The label gained prominence in the late 1990s for having signed and released albums for New Orleans–based musical acts including Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G., and Hot Boys.

In the late 2000s, Cash Money signed and released projects for a number of prominent hip hop artists, including Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga.

The label's name alludes to the Cash Money Brothers, drug kingpin Nino Brown's gang from the 1991 crime film New Jack City.

[5] Bryan Williams, also known as Birdman, told some of his close friends the motivation for starting the label: I was hoping it would get us out of the projects and into a positive way of life.

And we wanted to help other people get out of this poverty...[6]Cash Money's first artist, New Orleans–based rapper Kilo G, issued his debut album, The Sleepwalker, in 1992 as the label's first release.

[7] The label then signed the hip hop group U.N.L.V., composed of rappers Lil Ya, Tec 9 and Yella Boy.

From 1993 to 1995, the label signed several other hip hop artists in the New Orleans area, including B.G., Lil Wayne, and Juvenile, each of whom already had buzz in the streets.

The album featured guest appearances from Cash Money artists Turk, Lil Wayne, B.G., Baby, and Mannie Fresh (both individually and as their groups the Hot Boys and Big Tymers), as well as a guest appearance from Jay-Z, the first time an East Coast rapper collaborated with Cash Money.

's Chopper City in the Ghetto, and Lil Wayne's Tha Block Is Hot also saw great chart success, were all certified Platinum by the RIAA, and furthered the label's reputation.

They probably felt that people would steal their style or flavor, and I had to work hard to get them to open up to making records with Cam'ron, Puffy, and Clipse, among others.

[15] In September 2008, Cash Money released rocker Kevin Rudolf's smash-hit debut single "Let It Rock" featuring label-mate Lil Wayne.

On October 15, 2008, at the MOBO Awards, British R&B singer Jay Sean announced that he had signed with Cash Money Records.

[27] The first single from the project, "Tapout" was released on March 19, 2013, and features Lil Wayne, Future, Mack Maine, and Nicki Minaj, with production by 808 Mafia's Southside and TM88.

[28] "Fly Rich" featuring Stevie J, Future, Tyga, Meek Mill and Mystikal was also released as a promotional single.

[41][42][43] In June 2015, Wayne joined Jay-Z's Tidal as an artist owner and exclusively released a single on the service titled "Glory".

[44] On July 4, 2015, Wayne released Free Weezy Album exclusively through Tidal under Young Money and Republic Records.

[45] On July 15, prosecutors allege Birdman and Young Thug conspired to murder Lil Wayne and were involved in the April 26 shooting.

[46] On July 16, Birdman filed a $50 million lawsuit against Jay Z's Tidal streaming service over Lil Wayne's Free Weezy Album.

[49] Rich Gang is a hip hop collective and side project introduced by Birdman in 2013, initially composed of members from the Cash Money Records roster.

[60] From its founding until 2005, Mannie Fresh was the well-known production head of all Cash Money releases, as the label's resident producer.

In October 2009, Cash Money Records, Birdman, Lil Wayne and various music distribution outlets were sued for copyright infringement by Thomas Marasciullo, who claims his voice was used without permission.