For decades, Birdman—born Bryan Williams—stood at the center of hip-hop’s power circle. As co-founder of Cash Money Records, he helped shape the careers of rap royalty like Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake. Behind the scenes, he built an empire. But not everything was glitter and gold. There were cracks. Feuds. Silent wars. And now, at 56, he’s finally ready to talk about the seven artists who made him question it all.

“I gave people everything,” Birdman said in a recent interview, voice low and steady. “But not everyone gave it back. Some people, man… working with them was like walking through fire with no water in sight.”

The Mask Comes Off

Birdman has never been known for vulnerability. He’s the boss. The mogul. The man who wore diamonds before they were cool. But the interview—set in a dimly lit studio in New Orleans—felt different. He wasn’t just telling stories. He was unburdening his soul.

“For years, I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t want no drama. But time changes you. And at my age, I ain’t carrying lies no more.”

He looked down at the table, then back up.

“Here’s the seven.”

1. Juvenile
“I love Juvie. But we clashed. We bumped heads constantly,” Birdman confessed. “It wasn’t about talent—he’s one of the coldest to ever do it. But ego got in the way. He didn’t trust the business. He thought we were trying to play him. And when that trust breaks, the whole house falls.”

The tension between Birdman and Juvenile has long been public knowledge, but hearing him speak about it with regret was new. “We were brothers, but sometimes brothers fight so hard they forget what brought them together.”

2. Turk
“Turk had demons,” Birdman said softly. “We all did. But his got loud.”

While Birdman acknowledged Turk’s talent, he also hinted at deeper issues—substance abuse, paranoia, distrust. “He started thinking we were against him. That we didn’t want him to win. But that was never true. I just couldn’t keep chasing someone who didn’t want to be caught.”

3. Mystikal
When Birdman brought up Mystikal, there was a long pause.

“That one hurts. Because I believed in him,” he said. “But when someone’s chaos becomes your chaos, you gotta cut ties.”

He didn’t go into detail, but the tension was obvious. “Sometimes talent can’t fix what’s broken deep inside.”

4. B.G. (Baby Gangsta)
“B.G. was like my son,” Birdman said, his voice cracking for the first time. “But addiction don’t care about loyalty. Don’t care about family.”

The pain was evident. B.G.’s legal troubles and battle with heroin addiction strained their relationship. “We tried to help. I put money, time, everything into him. But he didn’t want help. And it killed me to step away.”

5. Fredo Bang
This one caught fans off guard.

“We tried working with Fredo. He’s got raw energy. But he ain’t want structure. He didn’t want to play by the rules. Every meeting felt like a fight,” Birdman revealed.

“Some artists want the crown, but they don’t want to bleed for it. Fredo was one of them.”

6. YoungBoy Never Broke Again (NBA YoungBoy)
Birdman leaned back and sighed.

“That boy got fire in his heart, but he don’t trust nobody. Not even himself sometimes.”

They collaborated, sure. But Birdman described their dynamic as “exhausting.”

“You walk into a room with YoungBoy, and you feel like anything can explode. I respected his hustle, but I couldn’t keep dealing with the explosions.”

7. Mannie Fresh
Perhaps the most shocking name on the list.

“Mannie and I created magic. But behind the beats, there was bitterness,” Birdman admitted.

“He wanted more control. He didn’t feel respected. And maybe he wasn’t. That’s on me too. But instead of talking, we drifted. And once that gap got wide, there was no coming back.”

A Pattern of Pain

As Birdman listed the names, a pattern began to emerge—not just failed partnerships, but deep emotional wounds. Behind every fallout was love turned sour, trust broken, loyalty tested. He wasn’t blaming them. In many ways, he blamed himself.

“I was young, wild, and rich. I didn’t always listen. I didn’t always care. I made mistakes.”

But he also made it clear—some artists didn’t want peace. They wanted power. And when egos clashed with his empire, the empire won.

“I wasn’t gonna let anyone destroy what I built. Not even people I loved.”

Why He Chose Now to Speak

“I’m 56,” Birdman said, staring straight into the camera. “I ain’t got forever. And I don’t want no one telling my story but me.”

He said the list wasn’t about revenge—it was about release.

“I carried these names in my chest for decades. I needed to let it out. For them. For me. For the truth.”

The Reaction Was Immediate

Within hours of the interview airing, social media ignited.

Fans debated every name. Some praised Birdman’s honesty. Others criticized him for airing private battles in public.

Turk posted a cryptic tweet: “Funny how folks talk peace when the cameras come on.”

Juvenile declined to comment, but close sources say he was “shocked but not surprised.”

Mannie Fresh, in a rare IG Live, simply said: “At least he finally said it.”

A Final Note From Birdman

The interview ended with Birdman leaning forward, elbows on knees, voice low.

“To the ones I named—if you hear this and you feel some type of way, just know—I never hated y’all. I just couldn’t work with y’all no more. That’s all. I still wish you love.”

Then he stood up. Walked off screen.

And left the world talking.