NEW YORK (Universal Records) - Cash Money Records' hottest rising superstar, Lil Wayne, scores a breakthrough debut this week on Billboard's Top 100 Albums chart, coming in at No 2 with his new album, Tha Carter II. The New Orleans native's critically-acclaimed CD comes right behind Eminem, and ahead of several other top tier album releases such as Korn, Ja Rule,
Tori Amos and others. Lil Wayne's astonishing debut is Cash Money Records' biggest-selling debut in the hip-hop dynasty's history. Although the label boasts many top-selling artists and achieved many multi-platinum successes, this current accomplishment re-affirms Cash Money's continued prominence within the music world.
"This truly is an historic moment for Lil Wayne and the entire Cash Money family," stated Cash Money co-founder Ronald 'Slim' Williams. "This album shows his growth as a young man and artist. He's changing the game from top to bottom and this is just the beginning for him." Ronald's brother, and Cash Money co-CEO, Bryan 'Birdman' Williams, added. "He's like a son to me, so I'm proud of him. This isn't just a big win for him and the label, he delivered big time for New Orleans as well," says Bryan Williams.
The stunning debut of Tha Carter II comes on the heels of Lil Wayne's first ever Grammy nomination in the "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" category for his work with Destiny's Child and T.I. The album continues to garner outstanding reviews: The LA Times describing the album as "explosive" and "poetic;" The New York Times raves "Lil Wayne's voice, like his flow keeps getting better;" and USA Today praises Wayne's "sharper-than-usual production and more diverse than ever lyricism."
The lead single, "Fireman," from Tha Carter II has been burning up the radio charts, and the video remains a Top 10 staple on MTV2 and BET. Along with Tha Carter II, Cash Money/Universal Records has also simultaneously released a deluxe package of Tha Carter II which contains the new CD and a chopped and screwed versions of some of Lil Wayne's biggest songs including: "Go DJ," "Tha Block is Hot," "Get Off The Corner" as well as the new single, "Fireman."
Lil Wayne, who was born and raised in the infamous poverty-stricken section of New Orleans' 17th Ward, has become an inspiring symbol of the crescent city's tenacity, beginning with his rise to stardom in 1995. Lil Wayne was only 12 when he made his debut on his former label mates' B.G's True Story CD. Success with the group Hot Boys followed, featuring rappers Juvenile, Turk and B.G., with their 1997 debut album, Get It How You Live, followed by 1998's platinum certified Guerilla Warfare and 2003's Let Em Burn. His first solo album, 1999's Tha Block Is Hot achieved platinum status. He released Lights Out in 2000, 500 Degreez in 2002 and his touchstone album, 2004's gold certified, Tha Carter, which featured the hit single "Go DJ."
Cash Money was launched in 1991, with the Williams Brothers creating the New Orleans based company that would eventually become a national phenomenon. In 1997 the label inked a breakthrough deal with Universal Records, making the Cash Money moniker synonymous with platinum selling artists and ground breaking entrepreneurship. The hip hop empire has sold more than 25 million records since their inception, claiming an explosive array of artists from Juvenile, to Lil Wayne, to Big Tymers, Hot Boys and Teena Marie, whose new album Sapphire is due out in the spring of 2006.
