Cash Money Records comes in as the 9th most important hip-hop record label of all time. It’s getting serious.

#9 Cash Money Records

The South currently runs hip-hop (and has for at least the last 5 years) and Cash Money is by far the most successful hip-hop record label to come out of the South.  When you add that Lil Wayne, Cash Money’s biggest artist, was the last artist (in any genre) to sell 1 million albums in the first week of release (at a time when NO ONE sells a million records in 1 week) and is considered by many to be the best MC in the game, it seems almost enough to justify Cash Money’s existence in the top 10.  Almost.  When Cash Money’s sub-label, Young Money, is included in the mix with its one-two punch of Drake and Nicki Minaj, two of the hottest artists in music right now, it seals the deal, right?  Not quite.  The reality is Cash Money began earning its place in hip-hop history long before the last 5 years.  The label has been around since 1992 when it was founded by the brothers Williams, Birdman and Slim.  While Cash Money struggled its first few years, by 1997 it had achieved enough success to sign a distribution deal with Universal Music Group where Cash Money retained 85% of the royalties (most labels only keep 15%-20%).  From that point on, they had an onslaught of hits matched by few, if any hip-hop labels, over the same time period.  Still today, the label remains firmly entrenched in the hip-hop sonic landscape.

Ha – Juvenile

Bling Bling – B.G.

We on Fire – Hot Boys

#1 Stunna – Big Tymers

Lollipop – Lil Wayne

Money to Blow – Birdman

Every Girl – Young Money

Over – Drake

Previously: #20 Rakwus Records, #19 Loud Records, #18 Select Records, #17 Rap-A-Lot Records, #16 No Limit Records, #15 Sleeping Bag Records, #14 Uptown Records, #13 Ruffhouse Records, #12 Cold Chillin’ Records, #11 Jive Records, #10 Aftermath Records