Sean Combs got his spot back!
Forbes released its 2015 Hip Hop Cash Kings list, and while the names at the top are still the same, some new heavy hitters are reaping the huge rewards of hip-hop culture as well.
Sean ‘P.Diddy’ Combs held down the top spot again after relinquishing it to Dr. Dre last year, earning another $60, and equally his income from last year. Ciroc has turned out to be a really great investment.
Jay Z is close behind at $56 million thanks to Roc Nation and touring with his wife Beyonce. Toronto’s own had an amazing year, as Drake made close to $40 million. Rounding out the top 5 are Dr. Dre, and Pharrell.
If you can’t sell albums, having a hot tour is the next best thing.
1. Diddy $60 million
He rarely performs these days, but Diddy rakes in cash from the fruits of a reputation forged in music: TV network Revolt, clothing line Sean John, alkaline water brand Aquahydrate and Ciroc vodka, which brings in the bulk of his bucks. He’s also readying a new album, and enjoys being named No. 1. “You started learning how to count!” Diddy recently told FORBES.
2. Jay Z: $56 million
His 22 shows with Beyoncé boosted the multifaceted mogul’s bottom line alongside moneymaking ventures like entertainment company Roc Nation and Armand de Brignac champagne. The impact of his new streaming service, Tidal remains to be seen. But regardless of its fate, he’s taken his business game to previously unimaginable heights
3. Drake: $39.5 million
The Canadian import clocks the highest Cash Kings finish of his young career, thanks mostly to earnings on the road, where he played 50 dates during our scoring period with a nightly average gross of nearly $1 million. Also padding Drake’s coffers: gold-certified surprise record If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late and endorsements for Sprite and Nike.
4. Dr. Dre: $33 million
Selling Beats earned him $620 million last year, the top annual payday of any musician, ever. Despite a year-over-year drop of more than half a billion dollars, Dre makes the list thanks to smaller checks from Apple and his production catalogue. He also exec-produced biopic Straight Outta Compton and released his long-awaited third studio album.
5. Pharrell: $32 million
The “Happy” singer is one of the more diversified performers on the list, clocking multimillion-dollar checks from touring, music and his role as a judge on The Voice. He also mingles his fashion sense with an entrepreneurial streak, as evidenced by his Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream clothing lines.6. Eminem: $31 million
7. Kanye West: $22 million
8. Wiz Khalifa: $21.5 million
9. Nicki Minaj: $21 million
10. Birdman: $18 million
11. Pitbull: $17 million
12. Lil Wayne: $15 million
13. Kendrick Lamar: $12 million
13. J. Cole: $11 million
14. Snoop Dogg: $10 million
16. Rick Ross: $9 million
17. Tech N9ne: $8.5 million
18. Ludacris: $8 million
19. T.I.: $6 million
20. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: $5.5 million
