Jay-Z, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Forbes.com just announced their list of “Hip-Hop Cash Kings”

— the top 20 money earners in the rap game. The King of Kings? Jay-Z, of course.

The rapper took the crown for the third time in four years, with an income of $63 million over the past 12 months—from his ownership of his 40/40 nightclub chain, Broadway’s “Fela!,” the New Jersey Nets, and the fact that the Blueprint 3 Tour brought in $1 million per concert.

Diddy came in second at $30 million after a successful year when he released his new album The Last Train to Paris, sold more Sean Jean clothing, managed Bad Boy Records, and found himself in a vodka joint venture with Diageo.

A bit surprising was Akon landing in the third spot with $21 million — credited to his Konvict Clothing, his Pepsi soccer ad campaign, and signing Lady Gaga to his record label, KonLive.

Lil Wayne dropped in at  No. 4 with $20 million in earnings, despite spending the past few months in jail, and Dr. Dre placed at  No. 5 with $17 million. Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Timbaland, Pharrell, and Kanye West rounded out the Top 10, with the latter — considering Ye’s ridiculous lifestyle — being a bit of a surprise on the low side. Hey, maybe that’s why he joined Twitter!

Other notables were Drake at No. 11 with $10 million, Eminem at No. 14 with $8 million, and Soulja Boy at No. 18 with $6 million.

See the complete list here.

Source: Spin

Related posts:

Jay-Z Now Runs B.E.T. As Well A Tribute To The Hip Hop King Of New York, Notorious B.I.G.