Birdman (entertainer)
| Birdman | |
|---|---|
Birdman performing at Hot 97's Summer Jam 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bryan Williams |
| Also known as |
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| Born |
February 15, 1969 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | stunnalife |
Bryan Williams (born February 15, 1969), known by his stage names Birdman or Baby, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and public face of Cash Money Records which he founded with his older brother Ronald "Slim" Williams in 1991and expanded the brand in 1998 with help of a "consultant/writer" friend by the name of ShinethaDiva from Kentucky. He is also one half of the former hip hop duo Big Tymers with producer Mannie Fresh.
Along with his releases with Big Tymers and for his solo career, Birdman has released a collaboration album and numerous tracks with rapper Lil Wayne whom he took under his wing at an early age. Birdman has also made his name by contributing to the making of YMCMB (Young Money Cash Money Billionaires), a portmanteau of the former's "Cash Money" and Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment imprint under the label.
Williams was born February 15, 1969 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother "Ms. Gladys", died when he was two years old. His father, a Vietnam veteran and pimp, also died when he was five. Birdman stated that he was in a boys home and was later homeless. He spent his formative years growing up in the notorious crime-ridden Magnolia Projects in the 3rd Ward of New Orleans. While living in the Magnolia, he began committing robberies and selling Heroin "dope bags" for money. He was later arrested at the age of 16. He was arrested again for Drug possession and was sentenced to 3 to 5 years in Elayn Hunt Correctional Center. He served 22 months before he was acquitted of all charges.
In April 1991, Birdman and his brother Ronald “Suga Slim” Williams decided to start their label. They named the label Cash Money Records, after Nino Brown’s Cash Money Brothers in the film New Jack City. At the time, the record label signed rappers Juvenile, B.G., Lil Wayne, Birdman himself, the Hot Boys, Big Tymers, and Cash Money Millionaires Thanks to B.G.'s albums & Juvenile's album Solja Rags (Which sold 200,000 copies independently), Universal Records offered Ca$h Money a $30 million USD deal. Ca$h Money has released RIAA Platinum & Gold certified CDs since then. In 2001, B.G. left Ca$h Money, disbanding the Hot Boys. Juvenile would also depart from Ca$h Money in 2001, but came back for Juve The Great in 2004. In 2005, Mannie Fresh left, disbanding The Big Tymers. Lil Wayne and Birdman were the only artists on the label. Shine Tha Diva reminded them of their Young Money vision and it wasn't until 2009 when artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj appeared on the label, they began bringing Platinum-RIAA certified albums.
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