Cash Money Icons Beat Out Superstars Beyonce, Ciara and Other

     For Prestigious Show Closing Honor at 7th Annual BET Awards         

New York, NY - It was one of the last trophies handed out and one of the most coveted… Cash Money/Universal Motown icons, Birdman and Lil Wayne, closed the 7th Annual BET Awards in style last evening, winning the Viewers Choice Award for their hit video and single, "Stuntin' Like My Daddy," from their smash collaborative album, Like Father, Like Son.  The hip-hop icons appeared onstage surrounded by Cash Money's offspring – of the preschool variety, that is – with Lil Wayne thanking his young daughter, who joined him on stage, saying "Thank you my daughter. Thank you family.  Thank all the partners that came before me. Thank you hip-hop."

"It's about time," quipped Birdman, waving the award victoriously in the air, also acknowledging that the Cash Money combine is truly a family affair.  Birdman (aka Bryan Williams) founded the legendary Cash Money Empire along with his brother, Ronald 'Slim' Williams, in the hardscrabble streets of New Orleans.  The two brothers forged Cash Money from a start-up hip-hop imprint more than 15 years ago into a 35 million selling multi-platform empire known around the globe. The 7th Annual BET Awards were broadcasted live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, honoring the best in entertainment in 15 categories, including music, film, video and sports.  The Viewers Choice Award is voted on by fans and viewers of BET.

"Stuntin' Like My Daddy," was the first single from Lil Wayne and Birdman's historic platinum duet album, Like Father, Like Son. The album went on to gather a total audience of more than 60 million radio listeners, attract more than 30,000 ringtone views/plays a week, and become a mainstay for video viewers throughout the fall and winter of 2006. It is recognized as one of the most played clips on BET throughout the entire year.   

Lil Wayne was nominated this past fall for BET's inaugural foray into the hip-hop award sweepstakes, the First Annual BET Hip-Hop Awards. The charismatic rapper garnered 3 prestigious nods: Hip-Hop CD Of The Year for his platinum-plus opus, Tha Carter II, as well as receiving nominations for Lyricist Of The Year, and Hip-Hop MVP of the year. 

Not ones to sit still for long, both Baby and Lil Wayne are geared to release albums later this year.  Lil Wayne is set to release the highly anticipated Tha Carter III, while Baby will release 5*G