FORBES RELEASES HIP-HOP CASH KINGS TODAY (HIP-HOP TOP EARNERS) GUESS WHO’S #1?
You know it’s INCREDIBLE to me how much Hip-Hop has manifested in the past 30 years. It was only decades ago “Old School Rappers” were getting anywhere between $2-$5,000 a show and now that figured has ballooned over 10x as much! This culture has crossed many boundaries making it a very PROFITABLE genre having financial GIANT Forbes taking notice of the growing culture. For the past three years they have dedicated a category to Hip-Hop exclusively dubbing it Hip-Hop Cash Kings. For rapper Jay-Z, he wasn’t lying when he boasted “What you call money, I pay more in taxes.” The Hip-Hop mogul came in at #1 earning $63 million dollars in the past 12 months ($22 million of which is paid in taxes). Despite a struggling economy, the top 20 million earners in this category racked up $300 million “collectively”, a figure which mirrors last years earnings.
But businessman Sean Carter is in a league of his own with his biggest profits coming from his stakes in Rocawear, 40/40 nightclubs, and partial ownership in NBA franchise NJ Nets. In a DOG EAT DOG WORLD, these business savvy entrepreneurs are finding ways “other” than music sales to create income for themselves. “There aren’t many artists selling 250,000 albums in the opening week, and that used to happen all the time,” says entertainment attorney Donald David. “The rise of iTunes means people don’t have to buy whole album … and that has changed the business dramatically.” Being both a consumer and product of this culture, I see first hand how rappers have to become MORE THAN RAPPERS these days and become better businessmen. The days are long gone where you do a show and rely on record sales to feed your family. You have to be more creative in the digital age, and rappers/entrepreneurs such as Jay-Z and Diddy are at the top of the heap!
Diddy (who came in at #2 on the list about $30 million behind Jay) continued his string of success with his top earnings coming from Ciroc Vodka and earphones Diddy Beats. In addition to the business ventures, he’s also accumulated quite the sum from film and television with recent earnings from his role in this summers comedy Get Him to the Greek. With an album release pending parallel to a world-wide tour (where he’s reported to earn $1 million per show) both moguls will continue to be the corner-stone of this culture and Hip-Hop’s TOP MONEY MAKERS for years to come. Rounding out the top 5 was #3 Akon $21 million, #4 Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter $20 million, #5 Andre “Dr. Dre” Young $17 million.
Source: Forbes.com Read Full Story Here
Forbes article researched by: Zack O’Mally Greenburg
Full List Below:
1) Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter $63 million
2) Sean “Diddy” Combs $30 million
3) Aliuane “Akon” Thiam $21 million
4) Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter $20 million
5) Andre “Dr. Dre” Young $17 million
6) Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges $16 million
7) Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus $15 million
8 ) Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley $14 million
9) Pharrell Williams $13 million
10) Kanye West $12 million
11) Aubrey “Drake” Graham $10 million
12) Clifford “T.I.” Harris $9 million (Tied)
13) Swizz Beatz $9 million (Tied)
14) Eminem $8 million (Tied)
15) 50 Cent ($8 million (Tied)
16) Young Jeezy ($8 million) (Tied)
17) Common $7 million
18) Soulja Boy $ 6 million (Tied)
19) T-Pain $6 million (Tied)
20) Lil Jon $ 5 million, Tied with Gucci Mane, who earned $5 million despite being incarcerated most of the year.
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FRENCH MONTANA’S GOONS CRASH JIM JONES BIRTHDAY BASH!!!
So about a week ago, I reported a (throwing) incident where Jim Jones and his people were flinging bottles at French while he performed on stage at Fat Joe’s album release party here in NYC. Well looks like it was PAYBACK time as French’s Goons showed up at the event! The footage obtained by World Star Hip-Hop shows one of Jim’s boys getting cracked over the head with a bottle 55 seconds into the video. The result show an unidentified minion doing an ill-advised Harlem Shake in an attempt to get back on his feet.
I certainly hope no one gets killed behind this mess!
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GERMAN POP SINGER FACES JAIL TIME FOR SPREADING HIV
So a German pop star Nadja Benaissa of the girl group No Angels is being held responsible for spreading the HIV virus. The 28-year-old singer appeared in court yesterday and is being charged with “grievously bodily harm” and “attempted aggravated assault” for having unprotected sex with multiple partners.
During a statement to the District Court of Darmstadt she acknowledged being “careless during those days” and admitted she did not tell her sexual partners about her condition, adding tearfully “I am sorry with all my heart.” A 34-year-old former lover, who is now HIV positive, claimed the singer’s management tried to buy his silence after he became infected. He told the court: “My quality of life has shrunk enormously. I cannot travel to many countries.” going on to say “I have been told by my doctor my condition can become full-blown Aids at any time” WHAT!?! At hearing news like that part of me would want to go get the .45 and air this chick out (but we do not promote violence against women here so please ignore the rant).
Whether her claims of “unknowingly” spreading the HIV Virus is true or not, this should be a WAKE UP CALL for people out there. MEN ESPECIALLY seeing she’s not a bad-looking lady (Hell I might have slept with her, but not unprotected). There are people out there SCORNED by their status or quite frankly just careless. I continue to think constantly how one night can affect your life, and so should you!
Source: dailymail.co.uk Read more
