Lil Wayne Says New York Yankees Made Him Change Classic Young Money ‘YM’ Logo

Lil Wayne, the renowned rapper and founder of Young Money Entertainment, has revealed that the iconic "YM" logo of his label was the subject of a legal dispute with the New York Yankees. In a recent episode of The Joint Venture, Wayne claimed that the Yankees sent him a cease-and-desist letter, forcing him to change the logo due to its resemblance to the Yankees' "NY" insignia.

The interlocking "YM" logo, synonymous with Young Money Entertainment during its peak in the late 2000s and early 2010s, had become a symbol of pop culture, even appearing on NBA star J.R. Smith's neck. However, Wayne's vintage Young Money logo had become a point of contention, as the Yankees argued that it infringed upon their trademark.

The New Orleans icon, alongside his cohost Craig Carton, reflected on the vintage Young Money logo being displayed on the elevator doors of his first Miami condo, a gift from the label. Wayne expressed respect for the Yankees' decision and was pleased to receive a letter from the team, as it indicated that his label was succeeding.

He stated that he ultimately changed his logo in compliance with the Yankees' request, acknowledging their status as legends. The Yankees' interlocking NY logo had been in use since 1909, predating Young Money Entertainment's rise to prominence. Young Money Entertainment has released several successful compilation albums, including "We Are Young Money" (2009), "Rich Gang" with Cash Money Records (2013), and "Rise of an Empire" (2014), all of which achieved top 10 rankings on the Billboard 200 chart.