Birdman & Lil Wayne 'Like Father, Like Son' album

Cash Money Records is rolling with their army in tow once again, with Baby aka Birdman and Lil Wayne - revered masters at working the hip-hop front lines - unleashing their first-ever full-length collaborative assault, Like Father, Like Son. With Birdman’s rep in hip-hop already certified as the # 1 Stunna and Lil Wayne swinging his way to the top as arguably one of the best MCs in the game, Like Father, Like Son is the exclamation point to a 10-year Cash Money reign destined to make all haters think twice before even approaching their their throne.

Fresh off the success of Lil Wayne’s fifth solo album, the platinum-plus Tha Carter II, Birdman and Wayne have some serious points to make; silencing the questions as to how strong they are after several soldiers jumped ship. “It’s about me and him, we’re still here,” says Birdman. “We’re the last two standing and we are making a statement, that we’re not going anywhere.”

In many ways Like Father, Like Son mirrors the relationship the two rap warriors share both in and out of music. Lil Wayne first came to Cash Money in the early 90s when Birdman took the 12-year old who had lost his father under his wing nurturing him to musical maturity. In 1997 Birdman made his musical debut as a member of the Big Tymers with the gold-selling How You Love That. 1999 was the year that Lil Wayne captured the imaginations of fans and critics with the national debut of his platinum-selling solo CD The Block is Hot. In 2000 the Birdman scored gold with the Big Tymers sophomore album I Got That Work while his son reached gold with his sophomore effort Lights Out. Two years later the father and son followed up with Wayne’s 500 Degrees, the Big Tymers’ Hood Rich and the Birdman’s platinum selling self-titled debut. 2003 brought more platinum and gold plaques to the Cash Money legacy with the Big Tymer’s Big Money Heavy Weights and the Hot Boys Let Em Burn.

2004 was the year the Birdman saw his adopted son Wayne grow to unprecedented heights as a lyricist, with the release of his critically acclaimed album Tha Carter. Lil Wayne also stepped it up as a businessman under Birdman's tutelage, launching his own imprint Young Money Records, as well as being made President of Cash Money Records. The following year the father and son legacy continued to grow with Birdman’s sophomore album Fast Money hitting the gold mark and Wayne soaring to even greater artistic heights with Tha Carter II, which sold well over two million units and counting. Throughout the years whenever the father and son duo have shared the mic on such songs as “Bling Bling,” “Get Down” and “#1 Stunna” their chemistry, regardless of whom else may have shared the mic with them, has always been undeniable. "People never believed we could do all this, independently or together," says Birdman. "But everyone is going to be able to relate to it. You are talking about some niggas who had a lot, lost it all and got it all back. They’ll know that if we do it, they can too."

Lil Wayne seconds the notion, affirming that Like Father, Like Son has been several years in the making: “The timing was finally right for it, we have a nice following. People are listening to me right now. I’m one of the hottest rappers in the game right now, and everybody already knows and respects Birdman.” So let's do this."

With the first single “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy,” Baby and Wayne return flossing harder than ever over the hypnotic production of TMIX. The track is a testament to all the adversity they’ve been through rising from the depths of New Orleans’ harsh streets to solidifying their place in the rap game. "The streets are a whole other campus," says Birdman. You gotta' have heart to survive. Nobody thought we could pull it all of coming from the streets of New Orleans. But we did."

Other tracks on the album that are testaments to their grit and vision are sure-fire heaters like “Get That Money,” “First Key” and “Out The Pound.” Lil Wayne and Birdman delectably give up the rules to the game on “Get That Money” while “Out The Pound” is a certified blueprint for all the hustlers as Birdman shares his street survival scriptures on this gritty solo track. "Just about the whole album is about the hustle," says Birdman. "We're showing people exactly how we went from nuthin' to something."

“Leather So Soft,” also finds the Cash Money riders in their comfort zone as they stunt all over Jim Jonsin’s (Pretty Ricky, Trina, Jamie Foxx) laid back production. "We took a different approach to a lot of this album because we knew people listen to me and Baby," says Lil Wayne. "You got me ripping anything that comes my way and Birdman stepping up because he knows I'm a rip it."

Like Father, Like Son also includes musical backdrops from Scott Storch and DJ Nasty as well as collaborations with Rick Ross and T-Pain on “Know What I’m Doin.” While on “About All That,” one of the disc’s most explosive cuts, we find Terror Squad boss Fat Joe riding out with Wayne and Birdman as they address everything from crooked police officers, to a questionable judicial system, and promises made to do some serious wig splitting to any haters stepping into their zone. The New Orleans pillars, also embark on a smoke-out session with Dogg Pound Gangstaz’ Daz & Kurupt on the stimulating “Cali Dro,” and like all of Cash Money’s previous releases, they dedicated one track to the hood to inspire those still trying to make it over the hump. This time the compelling “Don’t Die” addresses the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe and their fallen soldiers. “We’re always gonna speak on that and inspire our folks,” says Birdman.

Like Father, Like Son is an inspiring victory for Cash Money. With the streets clearly in pocket, Birdman and Lil Wayne prove that their heartfelt lyrics are still blazing and that there’s no end in sight. Putting the past behind them, Birdman declares, “We got a whole new identity. We’ve always been trendsetters, we’re just coming with a new team and we’ll never stop doing what we do.”

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Birdman & Lil Wayne - Like Father, Like Son