Wayne reach his potential. With Lil Wayne trying to leave Cash Money Records, Fresh believes that Wayne has outgrown the label and is being held back creatively and from doing something bigger in the music world.

While speaking with the Associated Press before a pre-Grammy event, the "Go DJ" producer had interesting insight on what Lil Wayne's thought process might be. "I just think Wayne is growing as an artist," said the producer who provided the beats for many of Cash Money's biggest hits. "Wayne has given us some great albums, but he has never given us that album with like a Justin Timberlake on it--with features where like, OK, this is what we expect from an artist of your caliber....Like you went out and got Cher on the song, because you are that dude. You're on that level."

Fresh cited the fact that Cash Money artists tend to work exclusively with other artists signed to the label and Weezy may be ready to move on after doing so many songs with these artists already. "I think he's going--real talk--'I could probably use Drake and Nicki, but I've done that so many times,'" said Fresh. "Let's get out there and do things so I can show that I am bigger than life."

Wayne's frustrations with Birdman and Cash Money have been very public but his current contract situation hasn't stopped Weezy from releasing music. With Tha Carter V shelved, Wayne dropped Sorry 4 The Wait 2 and has plans to release a free album soon.

[Seattle PI]

Related: Lil Wayne Is Dropping A Free Album
Throwback: Lil Wayne And Birdman Against The World
Lil Wayne Will Stay With Cash Money Records If Birdman Pays Him

More From XXL