Jay-Z, Diddy and Kanye West top Forbes rap rich list

Image source, AP

Jay-Z has topped a Forbes magazine hip hop rich list, making $37 million (拢22m) in the past 12 months.

The rap star claimed his fourth top spot in the last five years.

Diddy finished in second place earning $35m (拢21m) with Kanye West, who has collaborated with Jay-Z this year on a joint album called Watch The Throne, making $16m (拢10m).

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem tied for the sixth spot at $14 million (拢9m) with Nicki Minaj debuting at 15.

Forbes says top earner Jay-Z made his cash from the end of his world Blueprint 3 tour and other business interests.

The top 20 on the hip hop list earned a combined $271 million (拢166m).

Thirteen different artists earned $10 million (拢6m) or more, taking home money from live shows, recorded music, endorsements and a other businesses.

Earnings were calculated between May 2010 to May 2011 and based on data from Pollstar, Nielsen SoundScan, the Recording Industry Association of America and individual record labels.

The top 20 Forbes hip hop "Cash Kings" are:

  • Jay-Z - $37 million (拢22m)
  • Diddy - $35 million (拢21m)
  • Kanye West - $16 million (拢10m)
  • Lil Wayne - $15 million (拢9.2m)
  • Birdman - $15 million
  • Dr. Dre - $14 million (拢8.6m)
  • Snoop Dogg - $14 million
  • Eminem - $14 million
  • Akon - $13 million (拢7.9m)
  • Ludacris - $12 million (拢7.3m)
  • Wiz Khalifa - $11 million (拢6.7m)
  • Drake - $11 million
  • Pharrell Williams - $10 million (拢6.1m)
  • Timbaland - $7 million (拢4.3m)
  • Swizz Beatz - $6.5 million (拢3.9m)
  • Nicki Minaj - $6.5 million
  • Rick Ross - $6 million (拢3.6m)
  • 50 Cent - $6 million
  • Pitbull - $6 million
  • T-Pain - $5 million (拢3m)
  • B.o.B - $5 million