Ever since hip-hop received mainstream acceptance, it has taken a
stranglehold of the music scene. Even other genres would come out with
songs that will mix in a liberal amount of rap music. These guys can not
only rhyme about their experiences in life, but they also have a lot of
business sense that has allowed them to rake in the money even during
the times when they do not have a new album in the market. The following
is a list of the top 10 rappers with the most cast in 2013.
10. Lil Wayne – $95 million
His real name is
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.,
but everyone knows him as Lil Wayne. He was only nine years old when he
joined Cash Money Records as part of the duo called The B.G.’z. By his
teen years, he already had a hit solo album called
The Block is Hot. He followed it up with several successful records, notably
The Carter III
that won him a Grammy for Best Rap Album. He is the male artist with
the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, surpassing even Elvis Presley. In March 2013, he released his latest album called
I Am Not a Human Being II.
9. Ice Cube – $100 million
His real name is
O’Shea Jackson,
but he is better known as Ice Cube. He started out with the hip-hop
group called C.I.A., before he hooked up as a member of N.W.A. He is
often cited as one of the greatest MCs, storytellers and lyricists of
all time. Considered as one of the founders of gangsta rap, he has since
branched out to acting, directing and producing. He is slated to
release a new album called
Everythang’s Corrupt, with a couple of singles from the record already on the market.
8. Snoop Dogg – $110 million
His real name is
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.,
but he is more known as Snoop Dogg. He has also called himself Snoop
Doggy Dogg and even Snoop Lion. After Dr. Dre discovered him, Dogg
released the album
Doggystyle in 1993. It contained the hits
“What’s My Name?” and “Gin & Juice,” and the album went on to become
quadruple platinum. He recorded three albums for Master P’s No Limit
Records before signing with EMI. In 2009, he was made chairman of
Priority Records. He released the album
Reincarnated in the spring of 2013.
7. Eminem – $120 million
His real name is
Marshall Bruce Mathers III,
but everyone calls him Eminem. He is already considered as one of the
greatest artists of all time, after becoming the best selling artist of
the 2000′s. He already has 10 albums that have gone to number one. He
now owns his one label called Shady Records, as well has his own radio
channel called Shade 45. He is slated to release a new album in the
summer of 2013.
6. 50 Cent – $125 million
His real name is
Curtis James Jackson III, but he goes by the stage name of 50 Cent. He achieved fame with the eight-times platinum album
Get Rich or Die Tryin’
that was released in 2003. He credits Eminem for discovering him and
Dr. Dre for producing his first major success. He released a new album
called
Street King Immortal, though he is also earning heaps of
money from video games, books and other investments. He made a killing
when he sold his share in Vitamin Water in 2007. He is also involved
with SMS Audio that plans to replicate the success of Dr. Dre’s Beats.
5. Birdman – $150 million
His real name is
Bryan Williams
and he goes by the stage name of Birdman. He is part of the duo called
Big Tymers and is the co-founder of Cash Money Records, along with his
brother Ronald “Slim” Williams. The label has been raking it in, with artists like Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj.
He is also part of Young Money Cash Money Billionaires, or YMCMB, a
group that has launched its own clothing line. Birdman also has
interests with GT Vodka. He is scheduled to release the album
Bigga Than Life in September 2013.
4. Master P – $350 million
His real name is
Percy Robert Miller,
but he is known by his stage name of Master P. A former basketball
player, Miller is the founder of No Limit Records, which has since been
relaunched as New No Limit Records and No Limit Forever Records. He is
also the founder and chief executive officer of the entertainment
conglomerate called P. Miller Enterprises, as well as of Better Black
Television. He is currently working on his latest album to be called
Boss of All Bosses.
3. Dr. Dre – $350 million
His real name is
Andre Romelle Young,
or more popularly known by his stage name of Dr. Dre. He was part of
the gangsta rap group called N.W.A. He made his solo debut in 1992 with
the album called
The Chronic. He then established his own label
called Aftermath Entertainment that helped launch the careers of Eminem
and 50 Cent. He is also behind the popular Beats by Dr. Dre headphones
that he established in 2008.
2. Jay-Z – $475 million
His real name is
Shawn Corey Carter, but everyone knows him as Jay-Z. He is considered as one of the greatest rappers and MCs of all time. His albums
Reasonable Doubt and
The Blueprint
are considered as two of the greatest albums of all time. He has
received 17 Grammy Awards. He is also behind entities such as
Roc-A-Fella Records, Rocawear, Roc Nation and Roc Nation Sports.
1. Sean “P.Diddy” Combs – $580 million
His real name is
Sean John Combs,
and he has gone by the names of Puff Daddy, Diddy and P. Diddy. He
started out as a producer as the man behind Bad Boy Records. He then
released a debut album called
No Way Out in 1997 that went
seven times platinum. His work has been recognized with three Grammy
Awards. He also owns the clothing lines Sean John and Sean by Sean
Combs. Diddy also owns a movie production company and a couple of
restaurants.
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