Digging Into Drake's Cash Money Label Drama

The number one stunna’s label and Canada’s biggest export have had many ups and downs in the past decade. Here are the key moments.

Drake Baby NYC
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Birdman and Drake attend Drake x Crown Royal x 5Ninth at 5Ninth on June 15, 2010 in New York City.

Drake Baby NYC

“Soon as the album drop, I’m out of the deal,” Drake raps on the Scorpion track “Is There More.” The shocking line seems to indicate that Drizzy’s record contract with Cash Money and its Lil Wayne-founded imprint Young Money—a deal that dates back to 2009—may finally be at an end.

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There was plenty of speculation about this leading up to Scorpion, with industry insiders claiming that the project would conclude Drake’s eight-album deal with the label. That number hasn’t been confirmed, and there have been conflicting reports about which of the rapper’s albums would actually count towards the total. But no matter how you count it, it seems likely that Drake’s 2009 contract may finally be fulfilled.

Drake and Cash Money is a pairing that has not always been easy. There have been lawsuits, subliminal disses, and mysterious SoundCloud drops aplenty. Here are the highlights.

2007: The Most Important MySpace Page Ever

2007 Degrassi panel

2008: Jas Teams Up With Lil Wayne’s Manager

Tez and Drake

June 2009: Drake Signs With Cash Money/Young Money

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July 2012: Jas Prince Sues Aspire

Jas Prince Hard Rock

February 2015: If You’re Hearing This, It’s On SoundCloud

Drake Raptors Media

May 2015: “While They Was Skimming Off the Budget”

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During a live show in Detroit, Drake fuels more rumors of label disenchantment with a freestyle: “Had niggas tell me to my face how we were family and how they love me/While they were skimming off the budget.”

April 2016: Nothing But Grateful

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Fall 2016: “...and Nothing Else”

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During a show with Lil Wayne, Drake pointedly said that he is Young Money “and nothing else,” omitting the fact that he is signed to Cash Money as well. At that same show, Weezy said “Fuck Cash Money” while Drake was onstage.

March 2017: Keeping the Lights On

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On his More Life cut “Can’t Have Everything,” Drake said he was the one keeping his label afloat: “I mean, I keep the fuckin' lights on in the building/Man, my record deal should be 500 million.”

April 2017: Aspire Lawsuits, Continued

Tez Drake Greenhouse

Dec. 2017: Family Feud

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In the final days of 2017, Lil Wayne put out a freestyle over JAY-Z’s “Family Feud,” with a guest verse from Drake. On it, Drake expresses dismay at how Wayne is being treated, though Drizzy notably does not mention Cash Money or Birdman by name.

“Tell me if TD Bank is approving loans/I'm thinking of paying Wayne what Universal owes/My nigga spent a lifetime going platinum and gold/He should own half of the label, shit out of control.”

June 2018: Out of His Deal?

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