Feb 18, 2011

Exclusive: Cash Money CEO Talks New Book Deal; Acquires Iceberg Slim Rights

Powerful Hip-Hop brand Cash Money Records will officially launch their latest venture Cash Money Content (CMC) next week.

CMC will launch under a new partnership with Atria Books, along with several high profile literary acquisitions.

On February 15th, CMC will drop its first book, "Raw Law: An Urban Guide to Criminal Justice," by Muhammad Ibn Bashir, Esq.

"Raw Law," which will be released in both paperback and hardcover editions, is described as a manual for young African-American to understand the legal system in the United States.

Additionally, Cash Money's co-CEO/Founder Ronald "Slim" Williams told AllHipHop.com that the new company has snatched up book rights from a variety of writers, including critically acclaimed author, Robert "Iceberg Slim" Beck.

According to Ronald Williams, who founded CMC, the new publishing company's aim is not only to entertain readers, but also to educate them.

Williams plans to market CMC to the same fan base that has helped Cash Money Records sell over 60 million records of the course of the last 20 years.

"I wanted to do something so we could help our people to read more," Ronald "Slim" Williams told AllHipHop.com. "My plan is do some of the same things I have done with music. We want to be a little different than the traditional book companies. Atria has really taken to this idea.

"They understand where we are going with it," Williams said. "I want the writers to have creative freedom to be their self. That's how you get their best work. That's the only thing I require. I see a lot of black authors who never get a chance to get their work out there and there are some great books out there that need to get out the masses."

"Raw Law's" author Muhammad Ibn Bashir specializes in criminal and constitutional law.

Bashir has represented numerous clients and was even co-counsel for the defense in the first World Trade Center attack in 1992.

“The criminal justice is a system that will never respect you unless you demand that it does. This generation has the money, the power, the voice to change this system for the better," Bashir explained.

In addition to "Raw Law," Cash Money Content will release news books by Whahida Clark, author of the popular "Thug" series of books and new books by New York Times best-selling authors Ashley and Jaquavis.

CMC is also preparing a series re-releases by Iceberg Slim, beginning with the classic book 1969 "Pimp," which will hit shelves on May 10th.

In September of 2011, CMC will drop another novel by Iceberg Slim, a re-release of 1967's classic novel, "Trick Baby."

CMC has also inked a deal with radio personality Kurt "Big Boy" Alexander titled "Weight Matters" about his battle with weight loss.      

Ronald "Slim" Williams co-founded Cash Money Records with Bryan "Baby" Williams.

The label is home to some of the best-selling rap acts in the world, including Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj - whose album Pink Friday is currently #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Pop Chart.

The mogul said that CMC's content will be distributed through a variety of outlets, including traditional and all new emerging digital formats.

"We are going to utilize all methods to get this done," Ronald "Slim" Williams told AllHipHop.com. "There's a lot of great authors out there and Cash Money Content will give them a place to shine."

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