#1.Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter
$63 Million
Jay-Z pulled in $63 million over the past 12 months, earning him his second straight hip-hop cash crown. His income level places him in the 35% tax bracket, which means he’ll pay Uncle Sam about $22 million this year–a sum greater than the total earnings of any other rap star besides second-ranked Diddy.
“Jay-Z is in a league of his own right now,” says Ryan Schinman, chief of Platinum Rye, the country’s largest buyer of music and talent for corporations. “There are very few artists of any genre, not just hip-hop, who’ve created such brands for themselves.”
#2.Sean “Diddy” Combs
$30 million
$30 million
Music now accounts for less than 20 per cent of earnings for the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy, thanks to big stakes in clothing lines Sean John and Enyce, record label Bad Boy and marketing firm Blue Flame. But it’s his Ciroc vodka deal that led Forbes to estimate his net worth at $475 million this winter.
#3.Aliuane “Akon” Thiam
$21 million
Senegalese-American hip-hop singer/songwriter/producer has been profiting from a range of business ventures this year. There’s his Konvict Clothing, his Pepsi soccer ad campaign and Kon Live, his Interscope-backed imprint that’s home to Lady Gaga and others. Still has time for traditional musical ventures, including an international tour and a new album, Stadium Music.
$21 million
Senegalese-American hip-hop singer/songwriter/producer has been profiting from a range of business ventures this year. There’s his Konvict Clothing, his Pepsi soccer ad campaign and Kon Live, his Interscope-backed imprint that’s home to Lady Gaga and others. Still has time for traditional musical ventures, including an international tour and a new album, Stadium Music.
4.Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter
$20 million
The lyricist reportedly wrote his first song at age 8 and signed a record deal with Cash Money a year later. Today he’s one of rap’s richest, despite serving eight months in jail last year. His latest release, I Am Not A Human Being, made him the first artist since Tupac Shakur to have a No. 1 album while incarcerated.
$20 million
The lyricist reportedly wrote his first song at age 8 and signed a record deal with Cash Money a year later. Today he’s one of rap’s richest, despite serving eight months in jail last year. His latest release, I Am Not A Human Being, made him the first artist since Tupac Shakur to have a No. 1 album while incarcerated.
#5.Andre “Dr. Dre” Young
$17 million
Legendary rapper-producer is also one of hip-hop’s savviest–unlike many who sell away the rights to their songs, Dr. Dre hangs on to most of his. Still collects royalties on multiplatinum albums like 1992 classic The Chronic, which sold nearly 10 million copies worldwide. Also rakes in cash from his headphone line Beats by Dre, a partnership with Interscope Records. Served as executive producer for Eminem’s “Recovery,” which sold over 1 million U.S. copies in its first two weeks; solo album Detox is slated for release this fall.
$17 million
Legendary rapper-producer is also one of hip-hop’s savviest–unlike many who sell away the rights to their songs, Dr. Dre hangs on to most of his. Still collects royalties on multiplatinum albums like 1992 classic The Chronic, which sold nearly 10 million copies worldwide. Also rakes in cash from his headphone line Beats by Dre, a partnership with Interscope Records. Served as executive producer for Eminem’s “Recovery,” which sold over 1 million U.S. copies in its first two weeks; solo album Detox is slated for release this fall.
The man who launched the careers of fellow Cash Kings including Snoop Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent keeps bringing in cash – namely from producer fees and Beats by Dre, his lucrative headphone venture with Interscope chief Jimmy Iovine.
#6.Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges
$16 million
The self-proclaimed Mouth of the South makes money from much more than just music. This year, he earned big on movie roles including Fast Five, No Strings Attached and New Year’s Eve, as well as endorsements with Tag body spray and Trojan condoms.
$16 million
The self-proclaimed Mouth of the South makes money from much more than just music. This year, he earned big on movie roles including Fast Five, No Strings Attached and New Year’s Eve, as well as endorsements with Tag body spray and Trojan condoms.
#7.Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus
$15 million
The ageless wonder of the West Coast turned in another strong year, boosted by new album Doggumentary, heavy touring and endorsements with companies from Metro PCS to Pepsi Max. Icing on the proverbial cake: A verse on Katy Perry’s smash hit ‘California Gurls.’
$15 million
The ageless wonder of the West Coast turned in another strong year, boosted by new album Doggumentary, heavy touring and endorsements with companies from Metro PCS to Pepsi Max. Icing on the proverbial cake: A verse on Katy Perry’s smash hit ‘California Gurls.’
#8.Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley
$14 million
Sales of solo album Shock Value II disappointed last December, but corpulent super-producer continues to churn out tracks at a frenetic pace, including songs for Jay-Z, Drake and Shakira in the past year. Also appeared on ABC show FlashForward and will be featured in upcoming videogame “DJ Hero 2.” Continues to crank out hits from his 5,000-square-foot studio in Virginia Beach
$14 million
Sales of solo album Shock Value II disappointed last December, but corpulent super-producer continues to churn out tracks at a frenetic pace, including songs for Jay-Z, Drake and Shakira in the past year. Also appeared on ABC show FlashForward and will be featured in upcoming videogame “DJ Hero 2.” Continues to crank out hits from his 5,000-square-foot studio in Virginia Beach
#9.Pharrell Williams
$13 million
Versatile star made his name penning hits for rappers and pop artists alike as part of popular production duo The Neptunes. Now fronts funk-rock band N*E*R*D, which is in the midst of an ambitious international tour in advance of upcoming album, Nothing. Once named the world’s best-dressed man by Esquire, Williams designs sunglasses for Louis Vuitton and owns apparel lines Ice Cream and Billionaire Boys Club. Worked with famed German composer Hans Zimmer to create soundtrack for animated flick Despicable Me.
#10.Kanye West
$12 million
The self-proclaimed Louis Vuitton Don returns to the top three for the first time since 2009. His new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, hit stores in November, earned critical raves and quickly went platinum. His follow-up, Jay-Z collaboration Watch the Throne, debuted on August 8.
$13 million
Versatile star made his name penning hits for rappers and pop artists alike as part of popular production duo The Neptunes. Now fronts funk-rock band N*E*R*D, which is in the midst of an ambitious international tour in advance of upcoming album, Nothing. Once named the world’s best-dressed man by Esquire, Williams designs sunglasses for Louis Vuitton and owns apparel lines Ice Cream and Billionaire Boys Club. Worked with famed German composer Hans Zimmer to create soundtrack for animated flick Despicable Me.
#10.Kanye West
$12 million
The self-proclaimed Louis Vuitton Don returns to the top three for the first time since 2009. His new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, hit stores in November, earned critical raves and quickly went platinum. His follow-up, Jay-Z collaboration Watch the Throne, debuted on August 8.
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