Birdman’s mic gets snatched before things turn ugly, as Master P flips tension into triumph on stage
Master P didn’t need smoke machines or pyrotechnics—just a microphone, a camouflage jacket, and decades of history. During the long-awaited No Limit vs Cash Money Verzuz at ComplexCon in Las Vegas, the hip-hop mogul turned what was supposed to be a nostalgic showcase into a moment of real-time tension.
With the lights low and the “Complex Verzuz” logo glowing behind him, P launched into an impromptu freestyle aimed squarely at Birdman, invoking their shared Uptown New Orleans roots while questioning who truly built Southern hip-hop’s “stunting” culture. Within seconds, the clip spread across X (formerly Twitter), racking up more than 800,000 views and reigniting a rivalry that’s nearly thirty years old.
The Setup: Cash Money vs No Limit
The Verzuz match-up on October 25 marked the official reboot of the series after a three-year break. Billed as a celebration of New Orleans greatness, it paired Master P’s No Limit Records—known for gritty independence and military branding—against Birdman’s Cash Money Records, the label synonymous with glossy videos, iced-out watches, and larger-than-life swagger.
No Limit brought its core lineup: Mia X, Silkk the Shocker, and a surprise cameo from Snoop Dogg, whose post-Death Row rebirth began under P’s watch. Cash Money countered with Juvenile, B.G., and Mannie Fresh, though the absences of Lil Wayne and Turk left a noticeable gap.
For longtime fans, it was history meeting spectacle: “Make Em Say Unh” and “Down 4 My” echoed across the arena before “400 Degreez” and “Back That Azz Up” brought the bounce back. But the show’s energy shifted the moment Master P grabbed the mic for an unscripted send-off.
“He Started That Stunting — But I Was Uptown Too”
As the bass line dropped, Master P leaned forward and fired the opening salvo:
“It’s the Bird Man—he started that stunting game. You know I thought of this. Guess what, brotha? I was Uptown too, and I started that work.”
The crowd erupted, half cheering, half stunned. Birdman stood nearby—arms folded, sunglasses fixed—while B.G. flashed a wide-eyed grin, seemingly acknowledging how hard the bar hit. In a single breath, P reclaimed the narrative: No Limit didn’t imitate Cash Money’s flash; Cash Money borrowed from No Limit’s hustle.
A Beat Born in the Bayou
The DJ looped a beat that sounded lifted straight from a 1998 bounce tape—horns blaring, snares snapping—and P rode it with effortless authority. The energy was pure New Orleans Third Ward: brash, rhythmic, street-tested.
For about thirty seconds, he turned the stage into a cipher. The audience—many of them recording on phones—could sense real friction under the nostalgia. When he transitioned into his classic “Bout It, Bout It” cadence, the crowd joined in, chanting the hook that once defined an era.
Then, just as it threatened to escalate, someone on stage snatched the mic, likely to prevent Birdman from responding. That single motion froze the moment in time—and transformed it into meme legend.
A Feud That Never Really Died
To outsiders, the exchange was entertainment. To Southern hip-hop historians, it was another chapter in a saga that stretches back to the 1990s. Both men built empires from the same city blocks: Master P founded No Limit in 1990, while Birdman launched Cash Money in 1991.
For years, each dominated their lane—P through relentless entrepreneurship, Birdman through star power and sleek marketing. Tensions grew over market share, and whispers of sabotage lingered. In April, Birdman reignited the animosity by accusing P of spreading rumors that undermined Cash Money’s Priority Records deal more than two decades ago.
That accusation resurfaced during the Verzuz, giving P’s freestyle extra bite. The performance wasn’t just bars—it was closure.
Fans Call It “The Book Closing”
The 41-second clip went viral under the caption “The way Master P closed the book on Birdman.” Across X, timelines lit up with laughter, respect, and side-eyes.
“Master P had to remind him! We were saying I’m Bout It, Bout It before we even knew who Birdman was.”
— @B_Rabbit843
“BG a real one… even he knew like dang, this thing was hard.”
— @ChampShawnH
“Birdman avoided that dap 😅 P walked off like a grown man.”
— @Dictatr24
Others poked fun at the subdued Las Vegas crowd—“They should’ve done this in NOLA or ATL, that Vegas crowd lame”—but agreed the tension made the event unforgettable. Memes of B.G.’s shocked expression and P leaving the stage with a salute quickly flooded feeds.
The Vegas Energy and the New Orleans Contrast
Critics said the energy inside the convention hall didn’t match the heat of the performance. Vegas crowds, often half-industry and half-tourist, lacked the raw call-and-response vibe of a true Southern venue. Even Swizz Beatz acknowledged later that the next Verzuz might move closer to “where the culture lives.”
Still, the symbolism stood tall: No Limit came prepared, Cash Money came distracted. Snoop’s surprise appearance energized the stage, while Cash Money stumbled through lyrics and awkward transitions. For fans watching on Apple Music, the scorecards were clear—No Limit 1, Cash Money 0.
Respect or Rivalry—P’s Exit Says It All
As the beat faded, Master P simply raised a hand, nodded to the crowd, and walked off. He dapped nearly everyone on stage—except Birdman. The cameras caught Birdman reaching for a mic just as P disappeared backstage.
That quiet exit spoke louder than any diss track. It felt like a man closing a chapter rather than chasing one. Whether intentional or instinctual, the gesture solidified his role as the elder statesman of New Orleans rap—calm, strategic, still “bout it,” but past the petty.
What This Means for Southern Hip-Hop Legacy
For younger fans, the moment introduced an education: before Cash Money’s platinum shine came No Limit’s independent grind. For veterans, it was validation that Master P’s blueprint—ownership, discipline, community—remains undefeated.
Birdman’s showmanship built stars, but P’s entrepreneurship built wealth that outlasted label trends. Both men shaped hip-hop’s business DNA, but on this night, Master P reminded the world that humility can still flex harder than ego.
A Closing Chapter, Not a Reopened Wound
In interviews following the event, insiders confirmed the two didn’t interact afterward. Yet there were no fights, no chaos—just a viral clip that doubled as both reminder and resolution.
For all the internet jokes about mic-snatching and crowd energy, the deeper takeaway echoed through fan discussions: Southern rap, once dismissed as regional, now owns global nostalgia. Seeing Master P and Birdman share a stage—even tensely—proved how far New Orleans came.
If the Verzuz relaunch was meant to honor legacy, it succeeded the moment Master P stepped to the mic and said what the city had been thinking for decades.
The post Master P turns Birdman’s “stuntin” jab into a live “Bout It Bout It” performance at Verzuz [VIDEO] appeared first on Hip Hop Vibe.
source https://hip-hopvibe.com/news/master-p-birdman-stuntin-verzuz-bout-it-bout-it/
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