Birdman, whose real name is Bryan Williams, recently discussed a missed opportunity that could have linked his Cash Money Records to J. Prince's Rap-A-Lot Records. Birdman revealed that he had considered a distribution deal with J. Prince before ultimately signing a lucrative partnership with for $30 million in 1998. Birdman had a great deal of respect for J. Prince, whom he considered a mentor and someone who taught him a lot about the music industry early in his career. Birdman's attempt to sign with J. Prince didn't come to fruition because J. Prince's label didn't have the necessary structure in place to accommodate Cash Money at that time. However, Birdman has no ill feelings toward J. Prince and actually respects him for being honest and telling Birdman to go ahead with Universal because he couldn't facilitate the deal. The decision to partner with Universal in 1998 was a pivotal moment for Cash Money Records, leading to the successful careers of artists like Juvenile, the Hot Boys, Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj. Birdman also expressed his belief that the South will continue to dominate the hip-hop world. He noted that the East and the West coasts were initially slow to embrace Southern hip-hop, and there was a competitive dynamic between regions. However, he feels that once the East and the West embraced Southern hip-hop, it became a lasting phenomenon, and the South is now a permanent fixture in the hip-hop landscape. In the early years of Southern hip-hop, it was challenging to get recognition in the East and the West, as they were dominant regions in the genre. But over time, the South's influence in hip-hop has grown significantly, and Birdman believes it will remain a powerhouse in the industry.