Chief Prognosticator

Hip Hop Millions (and soon to be Billions?)

Here’s a recent articles from Forbes Magazine about the top Hip Hop music earners in 2008. Its titled Hip-Hop’s Cash Kings 2008. Here are the top earners and some surprises:

1. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson - $150 million last year. How? From music, clothing, and $100 million for his share in recently sold Vitamin Water to Coca-Cola!
2. Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter - $75 million last year. How? Long term contracts and endorsement, music, clothing.
3. Sean “Diddy” Combs - $35 million. How? Sean John clothing line, record label Bad Boy, premium vodka Ciroc and reality-TV shows.
4. Kanye West - $30 million. How?  Music and other activities.

What about some surprises? Well how about Andre “Dr. Dre” Young making about $15 million even though he hasn’t made a hit record for himself in years and years. Its all about royalties for him.

Another amazing fact is that last year Tupac Shakur’s estate made about $15 million even though he’s been dead for over a decade! Now that’s wild. Just call him the Hip Hop Elvis.