Birdman, Hip-Hop’s Last Mogul, Covers June 2011 Issue of XXL

Baby aka Birdman of YMCMB (Young Money Cash Money Billionaires) graces the cover of the June 2011 issue of XXL Magazine. The Cash Money Record co-founder, born Bryan Williams, steers the careers of three of raps preeminent acts -- Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and Drake -- and the issue's cover line asks "Can the man who brought us Cash Money and Lil Wayne be hip-hop's last mogul?"

Cash Money was founded in 1990 and thanks to platinum debuts from Drake and Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne's continued success, is still thriving. The label's longevity is an accomplishment not lost on Birdman. "When I look around, through my years and my time, you know, the game, it was a lot in the field, a lot of people doing it," he told XXL Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Satten. "And I look around, and it's like, where the f--- did everybody go? I ain't never understood that, but the game like that sometimes, that muthaf---a's gon' keep ya or it's gon' leave ya. It's all on you."

The 'Get Money' rapper/mogul also credits Lil Wayne's Young Money label with keeping the YMCMB crew dominant as a whole. "Honestly, I gave him the floor," says Baby of Lil Tunechi. "He wanted it. I been with him since he was seven years old, eight years old. I been in his life all of his life, and he was like, 'Let me handle, it.' At the time, me as an artist, losing my sister and everything I was going through personally, I was just like, 'Go ahead, I'ma just support what you gon' do. You can handle it.' And I took a step back. Probably was the smartest move I ever made in my life was to let him go 'head."

The June 2011 issue of XXL Magazine will be on newsstands on June 7.