RAP BEEF TIMELINE · 2014–2019
Birdman vs. Tyga
The Gold Album delay, “Make It Work,” and the $10M case
Tyga’s public complaint that Cash Money is holding The Gold Album turns a private contract dispute into an open break. Birdman calls an exit an outcast move; Tyga answers with “Make It Work,” releases independently, then files and voluntarily dismisses a reported $10 million royalty case—ending the dispute without physical escalation.
THE RECORD
The moments
Social media
Tyga says Cash Money is holding The Gold Album hostage
Tyga posts that The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty is finished but being withheld by his label, threatening to leak it and pursue independence.
“Gold album been done. My label holding me hostage so I can't release nothing. Might leak it for my fans then let them make $ off it.”Tyga, October 10, 2014
▶ Read Tyga’s VIBE interview and tweetsInterview
The VIBE interview widens the YMCMB fallout
Tyga confirms he is distancing himself from Young Money and says his relationship with the imprint rests on Lil Wayne, not Drake or Nicki Minaj. The interview makes the split more than an album-delay complaint.
“At the end of the day the reason why I signed to Young Money is because of Wayne. Not because of Drake, not because of Nicki.”Tyga, VIBE interview
▶ Read the VIBE interview coverageInterview
Birdman says leaving the crew makes an artist an outcast
Birdman responds on the media circuit by defending YMCMB and framing the choice as being either in the family or out, while still calling Tyga the little homie.
“I'm family orientated... either you're in or you're out. If you're out, you're an outcast.”Birdman, October 2014 interview
▶ Read Birdman’s responseDiss track
“Make It Work” puts the label tension into a record
Tyga releases “Make It Work,” whose video includes Blac Chyna and carries both label-directed and personal tension. It becomes the clearest visual artifact of the Cash Money break.
▶ Watch “Make It Work”Music industry
Tyga releases The Gold Album outside Cash Money
Tyga puts The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty out through Last Kings and Empire distribution, operationally bypassing Cash Money and marking the clearest break from its release pipeline.
▶ Read about the independent releaseLegal dispute · disputed account
A reported $10M lawsuit is later voluntarily dismissed
Tyga files a reported $10 million breach-of-contract case over allegedly unpaid royalties, then voluntarily dismisses it in 2019. The dismissal closes the formal legal chapter.
▶ Read about the voluntary dismissal
THE RECEIPTS
Sources and listening
Complex — Tyga says Cash Money is holding his album ↗BET — Birdman reacts to Tyga’s YMCMB comments ↗Tyga — “Make It Work” ↗Complex — Tyga’s independent Gold Album release ↗Complex — Tyga’s reported $10 million lawsuit ↗REVOLT — Tyga voluntarily drops his Cash Money lawsuit ↗ARTIST LENSES