Forbes’ Hip Hop Cash Kings list has been released for 2011, and Jay-Z tops off the list for his fourth year in a row. Also, Nicki Minaj is on the list this year, and is now the first female to ever do so.
Forbes has announced its annual Hip Hop Cash Kings list. The leader of the pack is none other than Jay-Z, while additional Hip Hop stars to make the cut include Eminem, Diddy, Dr. Dre, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West and more.
Hov tops the chart with $37 million in income, thanks to “the benefits of a 10-year $150 million Live Nation deal, as well as stakes in the New Jersey Nets, the 40/40 Club” and more.
Sean “Diddy” Combs comes in second with $35 million. Surprisingly, music only accounts for 20 percent of his earnings, while the rest consists of investments in clothing lines like Sean John and Enyce.
Kanye West places third with $16 million. The relentless tourer released his last solo album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in November 2010, and most recently dropped his collaboration album with Jigga, Watch the Throne, yesterday.
List below:
1. Jay-Z – $37 million
2. Diddy – $35 million
3. Kanye West – $16 million
4. Lil Wayne – $15 million
4. Birdman – $15 million
6. Eminem – $14 million
6. Dr. Dre – $14 million
6. Snoop Dogg – $14 million
9. Akon – $13 million
10. Ludacris – $12 million
11. Wiz Khalifa – $11 million
11. Drake – $11 million
13. Pharrell Williams – $10 million
14. Timbaland – $7 million
15. Swizz Beatz – $6.5 million
15. Nicki Minaj – $6.5 million
17. Rick Ross – $6 million
17. 50 Cent – $6 million
17. Pitbull – $6 million
20. T-Pain – $5 million
20. B.o.B – $5 million