Young Money Entertainment
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn American hip-hop record label founded by Lil Wayne and associated with the careers of Drake, Nicki Minaj and other major rap artists.
Last updated August 21, 2026
Overview
Young Money Entertainment is an American hip-hop record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne in 2005. It began as an imprint connected to Cash Money Records and was subsequently distributed through a relationship involving Republic Records. The label became one of the most commercially consequential artist-led operations in modern rap, combining Lil Wayne's own recordings with the development and release of music by artists who became major independent stars within the broader label system. Young Money's best-known artist relationships include Drake and Nicki Minaj, alongside Lil Wayne himself, Tyga, Cory Gunz, Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, Euro, and other performers. Drake joined through a joint venture involving Young Money and Cash Money, while Minaj's affiliation helped establish her as one of the defining women in contemporary hip-hop. The label's influence extended beyond formal roster management: its name became associated with a recognizable collaborative circle, compilation albums, tours, music videos, guest appearances, and a broader creative identity often abbreviated as YMCMB. The company achieved exceptional chart visibility during the late 2000s and 2010s. Albums released through its network included Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III, I Am Not a Human Being, Tha Carter IV, Tha Carter V and Funeral; Drake's Thank Me Later, Take Care, Nothing Was the Same, If You're Reading This It's Too Late, What a Time to Be Alive, Views, More Life and Scorpion; and Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. These projects produced multiple Billboard 200 number-one albums and made Young Money a central commercial force in rap music. Young Money also operated as a collaborative brand. Its compilation album We Are Young Money was released in 2009 and supported by the Young Money Tour. The song BedRock became the collective's major breakthrough single, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and later becoming a top-ten hit in the United Kingdom. Further group projects included Rich Gang, made with Cash Money Records, and Young Money: Rise of an Empire, released in 2014. Management changed during the label's early development. Lil Wayne said he had handed the presidency to Cortez Bryant by 2007, and Mack Maine was serving as president by 2009. The label later became involved in a major contractual and ownership dispute connected with Cash Money Records, Birdman, Universal Music Group and unpaid obligations relating to Lil Wayne. A settlement reached in 2018 transferred Young Money's ownership position from Cash Money to Universal Music Group and transferred Birdman's reported minority interest to Wayne. In 2020, a settlement involving Republic and Universal Music Group reportedly covered Lil Wayne's master recordings and the wider Young Money catalog, including recordings by Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga. Young Money is therefore best understood as an artist-founded label and imprint whose catalog and distribution relationships have been integrated into the Universal music system.
History
Young Money Entertainment was established in 2005 by Lil Wayne as a vehicle for releasing music and developing artists around his New Orleans-rooted hip-hop identity. At launch, it functioned as an imprint associated with Cash Money Records. The relationship was later presented through the joint branding Young Money Cash Money Billionaires, commonly shortened to YMCMB, while Republic Records supplied an important distribution and corporate connection. During the label's formative period, management responsibilities evolved. Lil Wayne stated in a 2007 interview that he had stepped down from the presidency and given that role to Cortez Bryant. By 2009, Mack Maine was serving as president. This period also saw the label move from being primarily identified with Lil Wayne to becoming a broader artist-development platform. Drake entered through a Young Money and Cash Money joint venture, and Nicki Minaj became another central figure in the label's expansion. Other artists associated with the roster or its releases included Tyga, DJ Khaled, Austin Mahone, Cory Gunz, Gudda Gudda and Jae Millz. Young Money's first large-scale collective release was We Are Young Money, issued in December 2009. The album reached the US Billboard 200 top ten and was promoted through the Young Money Tour. Its single BedRock, featuring several members of the label's creative circle, became a major crossover success. The song reached number two in the United States and later reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, giving the label a visible group identity in addition to the individual success of its artists. The early 2010s were the company's most commercially powerful period. Albums by Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj repeatedly reached the top of the Billboard 200. The label's network also supported releases by artists at different career stages, and its brand was reinforced by frequent collaborations, guest appearances and compilation projects. A proposed or discussed association with T-Pain did not result in a completed deal, while other signings and introductions reflected the label's continuing search for emerging talent. Young Money's collaborative ambitions continued through Rich Gang, a 2013 project made with Cash Money Records, and Young Money: Rise of an Empire, released in 2014. The latter included the singles We Alright and Senile, as well as other material tied to the label's leading performers. These projects positioned Young Money not merely as a contracting entity but as a recognizable creative collective. The company's corporate history became more contentious in the mid-2010s. Lil Wayne's dispute with Birdman, Cash Money Records and Universal Music Group involved alleged unpaid advances, contractual rights and control of recordings. Lil Wayne filed a lawsuit in 2015 seeking substantial damages. The parties settled in 2018. The reported terms transferred Young Money's ownership relationship from Cash Money to Universal Music Group and moved Birdman's 49 percent interest to Lil Wayne, effective in September 2018. A further settlement reported in 2020 involved the sale or transfer of master recordings and the broader Young Money catalog to Universal Music Group through the Republic system. The catalog reportedly included recordings by Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga. These transactions placed the economic and archival management of much of Young Money's most valuable recorded output within Universal's corporate structure, while Lil Wayne remained the label's founding identity and owner. Young Money consequently remains best characterized as an active hip-hop imprint with an artist-founded history and a catalog closely connected to Republic and Universal.
- 2020
Young Money catalog enters a Universal settlement
[1]A settlement reportedly transfers or sells the label's master recordings and wider catalog to Universal Music Group through Republic.
- 2018
Settlement transfers ownership interests
[1]The reported settlement moves Young Money's ownership from Cash Money to Universal and transfers Birdman's minority stake to Lil Wayne.
- 2015
Lil Wayne files suit over label and catalog disputes
[1]Lil Wayne initiates litigation involving alleged unpaid advances and rights connected with Cash Money and Universal Music Group.
- 2014
Young Money: Rise of an Empire is released
[1]Young Money issues its second major label compilation album.
- 2013
Rich Gang is released
[1]Young Money and Cash Money collaborate on the Rich Gang compilation project.
- 2010
BedRock reaches number two in the United States
[1]The collective's signature single peaks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and becomes a UK top-ten hit.
- 2009
Mack Maine becomes president
[1]Mack Maine is identified as Young Money's president as the label expands its artist roster and joint-venture activities.
- 2009
We Are Young Money is released
[1]The first major Young Money compilation is released and reaches number nine on the US Billboard 200.
- 2007
Cortez Bryant assumes the presidency
[1]Lil Wayne says he stepped down as president and transferred the role to longtime associate Cortez Bryant.
- 2005
Young Money Entertainment is founded
[1]Lil Wayne establishes Young Money as a hip-hop record label and imprint associated with Cash Money Records.
Products and positioning
An artist-led hip-hop label focused on discovering, developing and commercially releasing rap talent, with a strong emphasis on collaborative culture and high-profile mainstream music.
Compilation album · 2009
We Are Young Money
Young Money's first major collaborative compilation album, released in December 2009. It presented Lil Wayne and associated artists as a unified creative group rather than as unrelated solo acts. The project reached number nine on the US Billboard 200 and included BedRock, the label's most successful collective single. Its release was supported by the Young Money Tour and helped establish the YMCMB identity in mainstream hip-hop.
Collaborative compilation album · 2013
Rich Gang
A 2013 compilation created through collaboration between Young Money and Cash Money Records. The project brought together label artists and outside collaborators, including Future on the lead single Tapout. It represented the broader commercial and creative alliance between the two imprints during the period when Young Money was strongly identified with the YMCMB collective.
Compilation album · 2014
Young Money: Rise of an Empire
Young Money's second major compilation album, released in 2014. It included We Alright, Senile and other tracks involving leading members and affiliates of the label. The album emphasized the collective's roster and collaborative identity while combining new material with songs connected to the label's most prominent performers.
Single · 2009
BedRock
A multi-artist Young Money single from the We Are Young Money era. The song became the collective's defining commercial record, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the UK Singles Chart. Its success helped convert Young Money from an artist-associated imprint into a widely recognized group brand.
Artist recording catalog
Lil Wayne catalog
Young Money's core catalog includes major Lil Wayne albums released through its label network, including Tha Carter III, I Am Not a Human Being, Tha Carter IV, Tha Carter V and Funeral. These releases span the label's commercial peak and helped make its founder one of the central figures in 21st-century rap.
Artist recording catalog
Drake catalog
The Young Money-associated Drake catalog includes Thank Me Later, Take Care, Nothing Was the Same, If You're Reading This It's Too Late, What a Time to Be Alive, Views, More Life and Scorpion. The releases generated repeated Billboard 200 leaders and made Drake one of the label's most commercially important affiliated artists.
Artist recording catalog
Nicki Minaj catalog
Young Money's major Nicki Minaj releases include Pink Friday and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Her work broadened the label's audience and made Minaj one of its most visible artists, while establishing a commercially successful female rap presence within the label's predominantly hip-hop roster.
Controversies
2018
Settlement and transfer of Young Money ownership interests
The reported settlement resolved the dispute by changing Young Money's ownership relationship and transferring Birdman's reported 49 percent interest to Lil Wayne.
2015
Lil Wayne's dispute with Cash Money and Universal
Lil Wayne sued over alleged unpaid advances, contractual obligations and rights involving Cash Money Records and Universal Music Group. The dispute affected control and ownership questions surrounding Young Money and its recordings.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Young Money Tour
United States
A concert campaign supporting the release of We Are Young Money and presenting the label's performers as a unified live collective.
Outcome. Helped promote the compilation and reinforce the Young Money/YMCMB group identity.
- 2009We Are Young Money release campaign
United States · United Kingdom
A coordinated album and single campaign centered on We Are Young Money and BedRock.
Outcome. The album reached the US Billboard 200 top ten, while BedRock became a US number-two and UK top-ten hit.
Brand decisions
2020
Transfer or sale of master recordings and catalogM&ABackground
A later settlement addressed ownership of Lil Wayne's master recordings and the broader Young Money catalog.
Action taken
The catalog was reportedly transferred or sold through Republic Records to Universal Music Group.
Aftermath
Universal reportedly became the owner of the wider Young Money catalog, including releases associated with Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga.
Reported catalog settlement value. $100 million (2020 settlement)
2018
Resolve ownership and catalog-control disputeM&ABackground
The 2015 lawsuit raised questions about unpaid obligations, label ownership and control of Young Money-related assets.
Action taken
The parties settled, with Young Money's ownership transferred from Cash Money to Universal Music Group and Birdman's reported minority interest transferred to Lil Wayne.
Aftermath
The settlement altered the label's corporate structure and strengthened Lil Wayne's ownership position.
Reported settlement compensation to Lil Wayne. over $10 million (2018 settlement)
2014
Release Young Money: Rise of an EmpireProduct launchBackground
Young Money sought to maintain the momentum of its artist collective after the success of individual releases and earlier compilation projects.
Action taken
The label issued a second major compilation album led by tracks including We Alright and Senile.
Aftermath
The release extended the Young Money collective format and featured artists from the label's central roster.
2009
Build Young Money as a collective label brandStrategyBackground
The label had expanded beyond Lil Wayne's individual career and needed a public identity for its developing roster.
Action taken
Young Money released a collaborative compilation and promoted it with a dedicated tour.
Aftermath
The strategy produced a top-ten album and the label's signature hit, BedRock.
Recent events
- 2020
Universal Music Group settlement covers the Young Money catalog[1]
M&A · Other
A settlement involving Republic and Universal Music Group reportedly covered Lil Wayne's masters and the wider Young Money catalog, including recordings associated with Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga.
- 2014
Young Money announces Rise of an Empire[1]
Product launch
The label announced and released its second major compilation album, Young Money: Rise of an Empire, following the singles We Alright and Senile.
- 2010
BedRock becomes Young Money's breakthrough group single[1]
Product generation · Other
The single reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and later reached the UK top ten, becoming the collective's most prominent early commercial hit.
- 2010
Young Money artists dominate 2010 hip-hop album sales[1]
Other
Releases by Drake and Lil Wayne placed three Young Money-connected albums among the ten highest-selling hip-hop albums of the year.
- 2009
Young Money releases We Are Young Money[1]
Product launch · Campaign
The label issued its first major collaborative compilation, supported by the Young Money Tour. The album entered the US Billboard 200 in the top ten.
Sources1 sources
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