Even as little as nine months ago, no one would have really expected Birdman and Lil Wayne to beef. The two Cash Money titans had a bond that seemed more powerful than your run-of-the-mill rapper/CEO relationship, with their father/son dynamic even birthing an album of its own earlier in the 2000s, and a sense of loyalty that seemed out-of-character for Birdman, at least when you considered his relationships with other Cash Money artists. But what began as a label-related rift between them has now spiraled into a situation that includes delayed albums, multi-million dollar suits, and most recently, an alleged murder plot.
How did we get here? That's a difficult question, and one that requires some close monitoring-- not just Wayne and Birdman, but everyone from Rich Homie Quan to The Game-- in the past few months. Dragging in nearly everyone tangentially related to either artist, this beef is one for the books, and will probably get a chapter to itself in future hip hop history books.
We've traced every story that's been pertinent to this conflict, and listed them chronologically below, giving you a complete (if a little confusing) timeline of Lil Wayne and Birdman's ongoing beef.
The first sign that everything's not A-OK.
Wayne's longtime manager is confronted by TMZ in a parking lot and tells everyone not to worry.
At Vice's 20th anniversary party, Weezy confirms that he has a problem with his label situation.
That clearly didn't happen.
He shares a lengthy Instagram post that reverses his previous statement.
The first signs of beef between these two.
But what does he know, right?
2/21 - Turk sues Cash Money
Wayne's fellow Hot Boy capitalizes and also sues Birdman.
That seems a little idealistic though.
Wayne's daughter was not happy.
This is where the conflict between Weezy and Thugger gets interesting/confusing.
And the trolling begins.
4/15 - Thug announces "Barter 6" release party in Hollygrove / T.I. says album title is "homage" to Wayne
4/17 - "Barter 6" released
This two events will later be linked in an indictment.
Game plays his usual card of entering a beef that doesn't involve him.
And as quickly as it started, it's over.
6/2 - Suspect turns himself in
Jimmy Carlton Winfrey charged with "aggravated assault, terroristic threats, possession of a firearm by a felon, and criminal gang activity."
To get back some of the money Birdman allegedly owes him.
????
7/13 - Birdman allegedly throws drink on Wayne at Club LIV / Expresses dissatisfaction about Tyga releasing his album on Spotify
Thug's former Rich Gang compatriot Quan added another layer of confusing label politics on top of this mess by showing to a studio session with Weezy. Perhaps to record a "Grindin" remix?