Cash Money Throws First Annual Pre-Grammy Party For Lil Wayne

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2, 2009—Cash Money, the hip-hop label started by brothers Ronald “Slim” Williams and Bryan “Baby” Williams in the early ‘90s from the New Orleans projects, which went on to sell more than 45 million albums, will throw their first annual Pre-Grammy Party to honor Lil Wayne at the Montage Beverly Hills’ Marquesa Ballroom, Saturday night Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. The hip-hop superstar is scheduled to perform at the Grammy ceremony the following night, Feb. 8, from L.A. ’s Staples Center .

The longtime Cash Money recording artist took home a field-high eight Grammy nominations for his hit album Tha Carter III, which debuted on the charts last June with more than one million in sales and is now triple platinum as 2008’s best seller. The release is up for a Grammy in the prestigious Album of the Year category as well as for Best Rap Album, with all of its first four smash singles also up for honors. “Lollipop” featuring Static Major is nominated for Best Rap Song; “Got Money” featuring T-Pain gets a nod in Best Rap/Sung Collaboration; “A Milli” for Best Solo Rap Performance; and “Mr. Carter,” featuring Jay-Z for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. For his collaborations on other projects, “Swagga Like Us” is nominated in the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Song.

Lil Wayne has been associated with Cash Money since he was a teenager in the legendary hip-hop group Hot Boys with B.G., Juvenile and Turk. He recently wrapped the headlining “I Am Music” tour, sharing the stage with T-Pain, Keyshia Cole, Gym Class Heroes and Keri Hilson. A live stream of a recent San Diego concert is currently available on his MySpace page. Lil Wayne’s next project will be a rock album, Rebirth, slated for release April 7, with the first single “Prom Queen” already on the Internet.

Cash Money recently marked the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking deal with Universal Music Group, which over the years has produced hit albums by Juvenile, B.G., Turk, Big Tymers, Mannie Fresh, Hot Boys and Baby/Birdman, two of Bryan Williams’ hip-hop alter egos. Bryan will release a new Baby album this year. The label’s latest success story is its first-ever rock signing, Kevin Rudolf, whose first single, “Let It Rock,” featuring Lil Wayne, was #1 Most Added at Top 40, an iTunes and ringtone smash, with major airplay at stations such as New York’s Z100 and L.A.’s KIIS.

The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles , and broadcast on CBS.