Birdman Says To Be Successful in the Music Business is Not Easy

Yup. That's what Birdman said in his recent interview with Forbes. He says people think it is easy to be successful in the music business, but it is really not. In case you don't know, back in 1991, Birdman (Bryan 'Baby' Williams), and his brother, Ronald 'Slim' Williams founded Cash Money Records. Since then, the label has had a long list of multi platinum selling artists, including, Juvenile, Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj. According to cofounder Ronald Williams, the company has generated $2 billion since inception in 1991 (28 years ago).

Below are Birdman's words concerning how they make things look easy, but it is really not.

"We make this sh*t look easy, but it's really not. Well if you try it, you will see. Try your record company and see. We just make it look easy cos we've been doing it for so long. And we're great at what we do but I'll tell anybody who foresee this sh*t in the wrong aspect, try it. And you'll see what it's built on."

Cash Money Records Reaches 500 Million Songs Sold Worldwide

Through their ups and down in the last 17 years or so, Cash Money Records has managed to sell over 500 million songs. What this means that the cumulative sales of songs of all the artist that are and have been signed to Cash Money Records recently crossed the 500 million mark. That's great. Congratulation to them. I think Young Money (which is Wayne's label under Cash Money) helped a lot with that in the last 4 years.


Cash Money Records was founded by brothers, Ronald "Slim" Williams, and Bryan "Birdman" Williams in 1991, and they have had such artists as Juvenile, Young Turk, Mannie Fresh, B.G, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Tyga, and Drake signed to the label.












Below is what Birdman had to say about this achievement-

“What’s most humbling is the global reaction to our story. Slim and I built this label from the ground up and seeing our brand connect with people across borders, culture and language makes us appreciate every one of our fans worldwide. We can’t wait to deliver another 500 million bangers, There is no more dynamic and prolific a label than Cash Money Records and the YMCMB family – point-blank. We’re proud of every one of our artists and their contribution to our legacy,”

Juvenile Says Lil Wayne Is Scared To Leave Cash Money

Juvenile and Lil Wayne were signed to Cash Money around the same time in the 90s; Juve was a bigger star back then. When Juve didn't like the situation again in the mid 00s, he left Cash Money. In a recent interview with Complex magazine, he said Wayne wanted to leave Cash Money Records the same time he left, but was probably too scared to make the move. Cash Money Records is owned by the William brothers- Bryan "Baby" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams.


I knew Lil Wayne always wanted to leave; he has been signed to them since 1995, when he was just 13 years old. He definitely didn't know the business side of life at the time. But, everytime he tries to leave, Baby  gets him a new car, or give him a million dollars cash for his birthday, or grant him his own label under Cash Money (Young Money). Anything so as not to lose his cash-cow. But, we can never really know- would Wayne have gotten as big as he is if he had left Cash Money?





Read what Juve said below-

“When Wayne was trying to leave Cash Money [in the mid 2000s], same thing," he explained. "He was trying to find out how did I leave, what did I do, he wanted to see my paperwork. I was like you can see it, but you’re gonna have to pay me for it now because now I know you ain’t with me. You’re own your own because I’m definitely on my own. If you want the paperwork and help from my end, I need to be compensated for it. [He never paid for it]." 

Juvenile also added that he feels "Wayne really got beat out of all his money." 

“Still up to the day, Wayne really got beat out of all his money and took another contract. That’s the part I never understood. I was signed to Atlantic and Jay-Z was excited about that because now we was about to get our own money. That’s what I really wanted. I wanted him to leave. All of a sudden he signed back I’m like, ‘Damn, what type of deal he got working?’" 

Juve went on to say that Cash Money is still not giving Wayne what he deserves.

“If you notice the Young Money/Cash Money imprint, some of the stuff that need to say Young Money don’t say Young Money. I know Baby and I know Ronald ["Slim" Williams]. They ain’t giving up power of their company. They don’t care how big Wayne gets, they not giving up. If I didn’t get it, he ain’t getting it." 

Juvenile went on to add that he felt Wayne was "scared" to leave.

“I thought he was scared [that’s why he stayed]," Juvenile explained. "That’s how I took it. I was like, ‘You don’t have to be scared.’ I’m really from the projects. No disrespect to them, but I’m 10 times more street than they are. They would never go to some of the places I’d go, they’d never turn some of the corners I turned because they’re not like that. It’s two different ballgames. So I’m like, ‘Don’t let them niggas intimidate you. Don’t let that looking hard shit intimidate you because nigga I’m really with it. If you wanna leave, leave. You’re with me now, not them.’ One thing led to another and he signed back, but I took it as he was scared.” (hiphopdx.com)