| Bryan Williams also known as Baby also known as | | | | him the role of in-house producer for Cash Money |
| Birdman is one of the most successful businessmen, | | | | Records, which mean that Mannie would have a major |
| entrepreneur’s and rappers in the hip-hop scene | | | | role in shaping the sound of the record label and the |
| today. I am going to try to dissect the rise of Williams | | | | artists who would be featured on it. With the early |
| and how he has become so successful in the often | | | | success of Mannie and Williams’ rap group The Big |
| fickle hip-hop industry. | | | | Tymers, they slowly began discovering and grooming |
| Williams was born and raised in Uptown, New Orleans, | | | | young rappers from the streets of New Orleans to |
| a difficult, poverty stricken area that has nonetheless | | | | appear and sign with Cash Money Records. |
| been the home of many famous musicians from Louis | | | | The most famous of those signed to Cash Money |
| Armstrong to Mahalia Jackson and Harry Connick | | | | Records was a young, raspy voiced rapper who goes |
| Junior. Williams dabbled in the drug trade in his youth | | | | by the name Lil’ Wayne. Lil’ Wayne slowly |
| and was also a petty criminal but eventually attempted | | | | worked his way up in hip-hop industry today becoming |
| to start a legit business when he founded Cash Money | | | | one of the most in-demand rappers in the scene. This |
| Records in early 1991. His history as a drug dealer is | | | | has no doubt brought Williams a lot of money. Williams |
| seen in the title of his very early and hard to find | | | | has been a savvy businessman in that he has largely |
| independent album entitled “I Need a Bag of | | | | marketed his music as less about lyrics and substance |
| Dope.” Local success eventually blossomed into | | | | and more about promoting a lavish lifestyle. You won't |
| national recognition when Williams hooked up with | | | | see Williams with cheap body kits on his ride, that's for |
| Mannie Fresh, a fellow New Orlean DJ and | | | | sure. Williams’ recent albums have not sold the |
| up-and-coming record producer who had been | | | | type of numbers that would make him as wealthy as |
| bounced around on various labels. | | | | he seems which makes assume he must have his |
| Williams was so impressed by Mannie that he offered | | | | fingers in other pies, hopefully legitimate ones. |