The Weeknd rushed to his friend Drake’s defense after his beef with Common. Now Drizzy’s YMCMB boss Birdman throws his support behind his artist in the ongoing battle.
“Drake the homie so we ride or die,” the Cash Money CEO told Power 106’s “Big Boy’s Neighborhood.” “Ain’t no second questions about that. We never been a brand of making money off of [diss records]. That’s not what we ’bout. So however the young homie deal with it, we behind it, we supporting him 100 percent with our life.”
He continued, “Drake the little homie. That’s blood, that’s family, and ain’t no siding with that. It’s Drake or nothing.”
Despite his full support for Drake, Birdman has no plans to get in on the feud.
Danger! Cash Money’s newest signee Mystikal unleashes his first single on the famed label featuring Lil Wayne and Birdman. Weezy welcomes the New Orleans rapper to YMCMB on the Detail-produced club banger before he fires up the track with some Southern hospitality. Listen as Mystikal embarks on the next chapter in his career.
Lil Wayne made a bold fashion statement in leopard shorts, a yellow fanny pack and oversized ski hat, and red sneakers while performing “Y.U. Mad” with Birdman at the inaugural MTV2 Sucker Free Awards in Miami. The female Weezy was not present, but the YMCMB rappers still went home with the award for Best Crew of 2011.
Birdman shows off his powerful team in the Gil Green-directed video for “Y.U. Mad,” the first single from his upcoming album Bigga Than Life. Nicki Minaj stars as the “female Weezy,” sporting long blonde dreads, tattoos, and jewelry like her boss Lil Wayne, who also lends his support to the Cash Money CEO. Hop in the Maybach and roll with the YMCMB all-stars.
In the spirit of the holidays, Lil Wayne returned to his hometown of New Orleans to pass out free turkeys as part of Cash Money’s turkey giveaway on Friday (Nov. 18). He was joined by his YMCMB family members Birdman and Slim for the 16th annual tradition.
“It’s actually been my first time back here for the past eight or nine years and they’ve been doing this for fifteen years,” Weezy told MTV News. “Me just being super busy, always on tour or something like that. But this is amazing, especially experiencing it now from this point of view, a 29-year-old perspective of a person with everything—not everything—a person with the things that he needs in place.”
The multi-platinum rapper explained how it feels to share his good fortune with others. “I’m able to give. Those times I did it years ago, I was just a kid and I was just doing it because Baby and Slim, we were giving away turkeys at a park,” he said. “Now it’s a totally different feeling because I can actually give you that and say here, ‘Happy Thanksgiving,’ and I can provide that for you. That’s a different feeling in general and it’s a beautiful feeling overall.”
Added Baby, “For me to see that they see us hopefully as inspiration to them, [then] something positive could come out of it. But we once was them.”
Busta Rhymes is making power moves. A day after dropping his new single “Why Stop Now” with Chris Brown, the fast-paced spitter has officially confirmed his signing to Cash Money Records. He joined Birdman in a video to announce that he is the newest member of the YMCMB family.
“This whole experience that’s getting ready to happen is probably going to be one of the most defining moments in hip-hop and probably in entertainment overall,” said Busta. “This alliance with the Conglomerate and YMCMB and me and Bird and Wayne, the whole family, is something that’s been a long time coming because we just always had a respect level and a genuine friendship for a very long time.”
His relationship with Birdman began 10-12 years ago when they bought pricey whips to compete in car shows. “It’s something that’s been brewing for a long time and now people gon’ really get to see it come to fruition in a whole ‘nother kind of way,” he added. “This is a golden moment personally and I think it’s a golden moment for hip-hop.”
The Cash Money CEO explained the decision behind the signing. “You legendary,” Baby told Busta. “But what we have to do today ain’t got nothing to do with what you did yesterday. I’m looking at the new music. The talent always been there. … I’m looking for big moves, big things all the time, every time.”
Maybach Music’s next in line Meek Mill adds some star power to the remix of his single “Ima Boss” with hip-hop heavyweights T.I., Swizz Beatz, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Birdman, and DJ Khaled.
Tip kicks off the five-minute-plus remix with a ferocious verse and Rozay keeps it moving after his recent health scare. “Had a couple seizures, call ‘em minor setbacks/ Everybody prayin’ for me, I respect that,” raps the Bawse.
Who had the best verse? Weigh in with your thoughts.
Birdman pulls out more stunts in the flashy video for “Y.U. Mad,” co-starring two of his YMCMB all-stars. Nicki Minaj transforms into the “female Weezy” with blonde dreads, tattoos, and jewelry, and Weezy himself stands out in a furry red ski hat, camouflage-framed glasses, and belt with a smiley face buckle.
In the Gil Green-directed clip, which was shot in Miami, the Cash Money CEO counts his paper at a long table with Young Money president Mack Maine and rides in a white Maybach with Nicki.
The bombastic track is the first single from Birdman’s upcoming album Bigga Than Life. “Nicki gave me that song. She called me one day like, ‘Stunna, I got a record for you I think you would like,’” Baby told MTV News. “I jumped on it and put my son on it. I liked it from the start. Working with Nicki is just special anyway and I felt good about it, so we rocked with it.”
