BIG TYME

Biography

The Big Tymers, stylized as Big Tymer$, was an American hip hop duo formed in 1997 in New Orleans, Louisiana, consisting of Cash Money Records co-founder Brian 'Baby' Williams (later Birdman) and the label's in-house producer Mannie Fresh (born Mannie Byron). Mannie Fresh and Baby Williams met in 1992, soon co-founding Cash Money Records with Williams's brother Ronald 'Slim' Williams, establishing a powerhouse independent label that popularized Southern hip-hop through artists like Juvenile and B.G.[1][2][3] Fresh handled production, crafting layered beats with smooth, bouncy Southern styles, while Baby contributed rhymes celebrating wealth, luxury cars, strip clubs, and materialism, emblematic of Cash Money's ethos.[2]

The duo debuted on B.G.'s 1997 album It's All on U, Vol. 2, followed by their own How You Luv That (1997, reissued as Vol. 2 in 1998), which sold 100,000 copies independently and featured Cash Money roster like Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G., and Turk.[1][2][3] Their breakthrough came with I Got That Work (2000), topping R&B/hip-hop charts with hits 'Get Your Roll On' and '#1 Stunna'; Hood Rich (2002) hit #1 on the Billboard 200, driven by 'Still Fly' peaking at #11 on the Hot 100.[1][3] The duo's final album, Big Money Heavyweight (2003), preceded Mannie Fresh's 2005 departure from Cash Money over financial disputes with Birdman and Slim, dissolving the act, though they reunited briefly in 2018 for 'Designer Caskets'.[1][3]

Rooted in New Orleans bounce and crunk, their music blended boisterous Southern hip-hop with urban/R&B flair, significantly boosting Cash Money's national profile and Southern rap's mainstream rise before their split.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• Their name 'Big Tymers' symbolized aiming for the 'big time' in their music venture, reflecting Cash Money's ambitious rise from New Orleans independents.[2]
• Debut album How You Luv That? sold 100,000 copies with minimal promotion, a feat for an independent Southern rap release in 1998.[2]
• Mannie Fresh pioneered New Orleans bounce as a DJ in clubs and house parties before co-founding Cash Money.[4]
• They toured nationally with the full Cash Money roster, including Juvenile and B.G., amplifying the label's collective success.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Mannie Fresh's father - DJ who influenced production style (Hood Rich (advice on old school 808 drum-machine sounds)) [early 2000s]

Key Collaborators

• Birdman (Baby Williams) - Duo partner and Cash Money co-founder (All albums: How You Luv That (1997-98), I Got That Work (2000), Hood Rich (2002), Big Money Heavyweight (2003)) [1997-2005, 2018]
• Juvenile - Frequent Cash Money artist on duo's albums (How You Luv That, I Got That Work) [1997-2000]
• B.G. - Cash Money rapper on debut recordings (It's All on U Vol. 2 (debut appearance), How You Luv That) [1997-1998]
• Lil Wayne - Cash Money artist featured on albums (How You Luv That, Hood Rich) [1998-2002]
• Turk - Cash Money roster collaborator (How You Luv That, I Got That Work) [1998-2000]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia