The History of Cash Money
Cash Money's been through its share of ups and down | but now they're stronger than ever! Look back at the label's historical rise.
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The History of Cash Money - While Master P had the world saying, “Ugh,” two brothers – Brian “Birdman” and Slim Williams – were quietly building the foundation of their empire in New Orleans. After sparking a regional buzz in the late ’90s, the label, Cash Money Records, got the attention of Universal Records and signed a $30 million pressing and distribution deal with the music giant. Though the label’s been through its share of ups and downs, they’re now stronger than ever. Here, we take a look at Cash Money's rise.
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Juvey the Great - Released in ’98, Juvenile’s “400 Degreez” kicked off Cash Money’s movement on a mainstream scale. The LP sold four million copies and produced two huge hits, “Ha” and “Back That Thang Up.” The album also set the tone for future Cash Money releases and helped shift hip-hop’s attention from the East Coast to the South. Juvey dropped three more albums under Cash Money: “The G-Code” sold platinum in ’99, “Project English” went gold in 2001 and “Juvey the Great” went platinum in 2003.
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Two Times Dope! - B.G. released the platinum-selling “Chopper City in the Ghetto” in ’99. The LP featured “Bling Bling,” a posse cut on which most of Cash Money’s roster boasted about their gleaming jewelry. The term “bling bling” immediately became part of hip-hop’s lexicon and has even transcended into pop culture. Lil Wayne, who raps the hook on the song, later revealed that he invented the term on OutKast’s “Hollywood Divorce.” B.G. released one more album, “Checkmate,” with Cash Money in 2000. It went gold.
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Keep it Hot - Striking while the iron was hot, CM released the Hot Boys’ “Guerilla Warfare” only three months after B.G.’s record hit stores in ’99. The album went platinum. Cash Money released outtakes from “Guerilla Warfare’s” recording sessions in 2003, but there hasn’t been an official Hot Boys album since. Talk of a reunion in the past few years has yet to materialize.
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The Quiet Storm - Then only 16 years old, Weezy F. Baby made his understated mainstream debut with “Tha Block Is Hot” in ’99. The album sold platinum, but at the time, Wayne still played third fiddle to Juvenile and B.G. He’s the only original Hot Boy still under contract with Cash Money.
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The Big Time! - Comprised of Baby and Manny Fresh, Big Tymers released the first of three major label albums, “I Got That Work,” in 2000. The duo continued CM’s platinum ways with 2002’s “Hood Rich.” The group’s final LP, “Big Money Heavyweight,” struck gold.
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Cipher Complete - Young Turk finally dropped a solo project of his own in 2001, “Young & Thuggin’.” The album debuted at no. 9 on the Billboard charts and was certified gold. His career’s since been plagued by legal trouble. He has five solo projects in his catalog.
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New Horizons - With the South on lock, CM expanded its horizons by signing West Coast veteran, Mack 10. Mack released “Bang or Ball” with the label in 2001.
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Flying Solo - With B.G. on the outs with the label, and Juvey in contractual disputes, Baby added some star power to CM’s roster by dropping a solo album, “Birdman.” He’s since released three albums.
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Expansion Team - Cash Money continued to expand its roster with the signing of legendary singer Teena Marie in the early 2000s. Her CM debut, “La Doña,” released in 2004, was certified gold.
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Money Over Business - In 2005, Mannie Fresh followed in B.G. and Juvenile’s footsteps and left Cash Money over financial disputes, leaving Wayne as the only original Cash Money artist on the label. He later signed with Def Jam South.
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Close Call - Now the lone ranger on CM, Wayne began contemplating his options. Legend has it that Jay-Z nearly signed him to Def Jam, but Birdman sweetened his deal in the 9th inning. As part of his new agreement, Wayne became president of Cash Money and got to form his own imprint under the label called Young Money.
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New Beginnings - Never known for his musical prowess up to this point, Wayne reinvented himself as a lyricist and hit the mixtape circuit with reckless abandon. Building off his newfound buzz, he released the platinum-selling “Tha Carter II” in 2005.
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More Fire! - Still hot off “Tha Carter II,” Wayne went right back to work and released “Like Father, Like Son” with Birdman in 2006. The LP went gold and Wayne’s popularity continued to grow.
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Best Rapper Alive - Wayne quickly became the game’s most in-demand guest rapper, outshining most of his collaborators on their own songs. In fact, he spent the following two years recording guest verses at a dizzying pace and releasing a seemingly endless amount of mixtape material. Wayne’s work ethic paid off, resulting in a deafening buzz and sky-high anticipation for his next album, “Tha Carter III.” No one saw the scrawny “Block is Hot” kid coming, but “C3” sold one million units in its first week upon release.
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International Players - Wayne’s multiplatinum success turned CM into an international phenomenon and the label’s roster subsequently expanded. Jay Sean, a UK-based singer with previous success in Europe and India, joined the label in 2009. Kevin Rudolf also joined the label.
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Veteran's Day - Bow Wow signed to Cash Money in 2009. His first CM album will reportedly be executive produced by Jadakiss, and is scheduled to hit stores in 2011.
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Young Money - Young Money finally became more than words Wayne shouted out in song introductions, as rappers affiliated with the label began buzzing on the mixtape scene. Standouts included Drake, a sing-songy rapper from Toronto, Canada, and Nicki Minaj, a multifaceted femme fatale from Southside Jamaica, Queens, NY. Sparked by his appearance on Chris Brown’s “Deuces,” Tyga is presently cultivating a buzz of his own.
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The Second Coming - Having sparked a bidding war months after releasing his classic mixtape, “So Far Gone,” Drake officially signed with Young Money/Cash Money for a reported $2 million in 2009. He released his platinum debut, “Thank Me Later,” in June 2010.
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The First Lady - Following closely behind Drake, Nicki also signed with Young Money/Cash Money in late ’09. Leading up to her freshman album, “Pink Friday,” Nick borrowed Wayne’s blueprint and made loads of standout cameos to help generate buzz. Nicki Mania ensued. “Pink Friday,” debuted at no. 2 on the Billboard charts this past November, selling 375,000 copies in its first week.
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Go DJ! - DJ Khaled has a long history of working with Cash Money. Between Lil Wayne, Birdman and Drake, Khaled’s had a CM presence on all of his albums to date. Khaled signed with CM in August of 2010.