Birdman (rapper)
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Bryan Christopher Williams (né Brooks; February 15, 1969), better known by his stage names Birdman and Baby, is an American rapper and record executive. He is the public face of Cash Money Records, a record label he co-founded with his older brother, Ronald "Slim" Williams, in 1991. Birdman released his eponymous debut studio album in 2002, and released three follow-up albums—Fast Money (2005), 5 * Stunna (2007), and Priceless (2009)—to moderate commercial success and mixed critical reception. Along with his solo career, he is a member of the hip hop duo Big Tymers with producer Mannie Fresh, as well as the supergroup Cash Money Millionaires. Apart from his solo work and five releases as part of Big Tymers, Birdman is best known for his discovery and mentorship of fellow New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne, with whom he released the collaborative album, Like Father, Like Son (2006). As label-head of Cash Money Records, he has been central to the career and commercial success of Wayne, as well as future signees including Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga. Many acts were signed in a joint venture with Wayne's Young Money Entertainment (branded as "YMCMB"), a label that ran as an imprint of Cash Money from its formation in 2005 until 2018. Birdman also founded the spin-off project Rich Gang in 2014, a loose-knit collective assembled from core signees of both labels; it was joined and soon led by then-upcoming Southern rappers Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan, as well as other artists not directly signed to the labels. One of the wealthiest hip-hop artists, he placed fifth on the Forbes list of wealthiest music industry figures in 2015, and fourth in 2017, with a net worth of $155 million and $110 million, respectively. Outside of music, Birdman has ventured into various industries, including fashion, spirits, and oil exploration.