Nicki Minaj’s Young Money Signing Date: Exploring Controversies of the Record Label

Shortly after Nicki Minaj entered the rap scene, she was discovered by Big Fendi and signed to his label, Dirty Money Entertainment, for a brief period of 180 days. This contract led to Lil Wayne discovering Minaj, resulting in her signing with his label, Young Money Entertainment.

Nicki Minaj officially signed to Young Money in 2009, according to XXXX, and subsequently appeared on two tracks from the compilation album, We Are Young Money. Her highly anticipated debut album, Pink Friday, was released a year later.

Young Money Entertainment was initially established in collaboration with Birdman’s Cash Money Records back in 2003. Over the years, the label has faced various controversies, including lawsuits and catalog sales.

Nicki Minaj Sign-On to Young Money Alongside Drake

In 2009, Nicki Minaj was not the only artist to join Young Money; Drake also signed with the label at the same time. The two rappers quickly became friends and collaborated on numerous tracks together.

As of 2023, Minaj, Drake, and Lil Wayne emerged as the top three rappers with the most Billboard Top 10 hits, solidifying their status as the flagship artists of Young Money Entertainment.

2015: Lil Wayne vs. Birdman’s Cash Money

According to BBC reports, Lil Wayne filed a lawsuit against Birdman’s Cash Money Records in January 2015, claiming breach of contract and that tens of millions of dollars were being withheld from him. This money was due to the considerable delay in the release of his twelfth studio album, Tha Carter V.

Originally slated for release in 2013, the album’s launch kept being postponed. TMZ reported that Wayne claimed Cash Money owed him $8 million in advance for the album plus an additional $2 million upon its release.

Wayne also alleged that he did not receive the promised 49% ownership stake in Young Money Entertainment as part of the original deal between Young Money and Cash Money.

Unhappy with the lack of accounting regarding the revenue generated by Drake for his label, Wayne sought an exit from the partnership. Following the lawsuit, he released a mixtape titled Free Weezy on July 4, as an expression of his grievances against Cash Money.

2018: Lil Wayne’s Release from Cash Money Following Settlement

After a three-year legal battle with Cash Money, Lil Wayne’s dispute concluded on June 7, 2018, with a settlement. While the specifics of the resolution remained confidential, sources speculated it was a multi-million-dollar agreement, as confirmed by Wayne’s attorney, Ron Sweeney.

Post-settlement, Wayne regained full control of his 49% ownership stake in Young Money Entertainment.

Following this exit, he released Tha Carter V on September 27, which quickly ascended to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart, with a deluxe version following two years later.

2020: Young Money’s Catalog Sold to Universal Music Group

In December 2020, Revolt TV disclosed that Lil Wayne, also known as Lil Tunechi, sold his masters to Universal Music Group (UMG) for $100 million in June. This deal included rights to his music as well as the complete Young Money catalog, featuring works from Drake and Nicki Minaj.

2022: Drake Secures a $400 Million Deal with UMG

In May 2022, Variety reported that Drake, another leading artist from Young Money, signed a “multi-faceted”contract with UMG worth $400 million.

This lucrative agreement marked the end of his contractual obligations to Young Money/Cash Money Records.

While Drake parted ways with Young Money, Nicki Minaj continues to represent the label. Moreover, in July 2023, she launched her own record label, Heavy On It, signing various artists, including Tate Kobang, Nana Fofie, London Hill, and Rico Donna.

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