Historical Spotlight: Big Tymer$ and Cash Money Records
Black Americans have influenced music, fashion, food, and popularized entire cities single handedly. From Flo-Jo’s daring style that made it cool to rock vibrant, long nails to Jim Brown’s athletic skills showcased on the national stage, there have been numerous contributions that have determined what is considered cool in society. Trendsetters and pioneers created entire lanes that have grown into a rich history that continues to influence newcomers even to this day. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Big Tymer$ and how they influenced a whole genre by popularizing New Orleans hip-hop.
Big Tymer$ was formed in 1997 as a hip-hop duo that consisted of childhood friends Mannie Fresh and Birdman. Both were affiliated with Cash Money Records and both were from New Orleans, Louisiana, which was evident in their production and musical styles. At the time, bounce was geographically confined to New Orleans and hadn’t gotten a major platform to spread nationally yet. The genre was extremely popular in nightclubs all over the city and many of the pioneering artists were locals just like Mannie and Birdman.
Birdman founded Cash Money Records in conjunction with his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams in 1991. The label grew in popularity after signing and releasing numerous albums that showcased New Orleans talent including Lil Wayne, B.G., Juvenile, and Hot Boys. Birdman and Slim started the label in hopes of providing a more positive life out of the projects and away from the poverty around them.
The original bounce rappers that helped create the unique New Orleans sound were signed to Cash Money Records and their albums were solely produced by Mannie Fresh. Birdman organized the Hot Boys and discovered, mentored, and supported Lil Wayne by giving him the resources to hone his craft.
The label paved the way for aspiring artists to get the shine and recognition that was often well deserved, but difficult to garner. The three-year, $30 million distribution deal with Universal Records signed in March 1998 ensured Cash Money retained 85% of profits from album sales, 50% of their publishing royalties, and 100% ownership of all master recordings.
The capital helped them produce Juvenile’s 400 Degreez album which was released in November 1998 and went on to sell over five million copies worldwide. The project gave Cash Money legitimacy as a national powerhouse label and elevated it to a new level of success that drove the early 2000s.
The Hot Boys’ Guerrilla Warfare, B.G.’s Chopper City in the Ghetto, and Lil Wayne’s Tha Block Is Hot were all produced by Mannie Fresh as Cash Money’s in-house producer and all went on to be certified Platinum. Together, they built an ecosystem that reflected their unique style, flow, and showcased the city that brought them together. It was so tight knit that it took a lot of convincing just to get them to work with other producers in the industry.
Big Tymer$ was just as big of an act for the label as the other signed artists and released five studio albums. Their first album How You Luv That was released in 1997 and peaked at number 25 on the R&B/hip-hop chart. After the massive deal with Universal Records, their initial album was re-released as How You Luv That Vol. 2 and almost reached the top 100 of the Billboard album chart.
Their second album I Got That Work was released in 2000 and featured the hits “Get Your Roll On” and “#1 Stunna” which propelled the project to the top 5 of the US album chart. Their next project Hood Rich was released in 2002 and saw great success by topping both the US album and R&B charts. Their final album Big Money Heavyweight was released in 2003 and, while not as successful as the previous projects, still reached number 21 on the album charts and top ten on the R&B charts.
Between 2001 and 2003, the label sold 7 million albums and the Big Timer$ song “Still Fly” was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Mannie Fresh continued producing solely for the label up until 2005 before moving on to another venture, officially closing the door on Big Tymer$. The duo reunited in 2018 and produced their first song in 14 years called “Designer Caskets”.
While the label went on to sign huge household names like Drake and Nicki Minaj, it wasn’t free from controversy and even the arguably most known artist from Cash Money Records, Lil Wayne, had to move around from the toxic work environment. He ended up suing the label and getting into a massive rift with Birdman because of poor money management, delays in album releases, and other tension behind the scenes.
Mannie in particular left a lasting legacy as one of the greatest producers who knew how to get the best out of the talent he worked with. He racked up at least 17 songs that were certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum across his career. He’s also won awards as the Best DJ in 2016 and 2023.
Birdman also had a successful career and had a pivotal role in many mainstream rap and hip hop artists’ development. He had a hand in the success of Young Money Entertainment that took over the early 2010s and Rich Gang that took over later in the decade with the rise of Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan. He’s considered a legend and ranked number five on the Forbes list of wealthiest music industry figures in 2015 with a net worth of $155 million.
As one of the first big artists coming out of New Orleans, Lil Wayne went on to make history as one of the greatest rappers alive. His flow, authentic bars, and unique life circumstances helped listeners gravitate towards his music and really push him into the national limelight as a huge star. He has sold over 120 million records worldwide, won five Grammy Awards, 11 BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and eight NAACP Image Awards over his career.
Despite all of the strife going on behind the scenes, Big Tymer$, Birdman, Lil Wayne, and Cash Money Records helped put New Orleans bounce rappers on the map. They left a legacy that opened doors and showed the youth that there are better paths to changing their lives than just running the streets, winding up in jail, or having your life cut short from foolishness. They truly shaped the trajectory of countless lives and showcased their hometown flare while staying true to themselves.
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Signed,
Jessica Marie
