Cash Money Records

Founding in New Orleans

Cash Money Records was founded in New Orleans in 1991 by the brothers Ronald “Slim” Williams and Bryan “Baby” Williams, who later recorded as Birdman. The label's first release was “The Sleepwalker” (1992) by the rapper Kilo G, followed by records from the group U.N.L.V., including “6th & Baronne” in 1993. Producer Mannie Fresh became the label's in-house producer and handled most of its early releases, giving Cash Money a consistent sound rooted in New Orleans bounce. Between 1993 and 1995 the Williams brothers signed local artists who already had neighborhood followings, among them B.G., Lil Wayne, Juvenile and Turk.

The Hot Boys and the Universal deal

In 1997 Juvenile, B.G., Lil Wayne and Turk were brought together as the Hot Boys. Their independent sales attracted the attention of Universal Records, and in March 1998 Cash Money signed a three-year, $30 million distribution deal. Under its terms the brothers received an advance of $2 million each year and a credit for each artist, kept ownership of their masters and received 85 percent of profits after recoupment. Juvenile's “400 Degreez,” released on November 3, 1998, reached number 9 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and was certified four times platinum. The Hot Boys' “Guerrilla Warfare,” B.G.'s “Chopper City in the Ghetto” and Lil Wayne's debut “Tha Block Is Hot,” all from 1999, were each certified platinum.

Departures and the Young Money era

The label sold about 7 million albums between 2001 and 2003, but Juvenile and B.G. left by 2002, citing disputes over money, and Mannie Fresh departed in 2005. Birdman and his duo with Mannie Fresh, Big Tymers, took on a larger role. In 2005 Lil Wayne launched Young Money Entertainment as a Cash Money imprint. His “Tha Carter III,” released on June 10, 2008, sold 1,005,545 copies in its first week, debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and was later certified eight times platinum. Drake and Nicki Minaj signed through Young Money in 2009. Drake's “Thank Me Later” (June 15, 2010) debuted at number 1 with 447,000 copies sold in its first week and was certified four times platinum.

Disputes and legacy

In 2014 and 2015 Lil Wayne sued Birdman and Cash Money for $51 million over the delayed release of “Tha Carter V” and other claims, and the case was settled in 2018, leaving Wayne with sole ownership of Young Money. Cash Money, now headquartered in Miami, is distributed in the United States by Republic Records under Universal Music Group. The label is credited with bringing New Orleans rap to a national audience and with an ownership model that let an independent company keep its masters inside a major-label system.