As friends become enemies and fathers get estranged from their sons at Cash Money Records, the label that Baby and Slim congenital is aging down effectually them. Of course, they still accept their holy trinity of earners and a young, very comfortable with ambiguity, political party prince behind them, only all of that is in serious doubt as the twelvemonth comes to a close. In short, it hasn't been dubious hand-wringing and multimillion dollar selling albums for Greenbacks Coin this yr. Quite the opposite, the label, it's founder, and its crown precious stone have been embroiled in a web of legal troubles, shootings, seeming delusion and drama. The existent Empire is happening somewhere down in embankment country emancipated by the limitations of a writers room and a fictional universe.

The real question is this: In the event that the superstars find their fashion out of Baby'south clutches, who does Cash Coin have on the roster right now who can step in and continue the reign?

A Fourth dimension Without Greenbacks Money's Superstars Could Be Upon U.s.

Andre: Drake reportedly has 1 album left and that's Views From The 6 . Lil Wayne is trying his best to escape. Nicki Minaj has two more albums left on that deal at most and Tyga is as well looking for an exit. Essentially, Birdman could notice himself transported back to the moment when all he had was Lil Wayne and he nearly lost him to Jigga.

Ural: Let's be honest here and I'll say it one time once again: There's a huge possibility of Drizzy moving over to Warner Brothers subsequently his deal with YMCMB is done. His OVO brand is living there comfortably, besides having ii capable artists in both Partynextdoor and ilovemakonnen. When Minaj has the opportunity to renegotiate, don't be surprised if she makes a move elsewhere if amend choices are available. And Tyga? Well, I don't think anyone cares much unless he can brand some other hit. The problem with Birdman is condign quite clear, he should accept cultivated some Cash Money artists instead of relying on Weezy'south Young Money roster. Did anyone on Greenbacks Money really observe information technology a practiced thought to sign Limp Bizkit and Paris Hilton?

Andre: Yo, who the hell knows, correct? Success is a hell of a drug, only on the list of artists he'southward got signed who he'southward been promoting heavily on Instagram are the likes of Jacquees and Caskey. In fact, if they flee, the only folks left betwixt YMCMB and Cash Coin would be, well, permit'southward encounter:

Caskey

Andre: I'yard listening to Black Sheep on Spotify correct now, and it screams of Drake. Information technology does. The subtle changes in tone. The darkish metallic motorcar production. Caskey sounds like a straight edge child playing at popping pills. He sounds like all those guys in High School whose globe views I couldn't empathise. I'd say college, but no 1 has a worldview so. We're all just trying to fuck each other into oblivion. He tin can rap , though, and that's important. When he says something you're not sure if he means it, which is equally winning a strategy equally anyone tin can come up with these days.

He's likewise got Blackness Sheep ii . It'due south markedly better. Like, leagues and bounds improve, only only in that way wherein someone gets technically ameliorate, but chooses to leave his soul at home. "I want enough to aureate to satisfy ten pharaohs." Do your research, man, Pharaohs are never satisfied. But, at that place'south something there, and I'one thousand non surprised at all that Birdman is lending his seemingly diabolical golden manus to guiding the kids career. Chances that he'll actually release a project with a barcode are good with this one. I'd say around 78 percent.

Ural: A while dorsum, a fan of Caskey hit both me and Dre upwards on Twitter following an episode of Devious Shots about Baby. The lady apartment out said he was the future. I indulged and actually found the few tracks that I heard were actually expert. Not going to lie, if there's someone who potentially has a hazard to popular within the dwindling Cash Money stable, it'due south him. Dude's a lyrical cannon at times with enough of an edge to really fit in today's infinite. Plus, he's but apartment out dope. However, whether or not that transitions into commercial success is going to take a while. There'southward something well-nigh him that spells possible superstardom on his recently released Black Sheep 2 as "Staywitme" is a banger. But, come on now. How many artists take popped with one runway to phase into obscurity afterward on? Right now, Caskey may be Birdman's secret weapon.

Jacquees

Ural: Anyone who saw the now infamous meme referring to Birdman honey of Lil Wayne through Jacquees understands how eerily similar the ii expect. His breakthrough moment this year was on Young Thug's controversial Barter half-dozen anthology through "Amazing" which featured him delivering a satisfying hook. Looking a bit deeper into his current catalog, he's released a off-white corporeality of music and it's not that bad. If annihilation, Jacquees sounds like August Alsina dipped into LA'southward current ratchet R&B scene. Last calendar month, he ironically dropped his "Like Babe" which is his not-so-subtle homage to his current label home. While his longevity may exist questionable at the moment, Jacquees could be their next big hitmaker. Then once again, even being fastened to Infant or even Young Thug could be a problem.

Andre: He looks like Wayne and sings like Drake and on newspaper this is a no brainer. It's similar drafting a six foot seven wingman with crazy hops. He's musically athletic, definitely, and he'south polished, only he's not definitive. What Cash Money is looking for is a front man. Someone with chutzpah, and could that be him? Probably not. His music is an easy heed, but does he have the strength of personality that tin carry an entire label? Visit his Soundcloud and you're transported to a globe of mostly marginally rhythmic inertia. His music feels similar a planet that's stopped moving, just that doesn't it mean he can't be a nice, practiced-selling compliment to a person with star appeal.

Lil Twist

Andre: Maybe you call up Lil Twist from "Turnt." He dropped that in 2011 because he'south a  seeker on the side and knew words like "turnt" would be popular in a few years. Other than Busta Rhymes pretty verse at that place wasn't much else to the song, relieve for the combination of paint-by-number rhyme schemes and the elastic tossing effectually of the term, "Who'southward fucking with me." In that location's an irony there I won't explore right now, only in that location'south the legal trouble to think nearly.

There's a definite thing happening here. Cash Money has been experimenting with artists that they thought could accept at to the lowest degree been Tory Lanez for a while now, and we're non sure what happened. It's just much too coincidental that they all have the same-ish music out there. What we can all concur on is the result. None of them take made a definite name for themselves and most continue to languish without a real terminate in sight.

Ural: I take an interesting story almost the first time I met Lil Twist for the first time in 2012 as he opened upward for Tyga fresh off the success of "Rack City." For a immature teenager, he came molded past Baby and Lil Wayne'south design of beingness accompanied by lustful women,  double cupped drank and a few gold chains. Doesn't hurt that he once had a bromance with Justin Bieber. Years afterward, he's a wanted human being for armed robbery and assault. If some music coincided with all the tabloid drama, his career could have had some legs. But, growing upwards around the likes of Cash Money could have some beneficial effects in the future as Twist has been signed to the label since turning a teenager. And so again, he's had troubles with the label too.

Jae Millz

Ural: Clearly, Jae Millz proved his loyalty to Weezy after Charlemagne said the obvious about No Ceilings 2 . Makes sense as probably alongside Lil Twists, he's probably one of the oldest YMCMB artists. Unfortunately, despite appearances on projects including Ascension Of An Empire , Rich Gang and I Am Not A Human Beingness , it feels similar he's simply been strung forth. A shame as well as Millz could really give Greenbacks Money that very core New York credibility that could make them a more rounded rap label as Cory Gunz tries to effigy things out on his end and Minaj swims begetter into Southern rap/popular stratosphere. Correct now Millz really feels like a middle-of-the-road emcee without a real hook musically.

Andre: Jae Millz is a stand-up dude. He went at Charlamagne hard afterwards he made mention of Weezy's No Ceilings 2 mixtape existence weak and Information technology seemed like he meant every word of that, too. As if he was slam typing those tweets while cursing through clenched teeth. He was a characteristic on the record and he did his thing. But, let'south be honest, Millz doesn't come close to beingness the hero that Cash Coin is going to need very soon. He's not quite the villain, either. And like they say on Shark Tank, if you're in the middle you won't get anywhere. He's a veteran of the company, as well. A veteran who hasn't been given the green low-cal to drop an bodily anthology. Oy vey. It's also eerily titled Nothing Is Promised . Jae Millz has been at the label since 2008. But judging by the incendiary details in Lil Wayne's 51 million dollar lawsuit, one thing is promised, and that matter is you probably won't be putting an album out if you lot sign directly to Cash Money. Though, at present, this is every bit adept a time as ever to become the bug in Birdman's tatted ear.

Cory Gunz

Andre: Where is Cory Gunz? He pops upward intermittently here and there then disappears for months at a time. And he tin really spit, too. He's got a menstruation that's far from mechanical. It'll take a team effort for life at Cash Money to continue if all their earners make bolts for the exits.

Other than Peter Gunz keeping his son under wraps a few years ago and then he could avert jail time, the output has been scarce from this one time upwards and coming emcee. Only if things go s, allow's hope he's got some bangers left in the tank. Both he and Cash Money are going to need them.

Ural: Wayne's signage of Cory Gunz almost felt symbolic of his virtually subliminal respect for New York Hip Hop. Past Drake, Wayne and fifty-fifty Tyga, in that location wasn't anyone Weezy outwardly believed in than the son of Peter Gunz. Lil Tunchi even went out on a limb and featured Gunz on Carter IV 's commencement single "6 Foot 7 Foot." Since and so, a loosie here and a mixtape there hasn't catapulted him to rap's next 2d generation emcee. Catching that 2013 gun charge didn't help also his begetter condign a reality television joke. Sad because how well Gunz can really spit as his verse on Free Weezy Album standout "Murda" couldn't have served every bit better proof. Tin can he maintain his fairly breakneck lyrical ability in today'southward infinite. Information technology'll be interesting watching him rise to prominence or crash into nil.

Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few dissimilar backdrop on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He's too trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones .

Ural Garrett is a Los Angeles-based journalist and HipHopDX's Senior Features Writer. When not covering music, video games, films and the community at big, he'south in the kitchen baking like Anita. Follow him on Twitter @Uralg .