"Despite two prior pregnancy scares, no father, and constant pressure from my family, I’m still thankful to the day my mother pushed me into this world at the young age of 16.” Life’s been a gamble for Mani even before conception, but he always beat the odds that are up against him. That’s why he gambles. He’s never afraid to go hard for something he wants, and he’s good at it. Ask about him. Mr. Midas, they know his face and name in Atlantic City.

Before his big wins in Atlantic City and at around 2 years of age, Mani’s 18 year old mother decided to move out to Baltimore. Once there, they moved so much it seemed he was living in a new apartment every week. He must have attended 14 different schools and housing projects combined. What kept him stable throughout all that instability was his music. It was writing rhymes and battling other unknown local artists that kept him out of trouble and also from completely throwing his life away. When things got too crazy and guns came in the picture, making beats and writing rhymes gave him a channel to let out his anger, and kept him from squeezing the trigger as well.

“Music is everything to me, it’s my soul, and it’s the only thing that I find solace and peace of mind in.” While promoting one of his Mix Tapes in New York City, one of the Mix Tapes ended up in the hands of Sosa, who at the time was looking for a Hip Hop artist for his new indie label MVB Records. Sosa was not impressed by the collection of music he had heard on the CD. What caught his attention were Mani’s lyrics, his grind, and the fact that Mani was the sole person responsible for the artwork, copyrighting, and marketing of the Mixed Tape.

Mani was signed to MVB Records in 2009, and has released several of his very first commercial efforts within that same year. Mani’s first commercial album “Vote 4 Mani” is slated for an early 2010 release date.