Cash Money Records Founder Birdman experienced several losses by the age of 16, and he was determined to steer clear of any losses in the music business. Birdman, born Bryan Christopher Williams, started the label in 1991 alongside his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams, according to BET. They were able to gain traction and had the support of independent distributors such as Gonzales Music and SouthWest Distribution, XXL Magazine reports. Building popularity in the South, the label caught the attention of Universal Records and signed a deal with the company on May 10, 1997, per a Max Volume Media interview Birdman gave. He later discussed the deal during an interview on the “Wilde Ride!” podcast, revealing that he was looking to retain ownership of his music due to his upbringing. “I felt like I lost everything already. I lost my family,” he explained on the podcast. “Nothing can repay me for what I already lost. I lost my mama, my daddy, my brother, my sister… I lived a hell of a life...

A TikTok rapper will be going against Sony Music Entertainment in court. According to Billboard, 20-year-old rapper Dantreal Clark-Rainbolt, more commonly known as Trefuego, had a viral hit on TikTok thanks to his release of “90mh.” The songs was featured in at least 155,000 videos on the platform. Additionally, it has been streamed a minimum of 100 million times on Spotify. The outlet also reported he has garnered significant earnings from the song’s popularity, with estimates reaching almost $700,000. However, it appears the rapper won’t be able to roll in the dough for much longer. He is now in troubled water for utilizing a copyright sample from Toshifumi Hinata’s 1986 song “Reflections,” according to Rolling Stone. “Trefuego brazenly sought to ride the coattails of Hinata’s creativity and popularity without regard to the United States copyright laws or the rights of plaintiffs,” Sony’s attorneys wrote per Billboard. “He used and copied plaintiffs’ work without so much as...

Fat Joe has gotten very candid about his view on record labels. During an Instagram Live, the New York rapper elaborated on why he previously told Forbes that he believes record labels are Ponzi schemes. He claimed he noticed a trend where music companies will find talented artists who come from less fortunate backgrounds and fund their music careers. However, Fat Joe emphasized that to him it’s a tactic for record labels to swindle musicians. In addition, he shared how he thought the majority of the time ownership is in the labels’ hands. “Though they make the profit of the records, they charge you whatever they spend on the video,” Fat Joe shared on Instagram Live. “It ain’t like we 50/50 partners.” He added, “You could bring a scientist who wins the Nobel Peace Prize to do the accounting on major labels’ math, and they always can’t figure it out. So it’s robbery, all the way through.”   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by THE HIP-HOP WOLF® (@thehiphopwolf) In short,...

Beyoncé is embracing her roots once more in her most recent musical undertaking, “Cowboy Carter.” While her eighth studio album has clear Country influences, the Houston, TX, native is sending a message to the world that this is not a Country album — it’s a Beyoncé album. When you consider Country’s root, Black Texans should not be removed from the conversation, and her latest musical reminder, to some, is a “revival” of Country’s history. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) “It was at the Rodeo where she first saw diversity and camaraderie among people who love Country music and an Americana lifestyle, steeped in community, culinary offerings, grills, and Western gear,” a news release stated about the album launch . “And it was for everyone. Among the crowds were Black, Hispanic and Native American Cowboys, who made their valuable, authentic allowances to the culture. Their stories are synonymous with American history.” Released to the world on March 29,...

When you reach success in life, it’s important to recognize and appreciate the individuals who have supported and influenced your journey. This was the case for famed rapper Ma$e, who took time to give award-winning producer Jermaine Dupri his flowers. Ma$e had been impacted by Dupri early on. As a member of Hip Hop group Harlem World, he and the group signed a production deal with Dupri’s label So So Def Records in 1998, according to MTV. Through a partnership with Dupri, Ma$e would then launch his own label to release the group’s music, reports Vice. What’s more, the deal proved to be instrumental for Ma$e, who was also a Bad Boy Records artist, as it allowed him to reach financial success. “I want to tell you thank you from my heart. You were the first guy to ever pay me what I was really worth talent wise, and that just goes a long long way,” Ma$e said on the “ Come And Talk 2 Me” podcast. “And I want you to know if there’s ever anything I could do, anything I could be a part...