By: Brittney O.
Hip-HopVibe.com Entertainment Editor
As the world came to an abrupt halt earlier this year when COVID-19 swept the nation, people all over have experienced a major impact. From lost loved ones, constant changes in day-to-day life, new safety measures and more has become the new normal. In efforts to help those that are less fortunate and uncertain as to where their next paycheck lies, many people have come together to give back. Among those charitable efforts are several celebrities that have lent a hand during these times, including Cash Money Records.
The multi-million dollar empire, Cash Money Records, founded by Bryan “Birdman” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams, have donated over $225,000 to a nonprofit organization by the name of Forward Together New Orleans (FTNO). The funds have been specifically designated towards paying rent for the month of June for hundreds of tenants residing in various projects effected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is one of many, many efforts that the company has made over the past 20 years as they have been known to donate free dinners during Thanksgiving and the holidays as well as so much more for the city of New Orleans. In an interview with Variety, Birdman says:
“The legacy of Cash Money belongs to the city of New Orleans. There’s nothing more important to us than giving back to the brothers and sisters who live on those same streets we grew up on…”
His brother Slim adds that:
“New Orleans made us and is part of who we are. We are devastated that this pandemic is hitting our community there so hard and we are committed to doing what we can to help now and in the long term.”
Birdman proposed the first offer back in April via Instagram to pay rent for the month of May for those in need that lived in Uptown New Orleans where he was from. At that time he reached out to the Mayor and local hip-hop radio stations to help push the agenda.
Fast forward to now and landlords in several projects around New Orleans will be receiving grants to cover the month of June for their residents, including one specific project home called the Magnolia. The Magnolia, which has been renamed to Scattered Sites Harmony Oaks, was once the only home that Birdman and Slim knew.
The brothers would later put their business minds together and discover Juvenile, Lil’ Wayne, Mannie Fresh, Young Turk, BG, and a few other rappers in the area to become one of the most successful hip-hop labels in the country. The label now brags a roster of some of the highest-earning hip hop artists in the game, including Young Money’s Lil’ Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj.
