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Forbes' list of Hip-Hop's Top 20 Highest Earners was just released, with names you would expect like Jay-Z and Diddy topping the list. Artists and entrepreneurs like Carter and Combs have been on their game for a while, so having perfected their hustle these multi-million dollar earnings come as no surprise. But some names on this year's Forbes list of Hip-Hop's Top 20 Highest Earners are new and even shocking:
1. Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter - $63 Million
2. Sean "Diddy" Combs - $30M
3. Aliuane "Akon" Thiam - $21M
4. Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter - $20M
5. Andre "Dr. Dre" Young - $17M
6. Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges - $16M
7. Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus - $15M
8. Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley - $14M
9. Pharrell Williams - $13M
10. Kanye West - $12M
11. Aubrey "Drake" Graham - $10M
12. Clifford "T.I." Harris - $9M (tie)
12. Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean - $9M (tie)
14. Marshall "Eminem" Mathers - $8M (tie)
14. Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson - $8M (tie)
14. Jay "Young Jeezy" Jenkins - $8M (tie)
17. Lonnie "Common" Lynn Jr. - $7M
18. DeAndre "Soulja Boy" Way - $6M (tie)
18. Faheem "T-Pain" Najm - $6M (tie)
20. Jonathan "Lil Jon" Smith - $5M (tie)
20. Radric "Gucci Mane" Davis - $5M (tie)
20. William "Rick Ross" Roberts - $5M (tie)
Which is more shocking: that Gucci Mane made $5 million in the past 12 months, or that Drake's first name is Aubrey? However you spin it, these two artists appearing on Forbes' list of Hip-Hop's Top 20 Highest Earners marks a significant achievement. As relative newcomers who don't have the entrenched fan base of most of the other stars, Gucci Mane and Drake have competed successfully against even megastars like Eminem.
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Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
Through an interactive readers survey, Blackvoices.com polled our audience to find out who was sexiest hip-hop stars of all time. Check out who made the list -- and who's #1.
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Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
Through an interactive readers survey, Blackvoices.com polled our audience to find out who was sexiest hip-hop stars of all time. Check out who made the list -- and who's #1.
Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
Will Smith
When Will Smith arrived on the music scene with songs like 'Parents Just Don't Understand' and 'Summertime,' he was an awkward, skinny Philly teen. But the Grammy Award-winning rapper successfully transitioned into one of the most successful black Hollywood stars with roles in action flicks such as 'Independence Day' and 'Bad Boys.' Now, he's one of the sexiest rapper-turned-actors around. And it's not only because of his big bank, either.
Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
Andre 3000
Like Prince, Jimi Hendrix and Bootsy Collins, OutKast rapper Andre 3000's fashion style is anything but safe. At the height of his career, he was rocking loud colors, kilts and long, blond wigs, but even then he managed to pull R&B sensation Erykah Badu as his girlfriend and the two had a beautiful son, Seven. The 'Hey Ya' rapper opened up his heart on the breakthrough album 'The Love Below' and he continues to tug the heart strings of hip-hop lovers and beyond.
Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
YoYo
She might have been affiliated with Ice Cube and the West Coast gangsta rap movement, but with YoYo's light-brown eyes and caramel complexion, there's no second-guessing that she's a true lady. The Los Angeles native was known for songs about female empowerment and making a case against sexism, but her beauty cast her in a league of her own among so many of her female rap counterparts of the '90s, who preferred a rough and tumble image.
Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
Drake
Sure, he might have gotten his start as an awkward teen on the Nickelodeon show 'Degrassi: The Next Generation,' but Drake, born Aubrey Graham, is the new hot rapper to watch. With his lovable smile and songs like 'Best I Ever Had' and 'Every Girl,' this half-Jewish pretty boy is sure to continue winning the hearts of America.
Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
Common
Common won the hearts of women everywhere when he showed his vulnerable side on 'The Light' with then-girlfriend Erykah Badu. Then, he teamed up with her on 'Love of My Life,' cementing this Chi-town native as an introspective and talented MC. Also notable is his recent acting role as a buff NBA player in the film 'Just Wright,' in which one bare-chest push up scene surely didn't cause him to lose any fans.
Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
Darryl McDaniel
As a member of hip-hop's pioneering group, Run-DMC, Darryl "DMC" McDaniel might have been a devastating microphone controller, but he was a cutie back in the day. Always rocking his sparkly clean Adidas, gold chain and signature black hat, with tight Lee jeans, DMC was a superfresh rapper who still made time to raise a little hell and hold down arena stages with the biggest rock stars of the '80s, most notably Aerosmith.
Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
Bow Wow
He may still be referred to as Lil' Bow Wow by many, but Bow Wow has always been a teen heartthrob. Some of his superstar girlfriends have included Angela Simmons and Ciara, as well as countless video vixens. He may not have grown much, but Snoop Dogg's protégé is one of the younger generations' big-name rappers.
Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
Honorable Mention: Kool Moe Dee
Though he had a penchant for peculiarly colored leather outfits (and matching pillbox hats) during his 1980s heyday, the tough-talking rapper -- legally known as Mohandas Dewes -- wore it all so well. With 'How You Like Me Now,' he brought sophisticated grace to the Afrocentric vibe that was commonplace in the burgeoning Harlem hip-hop scene in 1987.
Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
Nas
Always reflective and intellectually sound, Nas' sex appeal is his pensive attitude and thoughtful lyrics. The Queensbridge rapper has never veered away from showing his soft-spoken self, but he always knows when to bring out the ammunition.
Top 30 Sexiest Rappers Ever
What could be the secret to their success? Indeed, how have many of these men managed to make millions of dollars year after year despite the downward trend in music sales and the fickle nature of hip-hop audiences? The key might be a basic lesson that should always be applied by every investor and, if possible, business owner: diversification. Hip-Hop stars, probably more than any other group of entertainers, are the least risk averse and are willing to try their hand at any project that could be lucrative. From Queen Latifah to Diddy, top earning hip hop stars are quick to parlay their names in the realms of movies, fashion, beauty, television, wine, energy drinks, business books, liquor, soft drinks, personal appearances, sunglasses, and restaurants, just to name a few.
Most high earners in hip hop are able to develop multiple streams of income, which not only lead to huge sums of cash, but also enable them to remain financially stable if some sources of income dry up. This ability to try out many types of business ventures without shame, worrying too much about being qualified, or caring at all about being judged, all in the spirit of fun, is a great business trait that high earning hip-hop stars exemplify. People in almost any profession from all walks of life can fruitfully apply this money lesson. Hip-hop's highest earners also know how to get out of a business that is failing without remorse. Stars like Eve and Busta Rhymes have abandoned ailing clothing lines, for example, then fearlessly moved on with their careers.
The top 20 highest earning artists in hip-hop have taken a lot of well-deserved flack for promoting negative values in our community. But for once, let's give credit where credit is due. Forbes' list of Hip-Hop's Top 20 Highest Earners includes some of the smartest and hardest working businessmen in America today. The hustle, creativity, and productivity of these high earning hip-hop stars cannot be denied. Let's hope that as role models they are able to convey these qualities to today's youth.
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