Appearing on Nick Cannon’s Counsel Culture Show on Wednesday (April 23), he shared how his and his older brother Ronald “Slim” Williams’ vision was not immediately accepted.

Birdman recalled having a meeting with executive Sylvia Rhone of Warner Bros., but the brand said it was not ready to partner with an independent label.

“Sylvia Rhone said our music don’t work for them, so we just left,” Birdman told Cannon. “I just walked out.”

They also met with Def Jam, but was rejected because of their album artwork, and Birdman is still confused about their brief interaction with the label.

“I went to Def Jam and met with Russell [Simmons], Lyor [Cohen], and Kevin Liles,” Birdman said. “This ni**a Russell said he don’t like our artwork. I said, ‘This some weird sh*t. I walked clean out. N*gga don’t like my artwork, what about my music? You don’t care for the music? So, I left.”

Birdman went on to say that they almost inked a distribution agreement with Priority Records, who also signed Master P’s New Orleans-based label No Limit Records, to an unprecedented deal. According to Birdman, Master P intervened and made sure it didn’t happen.

“I went to Priority, some weird sh*t here.  I go to Priority, they fly us to California,” he said. “Me and Slim, a couple of the homies, we go out there. Ni**a come in there and said, ‘I’m sorry, we can’t do the deal. They said because Master P said, ‘If we sign y’all, he’s leaving.’ I just jumped on a jet and went back to New Orleans was like, ‘F—k it, we just gonna grind with it.”

When Universal Records reached out to the camp, they negotaied “one of the more historic deals in music history.”

“And then Mel Lewinter and them called and I said, ‘This my last trip. I ain’t taking no more motherf**king flights to New York or California,” he recalled. “F**k it, we’ll thug it out. I’m still making millions, they gonna come down here and f**k with me, I ain’t going back. And that was my last flight,” Birdmand rememverd.

After years of rumored tenseions between Cash Money and No Limt, everything seems to cool now. On No Chill with Gilbert Arenas, Master P spoke on the relationship between the two camps.

“A lot of people thought, ‘Oh, they got beef,’ but, man, we lived right up the street from each other,” Master P said.

In Tuesday’s viral footage, the Cash Money mogul stands behind Turk before his head dips and remains motionless for over 15 seconds. The mogul seemed momentarily out of it until B.G. gave him a nudge, snapping him back just in time to brush it off with a laugh and keep the show going. Birdman hasn’t addressed the incident, but some fans worry his unusual behavior points to something more concerning. “Bro ain’t sleep he geeked,” one user remarked, while another urged, “Time to go ahead put the cup down unc. Do it for Ms Gladys.”

Birdman has reunited with Lil Wayne and the Hot Boys for a brief tour that launched in Tampa earlier this month. The Cash Money icons played Charlotte last weekend and will conclude the run this Friday in St. Louis. The group last shared the stage in November at Wayne’s LilWeezyana Fest in New Orleans, marking the Hot Boys’ first full reunion in over two decades. Mannie Fresh and Birdman, known as the Big Tymers, also joined the performance.

A Fractured Reunion: Wayne Stands Alone as Cash Money’s Legacy Shifts

The Essence Festival months earlier was a different story.

Wayne didn’t appear until B.G. and Juvenile wrapped up their set with Mannie and Birdman, while Turk, citing “business” conflicts, was absent altogether. For twenty minutes, Wayne held the stage alone, his former bandmates, producer, and label boss notably absent. When they finally reappeared—minus Juvenile—it was for a single closing track, performed after Wayne had already exited. As he powered through his set, the Cash Money insignia vanished from the screens, swapped for Young Money’s branding. “I’m here on behalf of Young Money fucking Records,” he declared.

During an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay, 2 Chainz revealed how his interaction with Birdman went down.

“If anybody wanted Wayne, [Birdman] would be like, ‘I need 100 too,’ and people would obviously do it,” 2 Chainz said.

But 2 Chainz found a way around Birdman’s demands. He went on to tell Sharpe that her purchased Wayne a pair of red Gucci shoes because “he represents the red team.”

“I take them to him at the studio. He don’t know I’m about to take it to him, but I also got a beat CD,” he recalled. “And I’m not doing this for the other thing but I just take it to him and he like … ’Damn, these harder than a b*tch.’

Eventually, Wayne moved to Miami after Hurricane Katrina. He still had the beat CD, and he invited 2 Chainz down to Florida.

“We go from the airport to the mall because he is trying to I guess show his appreciation for me buying him shoes,” 2 Chainz said. “Then out of the blue, he says, ‘What you thought about the hook I did for you?’”

2 Chainz didn’t know that Wayne recorded the hook because it was sent to the wrong email. They went back to the studio, and Wayne let him hear the song

“I remember at that particular time knowing what a hit sounded like,” 2 Chainz said. “I said, ‘Man, you did that for me?’ He like, ‘Yeah boy.’”

Although Wayne didn’t charge him, when Birdman found out, he still wanted his finder’s fee.

“When Wayne did that, he didn’t charge me … so it’s only going to be just 100, not 200. Baby still wanted his 100,” 2 Chainz said.

According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, the iconic R&B singer and the Cash Money mogul exchanged vows in a private ceremony on August 8. Just two days later, Braxton filed for divorce.

In the filing, Braxton cited August 10 as their separation date and described the marriage as “irretrievably broken.” The swift turnaround from wedding to divorce papers suggests a union plagued by unresolved tension, despite years of speculation and public denials. Still, the story didn’t end there. In a surprising move, Braxton withdrew the divorce petition in January 2025. Birdman, born Bryan Williams, consented. Legally, they remain husband and wife.

Whether they’re working through differences or simply coexisting remains unclear. Neither Braxton nor Birdman has addressed the situation publicly. Their representatives have also declined to comment, maintaining a wall of silence as rumors continue to swirl.

Their relationship has long been a study in contradictions. Birdman first proposed in February 2018, gifting Braxton a $1 million engagement ring and a collection of lavish jewelry. Despite their on-and-off dynamic, they appeared committed at times.

But public perception often lagged behind the truth. By 2019, the pair announced a breakup. Braxton spent the following years dismissing reports of a secret relationship, insisting in a December 2023 social media post that they were simply friends. At the time, she labeled marriage rumors “#FAKENEWS.”

Those denials may have been honest then. But as of late 2024, the two had clearly rekindled their bond behind closed doors—at least for a moment. Whether this unlikely couple will continue forward together or quietly part ways remains to be seen.

For now, their love story is equal parts mystery, romance, and turbulence—befitting two legends who’ve never played by the rules.

Essence, Birdman, and Cash Money announced the news on social media on Wednesday evening (May 1). The annual event will take place from July 4 through 7 at the Ceasar’s Superdome. Birdman and Cash Money are planning a performance featuring special guests and promises to be unforgettable.

New Orleans festival to honor hometown hero and Cash Money Millionaires, celebrating three decades of success. Last week Birdman revealed that he owns 100% of Cash Money Records during an interview with Steve-O. Cash Money Records signed a groundbreaking deal with Universal Music Group in the 1990s, inspiring others like Chris Brown to follow suit.

The Cash Money Millionaires include Birdman, Mannie Fresh, Juvenile, B.G., Lil Wayne, and Young Turk. Birdman and Mannie Fresh found early success as the Big Tymers with classics such as “Still Fly,” “Get Your Roll On,” and “#1 Stunna.”

While Juvenile, B.G., Lil Wayne, and Turk delivered countless solo hits, as the Hot Boys, the group delivered two classic albums and hit songs, “I Need A Hot Girl” and “We On Fire.” The Hot Boys reunion has been a trending topic since the release of B.G. in September 2023.

The ESSENCE Festival of Culture honors the city’s musical heritage and cultural bearers who have inspired generations.  The event’s essence lies in the community, from musical legends to cultural guardians who embody the spirit of New Orleans.

During a, recent interview, Birdman talked the Cash Money reunion set with Juvenile, B.G. and Mannie Fresh at the New Orleans festival during the  “Birdman & Friends.”

Fans were met with disappointment after Lil Wayne did not join Baby during the reunion set. Instead, Weezy had a set of his own.

“I swear to God on everything I love — and I love nothing more than Ms. Gladys — I will never let my city down and be a p*ssy-a*s n-gga for nobody” Baby said while on stage.

While speaking with Gregory “Geedy P” Earls, Birdman addressed the online chatter that he and Wayne were beefing. “I seen n-ggas was talking about, ‘Wayne ain’t wanna do this and do that.’ Wayne wasn’t even gonna do Essence. I called my son and asked him to do it because I was doing Birdman & Friends. He did it ’cause I asked him,” he clarified.

“We always knew that Wayne was gonna have his own set. Because me and Juvie and Geezy and Fresh, we rehearsed together every day and we had our own set together. But we all knew that Wayne was gonna have his own set. He was only a surprise guest.”

“He had done Essence two years in a row and he turned them down personally, and I asked him would he do it for me, and he did it for me. Shout out to my son Weezy, man.”

He also denied that his comments on stage were aimed at Weezy. “No, no. I ain’t got the heart to say nothing negative about Wayne. I love my son, man. That wasn’t what that was about.”

“What I meant by that is I ain’t gonna let this game play me. The game done played a lot of n-ggas. I ain’t never gonna be a pussy-ass n-gga to this industry and let them play me. I ain’t built like that and I ain’t gonna let my city down by being a pussy-ass n-gga.”

A report went viral that Braxton and Birdman privately tied the knot earlier in December.“#FAKENEWS,” Braxton wrote over a screenshot of a news report with the headline reading, “Congratulations! Toni Braxton and Birdman Married In A Private Ceremony in Mexico!”

She said in her caption, “my dear friend @birdman and I are not married… never been married. We are both single.”

The two have been romantically linked since 2016 and were engaged before calling off their engagement in 2019. Toni also seemingly deleted photos of them together off of her Instagram. No comment from Birdman as of yet.

“Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego. Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!!” questioned Minaj.

“Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50Cent come out. A white man. Shit sad. House NIGGER TINGZ. but it’s GOOD FI DEM!!!!!!! No loyalty ? Welp. then niggaz will keep son’ing you!!!!!” Nicki writes via X.

In another tweet she says, “And btw, you don’t know the half of what lil Wayne has done for me & others. Wayne had drake & I on his tour w/no papers signed. He was on all of my mixtapes w/no papers signed. This man has literally changed the FACE of hip hop. The hair too. IYKYK. He inspired so many to tat their faces & get locks. Inspired your faves to wanna be a great MC. he never was in this for the money. It’s always been for the love of music…”

Jay-Z also released a statement following the announcement. “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”

Nicki seemingly took shots at Jay via X as well. “Got everything in the world. Still spiteful & evil. Disgusting. Be happy Abeg. Go be fkng happy n!gg@!!!!!!!! In rap business. In women business. When you got the Politicians & the police you good tho. Plus dat ugly laughy taffy alien..”

BirdMan Speaks:

Birdman also took to X to address the situation as well. “These niggaz Pussi @NICKIMINAJ @Drake @LilTunechi YMCMB. I’m make these niggaz respek us on Gladys..” he writes.

In another tweet he says, “Hatin sh*t 4real. SMFH”

During a recent conversation with former NBA player Jalen Rose, the Cash Money boss spoke about how the region kept the genre alive. “Hip Hop 50, right? I still say that they don’t compliment the South enough for me,” Birdman said. “And I don’t respect that s**t about what they doing in Hip Hop and I never will respect it ’cause the South paved a big wave of keeping Hip Hop alive. And I don’t think they compliment us enough.”

The “Tapout” hitmaker also discussed Uncle Luke’s criticism regarding Hip Hop 50 celebrations featuring little representation of Florida. “That man deserves a lot of respect for what he did. Luke was around before we was around. That man was huge! And he played a big part of Hip Hop when nothing was popping.” Birdman added. “The South doesn’t get the respect that we deserve. That’s just my opinion and f**k who don’t like it.”

Check out the full clip below.

During an Instagram video, Juvenile addressed the NFL in a different way from others. The 49-year-old New Orleans legend made it clear that his disappointment lies with the NFL rather than with Lamar, Jay-Z, or Roc Nation.

“I’m mad at the people who hired the ones booking the halftime show,” Juve The Great said. “You’ve had 11 Super Bowls in New Orleans and still haven’t put a New Orleans hip-hop artist on the stage. Every time y’all come here, you should feature someone from our city.”

Juvenile highlights that while this issue has existed for years, Lil Wayne’s hometown performance hurts more this time. “How do you not have Lil Wayne performing at the halftime show?” he questioned.

Towards the end of the video, Juvenile urged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to do the right thing by bringing Wayne to the show. “Get it right,” he says to Goodell. 

Lil Wayne himself has previously expressed a strong desire to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. In an interview with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks in December, Wayne said he wanted the opportunity “badly” and would fight for it. Despite his absence from this year’s lineup, the rapper’s legacy remains firmly established, but the ongoing debate about representation at the Super Bowl continues.

Master P, New Orleans appointed Entertainment Ambassador for the Super Bowl, issued a statement agreeing with Lil Wayne fans that the “A Milli” rap star should be the Halftime Show performer. “I have to agree with the fans—Lil Wayne should be a part of this celebration,” the No Limit Records founder wrote. “He’s one of the greatest hip-hop artists alive, still relevant, and he’s a New Orleans native. Let’s not miss this cultural moment in the South. Life is too short. We have to give our legends their flowers while they’re here.”

Birdman would lash out at Jay-Z for the announcement and demand respect. Birdman’s rant would be supported by Nicki Minaj’s. In response to the outrage, Funkmaster Flex spoke about the selection and said Jay-Z should not be blamed.

 In a tweet, the legendary DJ and radio personality wrote, “We gotta stop blaming Jay-Z for everything. The NFL has never cared about people of color.”

Jay-Z spoke on Monday about Kendrick Lamar performing at the Super Bowl halftime show. It reads: 

“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”