Birdman (rapper)
| Birdman | |
|---|---|
 Birdman performing at Hot 97's Summer Jam 2007. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bryan Williams |
| Also known as | B-32, Baby, Stunna |
| Born | February 15, 1969 New Orleans |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations | Rapper, record producer, businessman, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1990–Present |
| Labels | Cash Money, Universal Republic |
| Associated acts | Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, Big Tymers, Cash Money Millionaires, Juvenile, Young Money Entertainment, The B.G.'z, Drake, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, |
| Website | birdmanstunna.comBABY BABAY |
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 $100 million in 2011.[1]
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[edit]
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 Salisbury University on the Eastern Shore of Maryland after graduating high school. He attended the university for one year before dropping out and starting his career.[3]
[edit]Career
[edit]Big Tymers
In 1997, he joined Mannie Fresh (Producer, DJ) 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 Bryan Christopher Williams, Jr. was born in 1997, and daughter Bria Monae Williams was born in 1998. ..
[edit]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 bestselling 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 and Jadakiss, was a hit, as well as the second single "100 Million", which featured Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Dre & DJ Khaled. The third single featuring Lil Wayne, titled "I Run This", was a hit as well.
[edit]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]
[edit]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 is scheduled to be released on November 24, 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.[11] Birdman released a single called "I Get Money" featuring T-Pain, Young Money artist Mack Maine and Lil Wayne. On September 7, 2011, "Y.U. Mad" featuring Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne was confirmed to be on Bigga Than Life and to be the album's next single via the rapper's Twitter account.[12]
Birdman is set to release an album with Rick Ross titled The H sometime in the near future.[13] A second Like Father, Like Son album with Lil Wayne is to be released in the near future.[14]
Legal troubles
Birdman was arrested and charged with possession of nearly half an ounce of marijuana in November 2007.[15][16] He was released on $1,500 bond.[17]
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.[18]
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.[18]
[edit]
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.[19] 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".[20] However, by March 2010, Birdman had almost completely covered the pumpjack tattoo, which sparked speculation that the Bronald Oil project had stalled.[21] As of June 2011, the Bronald Oil website was still operational, but had not been updated since its launch.
[edit]
Discography
- Solo
- Birdman (2002)
- Fast Money (2005)
- 5 * Stunna (2007)
- Priceless (2009)
- Bigga Than Life (2011)[9]
- Collaboration
- Like Father, Like Son (with Lil Wayne) (2006)
- Like Father, Like Son 2 (with Lil Wayne) (TBA)
- The H (with Rick Ross) (TBA)
[edit]References
- ^ Forbes.http://blogs.forbes.com/zackomalleygreenburg/2011/03/09/the-forbes-five-hip-hop-wealthiest-artists/.
- ^ "Mind Of Mannie". XXL. May 24, 2006.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Jeffries, David (2006). "Birdman > Biography". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
- ^ Birchmeier, Jason (2006). "Big Tymers: Biography". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
- ^ Birdman - Written On Her (Feat Jay Sean) Updated With CDQ
- ^ Birdman interview by Pete Lewis, Blues & Soul. December 2009
- ^ a b c Birdman, Lil Wayne And Tyga Rep Their Hometowns In 'Loyalty' Video, MTV, June 16, 2010
- ^ a b Birdman Talks Lil Wayne, Drake Collaboration Album | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales|HipHop DX
- ^ YouTube - Birdman Ft. Young Jeezy & Bun B - My Jewel (Official Video) latesthoodvids
- ^ Fire Flame (feat. Lil Wayne) - Single by Birdman - Download Fire Flame (feat. Lil Wayne) - Single on iTunes
- ^http://twitter.com/#!/BIRDMAN5STAR/status/111511315884949504
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (2008-05-23). "T.I. Tests Himself As A Producer". Mixtape Monday. MTV News.
- ^ Lil Wayne and Birdman to Reunite for 'Like Father, Like Son 2' | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales|HipHop DX
- ^ Breeding, Kacie Dingus (2007-11-27). "Kingsport traffic stop cages rapper Birdman and his entourage on drug charges; ATF helps with firearms probe". The Times-Picayune.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (2007-11-28). tml "Baby, A.K.A. Birdman, Arrested For Marijuana Possession". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (2007-11-28). "Baby -- A.K.A. Birdman -- Tells His Side Of Marijuana Bust". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
- ^ a b "Rapper Wayne sued over copyright". BBC. October 31, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
- ^ http://www.heatingoil.com/blog/rapper-mogul-birdman-unveils-indie-oil-business123/
- ^ http://www.ozonemag.com/2010/02/12/issue-82-birdman-cover-story/
- ^ http://www.heatingoil.com/blog/bronald-oil-update-birdman-covers-up-tattoo-stokes-skepticism304/
[edit]External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Birdman |
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