NEWS:
Written By Cyrus Langhorne
New York rappers 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and Diddy landed the first three spots on Forbes’ annual “Top 20 Richest Hip Hopreneurs” list again this year, yet this time Fif beat out Jay for the top slot.
According to Forbes, 50 earned $150 million over the past 12 months with deals including his Vitamin Water Formula 50 stake being sold to Coca-Cola for $100 million last summer, as well as profits from his record label, films, videogames and albums. Hoping to hold on to the Number 1 position, the G-Unit Boss is currently prepping the launch of a mining partnership with South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe.
Sliding down one notch this year is Jigga who despite banking $150 million on a 10-year deal with Live Nation and releasing the platinum album American Gangster, has pocketed $82 million. With partial ownership in the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, his 40/40 sports club franchise and various advertising deals with Dell and Budweiser, Jay may be able to recapture the No. 1 spot next year.
Diddy shows competitors he’s still running the city banking in $35 million off his Sean John clothing line, his Bad Boy record label and his VH1 and MTV reality shows. This year he also partnered with Ciroc vodka and continues his work as a rapper and producer with his superstar acts like Ca**ie and Day 26.
Kanye West landed in the number 4 slot this year banking $30 million off of the success of his last release, the multi-platinum selling Graduation, as well as his highly successful “Glow In The Dark” tour. Kanye is also looking to expand his empire with plans for a clothing company, an HBO series and the opening of a chain of “Fatburger” restaurants throughout his home town of Chicago.
Despite not exclusively producing Jay-Z’s upcoming Blueprint 3 album, mega-producer Timbaland, earned the number 5 spot, raking in $22 million this year. With stellar production on hits from a slew of pop, R&B and hip-hop artists, including Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, Timbo was also able to line his pockets off of the success of his own platinum selling album, Shock Value.
One half of The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams, has stepped onto the scene with $20 million off designer credits on Louis Vuitton sungla**es, apparel lines, and his group album N.E.R.D.’s summer release. Another popular producer, Swizz Beatz, made the top 10 as he made $17 million this year.
Snoop Dogg grabbed $16 million this year from his reality series “Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood” on the E! network and his Ego Trippin’ album last March. Following behind his long-time friend is quiet but deadly producer Dr. Dre making a solid $15 million this year, solely off of his monster catalog of past hits.
Rapper/actor Ludacris followed with $14 million off of various movie deals. Former rap rival T.I. precedes Luda tying with the self-proclaimed “Greatest Rapper Alive” Lil’ Wayne making $13 million this year.
Although he has yet to release an album since 2004, Eminem continues to profit as a three-way tie with conscious minded rapper Common and hitmaker Akon for has them all making $12 million. Dirty South mega producers Jermaine Dupri and Lil’ Jon have made things hot with annual profits of $11 million while Outkast, Chamillionaire and The Game all tie for last place, earning $10 million.
