Birdman couldn't make it past security Saturday night (Feb. 7) when he made his way to Nicki Minaj's pre-Grammys party in Hollywood. TMZ was on the scene to capture video of the Cash Money Records founder being denied entrance to the club. Security guards stopped Baby and his entourage before Los Angeles police officers were called over to help.
There's no sign of a struggle in the video below, and Birdman let's his friends do all the talking. A man on the other side of the velvet ropes, possibly a manager, seems like he was given previous instructions to make sure Birdman was not allowed into the club. He continually says "no" in response to the group's effort to get inside before waving down a few officers nearby. Another man leans into Birdman to explain the situation, saying something about "Nicki," but the conversation is inaudible.
After a short discussion, the crew moves off the sidewalk and heads toward their car. When the TMZ cameraman asks Birdman why he wasn't let into the club, his response is simple. "Club's closed, that's why," he says.
The incident comes on the heels of increasing tensions between Cash Money and Lil Wayne. Weezy has made his issues with the label public after his upcoming album, Tha Carter V, was delayed multiple times. He likened himself to a "prisoner" with Baby and the label holding the record hostage. He has since issued a lawsuit against Birdman for $8 million in relation to an unpaid advance.
Reports surfaced last month that Wayne wants to take some of his Young Money artists including Minaj and Drake with him for his Cash Money exodus (the labels have a joint partnership). The distribution deals with Universal will make it a tricky move in court though. Minaj and Drake have not commented on the issue, although The Pinkprint rapper made it pretty clear who she's siding with after the Birdman club incident.
