Image via Complex Original
Ever since Lil Wayne blew up our illusions of Cash Money as a happy family last year and announced his frustration with the label and his mentor Birdman, the state of rap's biggest powerhouse has been in chaos. Will Wayne escape from the clutches of his seemingly evil father figure? Will he succeed in taking Young Money with him? Then, of course, there's Drake and Nicki, two superstars whose fame and relevance has long eclipsed their YMCMB affiliation. Nicki has stayed relatively silent, but recent bars from Drake suggest a similar unhappiness with Stunna. Gone are the days when he proudly shouted him out at every turn and gave him an expected slot to talk that talk on his albums—there will likely be no words of wisdom and encouragement from Baby on Views From the 6 a la "The Language" or "We'll Be Fine."
But beyond the three stars (and errant black sheep Tyga), most people forget that at the height of its powers, YMCMB was in the habit of basically signing anyone and everyone. Literally. But since Wayne is just trying to take his own YM imprint, let's focus on that roster. Where does everyone stand? Let's dig in (and in some cases, dig up) and see where everyone's at these days and if they, like Wayne, aren't fucking with Birdman anymore.
*Excluded mentions of Hood and Flow, two randoms who appeared in a recent Young Money cypher with Wayne, because, who???
Lil Wayne
Status: Currently embroiled in bitter, two-way lawsuits with Birdman. As he said on Twitter, he no longer wants to be on Cash Money.
I want off this label and nothing to do with these people but unfortunately it ain't that easy
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) December 4, 2014
Relationship with Birdman: Worse than Jax and Clay on Sons of Anarchy. Earlier this year, Wayne filed a lawsuit against Cash Money and Birdman for $51 million. Birdman then filed a $50 million lawsuit against Tidal for releasing Wayne's Free Weezy Album. Birdman was later named in an indictment about the shooting of Wayne's tour bus in April of this year. He was also videotaped throwing a drink on Weezy in a night club. But, according to Birdman, that's his "son," they still talk, and he's prepared to give him whatever he wants.
Last release: Free Weezy Album; Carter V remains in limbo.
Drake
Status: Unclear whether he has or has not fulfilled his contract with Cash Money.
Relationship with Birdman: Very bad. Drake fired off various subliminals on recent songs "Star67" and "100." However, in an interview with Power 105's Angie Martinez, Birdman stated very clearly that Drake "ain't going nowhere" and that the 6God is very happy and therefore would never speak out against him.
Last release: If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
Nicki Minaj
Status: Vocally supportive of Wayne, who appeared at one of her most recent tour stops. However, she's rumored to owe many more albums to Cash Money.
Relationship with Birdman: Unclear. There was that awkward moment when Stunna was denied entry into her pre-Grammys party. But, like Drake, Birdman believes Nicki is very happy and she would never speak out negatively against him due to all that he's blessed her with. And, for what it's worth, Nicki still considers him a mentor and friend.
The feeling is mutual. He's one of my best teachers and most genuine friends. I'm glad he spoke his peace. https://t.co/mic9BAIULn
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) July 29, 2015
Last release: The Pinkprint
Tyga
Status: Cool with Wayne, but trying to escape from Cash Money altogether and release music under his Last Kings label. He's pretty much off the label at this point.
Relationship with Birdman: Awful.
Last release: The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty
Austin Mahone
Status: Still signed, still living in Justin Bieber's shadow.
Relationship with Birdman: Unclear; the world awaits an answer with bated breath.
Last release: Single and accompanying video "Dirty Work." Birdman does not (!) appear in the video.
Mack Maine
Status: President of Young Money, whatever that means.
Relationship with Birdman: Wayne is Mack's childhood friend and, as pictures of the two together since the falling out affirm, he's sticking with his homie.
Last release: Does Mack Maine actually release things? The last Mack Maine song we liked was "Ride With the Mack" and that was in 2008.
Christina Milian
Status: Probably dating Lil Wayne.
Relationship with Birdman: Irrelevant.
Last release: Tina Turn Up, the "sexy, fun mixtape" she promised would arrive before her Young Money debut, has yet to materialize.
Shanell
Status: Still signed; still sporting that unfortunate nostril-lobe-chain.
Relationship with Birdman: She was once rumored to be romantically involved with Wayne. It's likely she'll remain loyal to Weezy and Young Money.
Last release: Nobody's Bitch Volume 2 mixtape (July 2014)
Chanel West Coast
Status: She's been signed since SXSW 2013.
Relationship with Birdman: It's unclear if Wayne or Birdman remembers she exists...
Last release: One feature (alongside Shanell, which, lmao) on Young Money's 2014 Rise of an Empire tax-writeoff group album. Prior to that was her Now You Know mixtape in 2013.
*Not to be confused with Shanell, who's from the east coast...
Euro
Status: One of the more recent signees to Young Money, Euro's prominently featured on the Rise of an Empire group album.
Relationship with Birdman: Euro appeared as one of the few features on Wayne's anti-Cash Money Free Weezy Album, so it's safe to assume his loyalty lies there.
Last release: The July mixtape, which came out in—you guessed it—July 2014, was a preview-tape for the yet-to-be-released Don't Expect Nothing mixtape.
Gudda Gudda
Status: Still signed; probably carries Wayne's weed.
Relationship with Birdman: As with most of Young Money, all signs point to 100 percent loyalty to Wayne. And as with most of the label's rappers, he recently appeared in the cipher that featured Wayne sending shots at Stunna.
Last release: Two placements on Rise of an Empire, and the Redrum mixtape from March 2013.
Jae Millz
Status: Signed, if still alive.
Relationship with Birdman: Unclear if Birdman remembers his existence.
Last release: The Virgo Mixtape 5 (Nastier Than the Nastiest) (???????).
Cory Gunz
Status: Still signed, also doing reality TV with Nick Cannon.
Relationship with Birdman: He very clearly sided with Wayne in the schism as he was last seen in the Young Money cipher video.
Last release: He had a few verses on Rise of an Empire and Lil Twist's The Golden Child 2.
Lil Twist and Lil Chuckee
Twist
Status: Still signed but recently and regularly expresses displeasure at Cash Money business dealings and tactics a la Tyga.
Relationship with Birdman: He's highly loyal to Wayne. Also, see above.
Last release: The Golden Child 2 (October 2014)
Chuckee
Status: Revealed to Sway that he left the label last year.
Relationship with Birdman: All but non-existent but still cordial; still considers Wayne his "big bro."
Last release: Overdue mixtape (2014)
PJ Morton
Status: Who?
Relationship with Birdman: Again, who?
Last release: Morton is featured on Rise of an Empire, and despite his relative anonymity in typical YMCMB circles, his 2013 R&B album, New Orleans, actually received a Grammy nomination for its lead single, "Only One," which features Stevie Wonder. He's also a keyboardist with Maroon 5, so he's likely immune to all of this fuckshit in a way, say, Gudda Gudda is not.