Criminal Manne

Originating from Memphis, Tennessee, Criminal Manne established himself during the 1990s as a Billboard-charting MC who sold mixtapes directly from his car trunk while also performing as part of the Project Playaz crew. In 1998 the Project Playaz scored a hit with “Buck & Naked,” securing the group a contract on the respected independent imprint Relativity Records. Once the follow-up single “Buck with Me” became the first clip broadcast on BET’s groundbreaking Rap City program, the act moved to Rap-A-Lot Records, though the lineup began to splinter near 2002. That same year Manne launched his solo career with Play Time’s Over; the next year brought Neighborhood Dope Manne, a Rap-A-Lot release that included appearances from Lil Flip, La Chat, and the legendary 8Ball & MJG. Street Ways arrived in 2005 and reached number 97 on the Billboard 200, while 2006 delivered the joint project Atlanta 2 Memphis alongside Pastor Troy. The 2007 mixtape daNeighborhood Dopeman was presented by the influential DJ Drama. A year later The Takeover arrived as a collaboration with Frayser Boy, followed in 2009 by the official album Got Work. Subsequent mixtapes issued with DJ 5150, DJ Scream, and Traps N Trunks kept the rapper active until 2014, when he released both the Arm & Hammer LP and the OJ Da Juiceman partnership Kings of the Trap. Guest vocals on Young Dolph’s 2016 album King of Memphis returned Criminal Manne to the charts.