Slim discusses Lil Wayne and "Tha Carter IV"

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

When he launched Cash Money Records, this is what Slim envisioned his comapny being like. Aside from the mainstream Cash Money label, the label has labels under Cash Money working and making money. In only three years, Cash Money Records has gone from a boutique label to being one of the biggest record labels.

Lil Wayne is credited for this growth. In the late 1990s, Cash Money seemingly caught their big break when they added The Hot Boyz and landed a deal with Universal Records. Cash Money Records had a huge roster and multiple hits. But, this would not be enough to keep the artists on the label when they had the option to leave.

By 2002, Lil Wayne was the only artist left on Cash Money. In 2004, he stepped his lyrical game up, releasing Tha Carter. Following his 2005 album, Tha Carter II, Lil Wayne hit the mixtape scene. From the bottom up, Lil Wayne took the game over, establishing Young Money under Cash Money. In 2008, he became the biggest rapper on the planet, releasing Tha Carter III, a triple platinum album.

In 2009, Lil Wayne released the We Are Young Money album, introducing Drake and Nicki Minaj. A few months later, Lil Wayne released Rebirth and soon ended up going to prison. While behind bars, Wayne released another album, I Am Not a Human Being, and released the "Right Above It" hit. Upon getting out of prison, Lil Wayne began promoting Tha Carter IV. Slim has been watching his top moneymaker and he is very impressed with Wayne's savvy.

Slim said it takes an incredible man to do what Lil Wayne has done. He has released four albums since 2008, each of which has been a platinum success. In the middle of this, Lil Wayne has released several hit singles and is running his own successful label under Cash Money. While behind bars, Lil Wayne helped make Drake and Nicki Minaj into superstars in their own right. This is what Slim helped do with several of the local New Orleans talents two decades ago and it is impressive he is doing this on a worldwide basis.