Cash Money Records is an American hip hop record label. Its name is derived from a fictional gang in the 1991 film New Jack City.

History - The label's first artist Kilo-G released "The Sleepwalker" in 1992. Over the next 4 years Cash Money played host to a number of local releases by artists such as Pimp Daddy, U.N.L.V., Ms. Tee, Mr. Ivan, Lil' Slim, Big Man (PxMxWx), B.G., among others, selling hundreds of thousands of albums without ever releasing a music video or having a Billboard hit. Cash Money's big break came in 1997 when the label's most popular artists, the Hot Boys, and Juvenile in particular, caught the attention of Universal Records executives. Juvenile's Cash Money release Solja Rags sold 200,000 copies independentlyand B.G.'s classic Choppper City album^{[citation needed]} In 1998, co-CEOs Ronald "Slim" Williams and Brian "Baby" Williams signed a $30 million pressing and distribution contract with Universal Records, entitling the label to 85% of its royalties, 50% of its publishing revenues and ownership of all masters.

Between 1998 and 2001, Cash Money saw phenomenal success. The label churned out 18 Top Five Billboard singles and 11 platinum and multi-platinum albums, almost all of which were supervised by in-house producer Mannie Fresh. Controversy arose when two of the Hot Boys left the label claiming financial mismanagement by co-CEO and artist Brian "Baby" Williams. The first artist to leave was B.G., who claimed he had never received a royalty check for any album released before 2003, an amount that would exceed three million dollars. The second to leave was Juvenile, who claimed he had only received half of the tour money he had accumulated over 4 years, and did not receive proper payment for his quadruple platinum album, 400 Degreez. The artist filed three simultaneous lawsuits, asking for more than five million dollars in damages. The lawsuits were dismissed, however, for lack of evidence.

The departure of Cash Money's two superstars did not seem to affect the performance of the Hip-Hop giant. Between 2001 and 2003, the label sold 7 million albums, and the song "Still Fly" by the Big Tymers ("Baby" Williams and Mannie Fresh) was nominated for two Grammy Awards. In April 2003, Juvenile, who had left because of financial disputes, returned to the label for a reported $4 million deal, and in return, he signed over the rights to Juve The Great, an album which would go on to sell over 3 million copies.

Birdman signed deals with Lugz, Sean John, Jacob the Jeweler, and Aire Watch Co. USA, among others. Former Hot Boy member Lil Wayne was named president of Cash Money Records and CEO of Young Money Entertainment, giving the rapper full creative control over all releases under the two labels.