NEW ORLEANS, LA - Birdman and his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams have been honored in New Orleans by having a street named after them as Cash Money Records celebrates its 30th anniversary.
The Saratoga St. and Erato St. intersection in New Orleans will now be called Williams Brothers Way.
The Cash Money co-founders still have links to the neighborhood as their mother runs a nearby bar, with the renaming ceremony happening just yards from their childhood home.
The record executives were joined at the special event by former signees Juvenile and B.G., among other friends and fans.
“As former mayor of New Orleans, I’m extremely proud of the street being named in honor of ‘Baby’ and ‘Slim,’ CEOs of Cash Money Records,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said in a press release.
“Their contributions to the music industry and their impact on our community have been immense, shaping the cultural landscape and providing opportunities for countless artist that hail from the Crescent City.”
Cash Money will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this weekend at Essence Festival, where Birdman will be joined on stage by artists from the label’s past and present.
While no names have been officially confirmed, a full reunion is expected with the Hot Boys, Lil Wayne and Mannie Fresh. Other past artists from the label’s roster include Drake and Nicki Minaj.
Birdman and Slim were recently the guests of honor at the YouTube Leaders & Legends Gala in Los Angeles.
At the event, they were celebrated by numerous noteworthy figures from the world of music including YouTube’s head of music Lyor Cohen, BMI’s vice president of creative Catherine Brewton, producer Polow Da Don and Republic Records’ chief executives Avery and Monte Lipman.
While giving his speech, Birdman recalled his and Slim’s early days in the streets and wanting to use their label as a way of stopping others going the gang route.
“Life wasn’t easy for us living in every project in New Orleans,” he said. “I was a real lost youngster trying to find a way because I’d been in and out of homes, in and out of jail, jumped in the streets at 12 years old. At 14 years old, I was wearing two Rolexes.
“I met some youngsters and didn’t want them to go my route, right? B.G. was hitting that route, and I saw that Wayne looked like he was going that route too. I wanted to save their lives.
“My whole mission was to try to spare a life. And I needed help too because I was reckless. The only person that I respected enough to spare my life was my brother. And my way of saving their [B.G. and Lil Wayne’s] lives was putting them in the studio. The studio was going to be the new streets.”
