Birdman (entertainer)

Birdman

Birdman performing at Hot 97's Summer Jam 2007
Background information
Birth name Bryan Williams
Also known as B-32, Baby, Stunna Man, Birdman Skittles, Baby Birdman.
Born February 15, 1969 (1969-02-15) (age 43)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Occupations Rapper, record producer, businessman
Years active 1990–present
Labels Cash Money, Universal Republic
Associated acts Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, Big Tymers, Cash Money Millionaires, The B.G.'z
Website birdmanstunna.com

Bryan Williams (born February 15, 1969), better known by his stage name Birdman or Baby, is an American rapper, businessman, record producer, and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of Cash Money Records and one half of the duo Big Tymers. Along with his releases with Big Tymers and for his solo career, Birdman recorded a collaboration album and numerous tracks with Lil Wayne. According to Forbes, he grossed an estimated $15 million from May 2010 to May 2011 with a net worth estimated at over $100 million in 2011.[1]

Contents

Early life

Williams was born and raised in Uptown New Orleans, with his brother Ronald "Slim" Williams, with whom he founded Cash Money Records in 1990. He used his first name B-32 (Baby with the 32 Golds) and released his debut album Birdman in 2002.[2] He is also the adoptive father of rapper Lil Wayne. Williams attended UMES on the Eastern Shore of Maryland after he graduated from high school. He attended the university for one year before dropping out and starting his career.[3]

Career

Big Tymers

In 1997, he joined producer and DJ Mannie Fresh to form the duo Big Tymers.[4] Big Tymers debuted in 1998 with the album How Ya Luv That? and went on to release I Got That Work in 2000 and Hood Rich in 2002. I Got That Work had the hit singles "Get Your Roll On" and "#1 Stunna"; Hood Rich had "Still Fly", which was nominated for a Grammy, and "Oh Yeah!" Big Money Heavyweight followed in 2003; the group disbanded in 2004.[5] His son was born in 1997; his daughter in 1998.

2005-2007: Like Father Like Son and 5 * Stunna

Lil Wayne and Birdman released an album titled Like Father, Like Son. It was certified gold and spawned three singles, including "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" and "Leather So Soft". He was also featured on the remixes of the best-selling rap singles "We Fly High" by Jim Jones and "Make It Rain" by Fat Joe. In 2007 Birdman released his fourth studio album, 5 * Stunna. The first single, "Pop Bottles", featuring Lil Wayne, was a hit, as was the second single "100 Million", featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Dre, and DJ Khaled. The third single, featuring Lil Wayne, titled "I Run This", was a hit as well.

2009: Priceless

Birdman's first single from his album Pricele$$ was "Always Strapped", featuring Lil Wayne, and the second "Written on Her", featuring British singer Jay Sean. "Southside", featuring Lil Wayne, is the third single.[6] "Money to Blow" featuring Drake and Lil Wayne is the fourth single. "4 My Town (Play Ball)" featuring Drake and Lil Wayne is the fifth single. "Written on Her" also became Birdman's first UK release in December 2009.[7]

2010-present: Bigga Than Life and future collaboration plans

In 2010 he was going to release an album titled Priceless 2, a sequel to his previous album, but changed it to Bigga Than Life.[8] The first promotional single was titled "Loyalty" and featured Lil Wayne and Tyga.[8] Other collaborations will come from Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Bun B and Drake.[8] The album was scheduled to be released in early 2011.[9] He released a music video for a possible future single, "My Jewel", which features Bun B and Young Jeezy.[10] On November 22, 2010, he released the first official single, "Fire Flame", which features Lil Wayne. Birdman released a single called "I Get Money" featuring T-Pain, Young Money artist Mack Maine and Lil Wayne.

Birdman is set to release an album with his long-time friend, Rick Ross titled The H sometime in the near future.[11] A second Like Father, Like Son album with Lil Wayne was to be released in 2012.[12]

Legal trouble

Birdman was arrested and charged with possession of nearly half an ounce of marijuana in November 2007.[13][14] He was released on $1,500 bond.[15]

In July 2008, Birdman was arrested for firing a pistol into the air while throwing cash at a party, but the charges were later dropped.[16]

In October 2009, Birdman, Lil Wayne, Cash Money Records and various music distribution outlets were sued for copyright infringement by Thomas Marasciullo, who claims his voice was used without permission. Both rappers asked him to record some "Italian-styled spoken word recordings" in 2006. The lyrics were allegedly used on "Respect" and other tracks from the rappers' collaboration album Like Father, Like Son and Birdman's 5 * Stunna.[16]

Oil business

In early 2010, Birdman formed an oil and gas exploration company, Bronald Oil and Gas, LLC. The company was a joint venture founded by Birdman and his brother Slim, and the name was a combination of the brothers' first names, Bryan and Ronald. Evidence of the company's actual business operations was scant, limited mostly to a website and the appearance of a "pumpjack" tattoo on the side of Birdman's head.[17] The website indicated that the company's strategy would be to first develop existing land holdings and seek out new oil and gas leases. In February 2010, Birdman told Ozone magazine that he had been in the oil business for "4 or 5 years" and was "making good money off that".[18] However, by March 2010, Birdman had almost completely covered the pumpjack tattoo, which sparked speculation that the Bronald Oil project had stalled.[19] As of June 2011, the Bronald Oil website was still operational, but had not been updated since its launch. The status of the tattoo is unknown.

Discography

Solo
Collaboration

References

  1. ^ Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (March 9, 2011). "The Forbes Five: Hip-Hop's Wealthiest Artists". Forbes. http://blogs.forbes.com/zackomalleygreenburg/2011/03/09/the-forbes-five-hip-hop-wealthiest-artists/. 
  2. ^ "Mind Of Mannie". XXL. May 24, 2006.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ Jeffries, David. "Birdman > Biography". allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p183871/biography. Retrieved March 22, 2009. 
  5. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Big Tymers: Biography". allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p293197/biography. Retrieved March 22, 2009. 
  6. ^ Birdman - Written On Her (Feat Jay Sean) Updated With CDQ
  7. ^ Birdman interview by Pete Lewis, Blues & Soul. December 2009
  8. ^ a b c Birdman, Lil Wayne And Tyga Rep Their Hometowns In 'Loyalty' Video, MTV, June 16, 2010, http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1641727/20100616/baby_aka_the_1_stunna.jhtml 
  9. ^ Kuperstein, Slava (November 14, 2010). "Birdman Talks Lil Wayne, Drake Collaboration Album". HipHop DX. Cheri Media Group.
  10. ^ YouTube - Birdman Ft. Young Jeezy & Bun B - My Jewel (Official Video) latesthoodvids
  11. ^ Reid, Shaheem (May 23, 2008). "T.I. Tests Himself As A Producer". Mixtape Monday. MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1588030/20080523/t_i_.jhtml. 
  12. ^ Ryon, Sean (September 30, 2010). Lil Wayne and Birdman to Reunite for 'Like Father, Like Son 2'". HipHop DX. Cheri Media Group.
  13. ^ Breeding, Kacie Dingus (November 27, 2007). "Kingsport traffic stop cages rapper Birdman and his entourage on drug charges; ATF helps with firearms probe". The Times-Picayune. http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9004042. 
  14. ^ Kaufman, Gil (November 28, 2007). tml "Baby, A.K.A. Birdman, Arrested For Marijuana Possession". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1575196/20071128/baby_aka_the_1_stunna.jh tml. Retrieved March 22, 2009. 
  15. ^ Reid, Shaheem (November 28, 2007). "Baby -- A.K.A. Birdman -- Tells His Side Of Marijuana Bust". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1575249/20071128/baby_aka_the_1_stunna.jhtml. Retrieved March 22, 2009. 
  16. ^ http://www.heatingoil.com/blog/rapper-mogul-birdman-unveils-indie-oil-business123/
  17. ^ http://www.ozonemag.com/2010/02/12/issue-82-birdman-cover-story/
  18. ^ http://www.heatingoil.com/blog/bronald-oil-update-birdman-covers-up-tattoo-stokes-skepticism304/

External links