Hip-hop music icons Birdman and Wack 100 join forces to start Cash Money West label

Birdman and Wack 100 have a new home for West Coast rappers looking to make a name for themselves - Cash Money West.

Wack 100 tells TMZ, he and Birdman have been in talks for a few months and recently finalized a deal to jointly launch the new division of Cash Money Records. The objective is to land up-and-coming artists ready to make the leap into the mainstream.

We're told Cash Money's parent company, Universal Music Group, is giving CMW strong support -- a $20 million budget to get things rolling.

Wack, who manages The Game, says he pitched the West Coast concept to Birdman and his brother, Slim and they've named him VP of the new company.

He says Cash Money West will open their offices and studios soon.