After months of speculation,
representatives for Lil’ Wayne confirmed that the rapper is still signed
to his native label, Cash Money/Universal and not a Jay-Z helmed Def Jam.
“Lil’ Wayne is still on Cash Money/Universal and his label Young Money Entertainment
is through Cash Money/Universal as well,” Lil Wayne’s publicist CJ
Robinson confirmed with AllHipHop.com on Friday (Jan. 21).
Lil’ Wayne himself sparked the rumors, stating on several commercial radio
stations that he was heading for Island Def Jam, and would be Jay’s newest
recruit.
A budding entrepreneur, Wayne, has reportedly been recording with his Young Money
Entertainment artists Mack Maine and Curren$y, who are also from New Orleans.
Maine, best known from rapping on MTV’s 2003 Freestyle Battle where he placed
16 out of 1000, showcased his skills to Lil’ Wayne backstage at the 2004
BET Awards and was scooped up instantly after stepping up to a duel with Prodigy,
Swizz Beats and Cassidy.
Curren$y, a former No Limit artist, was formerly down with The 504 Boyz, but had
quit rapping after the group disbanded a few years ago.
The two linked up at a party where Lil’ Wayne convinced him to return to
rap. Also down with the clique is Chicago-bred rapper Boo, an R. Kelly prodigy
who signed with Cash Money after Kelly’s short-lived record label folded.
Wayne’s
label recently released a single by The Young Money Army titled ““F**k’d
Up.”