Apple to Fund Cash Money Records Documentary
Cash Money Records and Apple Music have struck a deal, but it isn’t for new music—it’s for a documentary.
Yesterday, speculative rumors claimed Birdman signed his label to an exclusive partnership with the tech titan, one that would involve Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj (who have ties to rival TIDAL), and Drake (who has his own exclusive deal with Apple). However, that has turned out to be untrue.
Instead, multiple reports now say that Apple has agreed to fund a documentary about one of the world’s most successful hip-hop labels.
Earlier this year, Birdman revealed that a script was in the works for a Cash Money biopic, inspired by last year’s N.W.A blockbuster Straight Outta Compton. “I think that Dr. Dre and Ice Cube…I think they are geniuses for what they have done and accomplished,” he said. “For them to do that and to make it trend-setting, they opened doors for us. And I just think that what we have is way more special, because we’re in modern times.”
Apple Music has long been in the fight to secure more video content and rappers have been a part of that battle. Dr. Dre, for instance, is reportedly filming a mini-series titled “Vital Signs” as part of that initiative and will.i.am will act as a judge on the platform’s “Planet of the Apps” game show, along with Gwyneth Paltrow and Gary Vaynerchuk.
Other video content has also been secured recently. In addition to all of the above, James Corden’s “Late Late Show” segment “Carpool Karaoke” will also have a spinoff through Apple.