Cash Money Records

Cash Money Records, Inc.

The label was founded in 1991 by the Williams brothers (Bryan "Baby/Birdman" and Ronald "Slim tha Don"), who have successfully turned the label into a creative force within the marketplace of southern hip hop.

With its origins in the co-founding brothers' hometown of New Orleans, Cash Money's first artist was Kilo G, signed shortly after the label's foundation. As of 2024, Cash Money's successful roster would later include producer Mannie Fresh, rap group Hot Boys (Juvenile (2), B.G., Turk (2) and its most successful rap-pop star Lil Wayne), Drake, Jacquees and Nicki Minaj, among others.

In March 1998, Jean Riggins, the president of black music at Universal Records, and Doug Morris, former chairman and CEO of parent company Universal Music Group, announced a three-year, $30 million distribution deal with Cash Money. The Williams brothers would be given $2 million advance each year and a credit of $1.5 million for each of the six artists that they had at the time. After recouping, Universal would retain 15% of profits from album sales, while Cash Money retained 85%, as well as 50% of their publishing royalties and ownership of all master recordings. Dino Delvaille, a former executive from Universal Records, and Wendy Day (4), executive vice president of A&R at the Universal Motown Republic Group, were responsible for negotiating the deal.

In 2012, in a twist of events with its distributor Universal Records being renamed to Republic Records, co-founders, also brothers Monte and Avery Lipman gain minority control over the Cash Money imprint while the Williams brothers still conceive majority and creative control (including publishing, distribution, masters and marketing).