Hip Hop Cash Kings 2008 Forbes Ranks The Earners

By: Errol Mars

Forbes magazine has released it's second annual ranking of Hip Hop's top earners. Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent tops the list earning an estimated $150 million over the past 12 months--almost twice what Jay-Z made.

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Unlike traditional music genres like pop, rock and country, whose artists generally make the bulk of their money selling albums and touring, hip-hop has spawned an impressive cadre of musicians-cum-entrepreneurs who have parlayed their fame into lucrative entertainment empires.

On last years list Jay-Z was king of the hill but this year Mr.Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has taken the top spot sending Mr.Carter down one natch. Mr. Jackson earned a outstanding $150 million over the past 12 months, almost twice what Mr. Carter made.

Mr.Carter didn't do to bad himself,  in the past 12 months, he released a platinum album, signed a 10-year, $150 million deal with concert promoter Live Nation and married longtime girlfriend Beyoncé Knowles. Jay-Z earned $82 million in the past 12 months.

In third place for the second year in a row is Sean "Diddy" Combs. Mr.Combs earned $35 million from his various revenue streams, including his clothing line Sean John, record label Bad Boy, premium vodka Ciroc and two reality-TV shows.

Kanye West clocks in at No. 4 with $30 million. Super producer Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley closes out the top 5 with $22 million.

The world's best dress man Pharrell Williams comes at #6 with $20 million in earnings.

Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, #7, owns a stake in trendy toy company Kidrobot and is in talks with Telmex to produce cellphone content, had earnings of $17 million.

Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus, #8, whose ninth album, Ego Trippin', came out in March made $16 million.

Andre "Dr. Dre" Young, #9, banked $15 million even though he hasn't had a hit in years--he still gets rich on royalties from two decades of hits. Tupac himself pulled in a handsome sum this year--about $15 million--even though he's been dead for over 10 years.

Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges, rounded out the top ten with $14 million in earnings.

The full list is as follows:

• Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, $150 million
• Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, $82 million
• Sean "Diddy" Combs, $35 million
• Kanye West, $30 million
• Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley, $22 million
• Pharrell Williams, $20 million
• Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, $17 million
• Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus, $16 million
• André "Dr. Dre" Young, $15 million
• Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges, $14 million
• Clifford "T.I." Harris, $13 million
• Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter, $13 million
• Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, $12 million
• Lonnie "Common" Lynn Jr., $12 million
• Aliaune "Akon" Thiam, $12 million
• Jermaine Dupri, $11 million
• Jonathan "Lil Jon" Smith, $11 million
• OutKast, $10 million
• Hakeem "Chamillionaire" Seriki, $10 million
• Jayceon "The Game" Taylor, $10 million
• Jonathan "Lil Jon" Smith, $11 million

Source: Forbes.com

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