That wasn't Cash Money's downfall. Baby and Slim knew it was time to move forward with Wayne as the future and new sounds. BG, Juvie and Mannie were disposable before the fans knew it. Harsh, but keen business move on Baby and Slim's part. Their bet was correct.
I've followed Cash Money since the early 90s.
I thought B.G. had more talent than all of them as an emcee he just got caught up and addicted to heroin though. Chopper City and It's All on U Vol. 1 & 2 were classics in my opinion in a time before those guys reverted to a more commercial sound.
Even after he left CMR Life After Cash Money was a criminally underrated album back in 2004.
Turk went on record in a breakfast club interview admitting his own herion addiction as well before he ended up doing a bid.
Wayne was more of Baby trying to salvage what was left of the Hot Boys than trying to make Wayne into the franchise player in my opinion.
Lights Out and 500 Degreez was not up to par with other CMR works. Wayne switched up his style around that time after the 500 Degreez album to send started modeling himself more after those East coast cats than a southern emcee.
He didn't really start to get a little following until after the Carter 1, before then Baby was scrambling with lesser acts like Boo & Gotti, TQ, and even Mack 10 came and linked up with them for a while.
Wayne didn't come into his own until several years later.