1 Billboard 200 albums and three RIAA-certified Diamond singles (Lose Yourself, Love the Way You Lie and Not Afraid), his unprecedented commercial success makes for one of the most noteworthy rags-to-riches tales in popular music. Before Melle Mels game-changing run with Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, rap was still constrained by its yes, yes yall! park jam origins. 6 with $14.2 million with most of his revenue coming from streaming ($11.7 million) and publishing ($1.9 million). 14. The single spent seven nonconsecutive weeks at No. Streaming: $1.7M Swift takes the top spot almost solely on revenue earned from the recorded masters of her two 2020 albums, folklore and evermore, which she owns and licenses to Republic for distribution. He came close to ranking in the top 10 for sales royalties with 435,000 physical albums scanned that year 266,000 of them vinyl albums. With one of the deepest catalogs in hip-hop history including 18 top 10s on Billboards Top Rap Albums chart Forty Water personifies the hustle of forging a successful independent career. Queen $13.2 million8. From there, the teams took into account the following criteria, not in any particular order: body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artists work fostered the genres evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess). Recorded-music royalties from sales, streaming and publishing collectively grew 56% from $197 million in 2019 to $308 million. In the late 2010s, West (legally known as Ye) became one of the most divisive artists in the world due to his political views and goading (occasionally outright antagonistic) social comments. 1 Hot 100 hits, sold 25 million albums and account for raps most recent album of the year win at the Grammys. So it took a lot of deliberation and deep discussion to reason our way to what we believe is a well-thought-out, authentic list that reflects hip-hops foundational pioneers, evolutionary trailblazers and contemporary mainstays. Run the Jewels, "Walking in the Snow". They also placed No .7 in publishing royalties ($2.4 million) because the original members wrote all of their songs. Sales: $119K Publishing: $1.8M Billboard has officially released its list of the highest-paid music artists in 2020, which shows how hip-hop has dominated as a genre in the last year. At this point, hip-hop purists know Nas path to greatness all too well. He grossed over $12.3 million in ticket sales for five shows (two at Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena) for a $4.2 million payday and seventh place in the touring category. After a disappointing debut effort with 2001s Im Serious, T.I. Sales: $485K Streaming: $431K see charts legends He took home over $3.9 million from 12 shows that grossed $11.5 million in ticket sales, ranking at No. Last Played. He struck special chemistry with Wu compatriot Raekwon when the two adopted prominent roles on each others classic 90s debuts, Ironman and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, respectively. Last years Money Makers ranking credited the K-pop boy band phenom with keeping physical formats alive with its total sales of 827,000 albums. source: instagram. After the album went platinum, he became the first Latino solo rap act to sell over a million copies. Hailing from South Jamaica, Queens by way of Trinidad and Tobago, Nicki Minaj earned her crown as the modern-day Queen of Rap with her fierce, braggadocious spirit. #nelly #stlunatics #ynwmelly #liltecca #juicewrld #playboicarti #dancingrappers #nbayoungboy #2000 #soreuzi #ride #wit #met #comes #radio. Like many hip-hop artists, his sales royalties were minimal. Last years rank: . Streaming: $3.2M From battle rhyming (Shut the Eff Up-Hoe) to heartfelt storytelling (Poor Georgie), Lyte roared into the 90s racking up three gold singles most notably the Puffy Combs-produced Cold Rock a Party (1996), featuring an then-up-and-coming Missy Elliott. Last years rank: . Last years rank: 1 on the Billboard 200, and its title track did the same on both the Hot 100 and Top Streaming Songs charts, contributing to more than 4 billion combined streams and generating $6 million in streaming royalties. Paul McCartney ($535 million) No Beatles, no problem: McCartney continued an epic solo run, selling out stadiums and even getting his first No. We're always a bit suspicious of Forbes highest-paid musician lists, as there seem to be some shenanigans involved with their accounting. In fact, Reggie Noble led off Eminems list of the greatest MCs within the latters pump-up perennial Till I Collapse. With EPMDs Erick Sermon as a mentor, Redman (aka Funk Doc) exceeded expectations in 1992 when his debut studio project Whut? Post Malone $23.2 million3. after his scene-stealing verse on their 1991 hit Same Song. Pacs duality as a solo artist was remarkable: One minute, he was endearing, scripting empathetic classics like Dear Mama and Keep Your Head Up; the other, he was explosive, lacing up his war boots, ready to ride on his enemies (Hit Em Up and Hail Mary). Last years rank: By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice and European users agree to the data transfer policy. Meanwhile, his enduring combination of lyrical prowess, classic albums and envelope-pushing evolution continue to support the widely held consensus that hes the best rapper of his generation. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic curtailing chances for any artists to tour in 2020, several big-name rappers still made money through streaming and other means last year.. 8 in track sales (872,000). It was one of five songs she landed on the chart that year: Three were collaborations, with Marshmello (Be Kind), Machine Gun Kelly (Forget Me Too) and Kelsea Ballerini (The Other Girl), while the fourth was her country-flavored solo track, You Should Be Sad, which peaked at No. Revenue from merchandising, synchronization and sponsorship and livestream concerts is not included. Last years rank: Sales: $1.8M His touring take came from two concerts. Music in 2010 and kicking off the label relationship with a guest feature on Runaway from Kanye Wests My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy that same year. On this years list, six hip-hop artists who didnt make the cut for the 2019 list ranked in the top 20. Streaming: $3.48M A defining byproduct of raps blog era, J. Cole made a name for himself with celebrated mixtapes like 2007s The Come Up, 2009s The Warm Up and 2010s Friday Night Lights. 1, and the second reached No. The albums smash single, The Box, spent 11 consecutive weeks atop the Hot 100, and Ricchs feature on DaBabys No. Another strong year in streams, fueled by the rappers first Billboard 200 No. LL Cool J signed with Def Jam Records as its first artist in 1984 and released I Need a Beat from his studio debut, Radio, produced entirely by Rick Rubin. 1 in February 2020, a year in which he also landed five songs in the top 10 of the Hot 100, including his duet with Ariana Grande, Stuck With U, which debuted at No.1. To describe Chuck D as arapperwould be as brazen an understatement as labeling Jimi Hendrix aguitarist. Last years rank: No. 1 debut of Get Rich or Die Tryin in 2003. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100and anotherfour on the Billboard 200 albums chart are nothing to scoff at, as Ludacris chart resum can stand up to just about any of his rap contemporaries. Your IP: Sales: $152K Capital Punishment also topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and peaked at No. Touring: $0. 38 Iggy . Billboard has released its highest-paid musicians of 2020. The set was powered by the majestic Intl Players Anthem featuring OutKast. Streaming: $5.9M 1 and No. Sales: $89.3K Changes, Biebers first album in more than four years, became his seventh Billboard 200 No. Six months after the death of Tupac Shakur, Biggie was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997. Last years rank: Last years rank: Streaming: $5.7M One of hip-hops pioneering polymaths, T.I. After a return-to-form with 2009sThe Ecstatic, the reinvigorated MC-turned-actor (Brown Sugar, Dexter) changed his name to Bey in 2011. Signaling a major renaissance in West Coast and gangsta rap, his critically acclaimed sophomore project reeled off several commercial hits: Swimming Pool (Drank), Backseat Freestyle, and Bitch, Dont Kill My Vibe. Next came 2015s jazz-influenced To Pimp a Butterfly, his first Billboard 200 No. From rap's "golden age" in the 1980s to today's generation of social media-created stars, they all have one thing in common boatloads of money. And that was only the tip of the iceberg: After releasing 2022s I Never Liked You, featuring current Grammy nominee and No. Trump Didn't Sing All The Words To The National Anthem At National Championship Game. Last years rank: Touring: $0. Ghost continued the winning streak well into the 21st century, firstwith his 2000 sophomore opus Supreme Clientele and on through 2006s brilliant Fishscale and 2013s comic book on wax, Twelve Reasons to Die. Before Power-ing up his TV empire, 50 Cent continued to top the charts with follow-ups like The Massacre and Curtis, while also making stars of his G-Unit label roster mates, including Lloyd Banks, Young Buck and The Game. Raised in Fayetteville, N.C., hes Southern to the core but also reps Queens asa St. Johns graduate. 7 in overall sales royalties with $3.7 million. World Tour (only two of which were reported to Boxscore), she still made a bundle in streaming and publishing income. Streaming: $8.1M 11. JAY-Z, Kanye West & Diddy Named Highest-Paid Rappers Of 2021 - With $800M Combined Earnings. Jonathan Lyndale Kirk released his third studio album, Blame It on Baby, in April 2020, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and produced his highest-charting song, Rockstar featuring Roddy Ricch. LLs list of achievements includes being the first rapper to be awarded the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor. During his 30+-year career, the global best-selling producer, often cited as hip-hops GOAT behind the boards, boasts a treasure trove of lyricists who have written for him, from Ice Cube, the D.O.C. KISS managed to play 20 shows in 2020, generating $14.8 million in ticket sales and $5 million in take-home pay, the sole reason the road warriors made the Money Makers list this year (and last year, too). He is one of the highest-paid rappers and his net worth is around $100 million. Is President, Paid in Full and Microphone Fiend. Rakims influence is felt in all corners of hip-hop: A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, is named after him, DMX and Eminem are self-proclaimed fans, and rappers as big as 50 Cent (via The Games Hate It or Love It) and Lil Wayne (on Lloyds Girls Around the World) have paid in-song homage to his distinctive flow. Floridas not-so-sunny hip-hop crooner saw his second album, Pray 4 Love, debut at No. 39 2021-2022 earnings: $73 million. (The genre dates back to 1973, when DJ Kool Herc first set up his two turntables to rock a Bronx party.) 2020. James is the 6th richest female rapper in the world. 1 live touring revenue generator for 2020, that amounts to $17 million in take-home pay, which puts Dion at the top of the concert earnings ranking and accounted for over 98% of her overall 2020 income. (The genre dates back to 1973, when DJ Kool . He also remains a streaming giant with $8.1 million in overall royalties, plus an additional $2 million from publishing. Ed Sheeran is among the highest-paid rappers globally, with an estimated net worth of $200 million. The shows grossed close to $25.8 million, giving the band almost $8.8 million in take-home pay. Before rap became a cultural and commercial powerhouse, Kurtis Blow provided early proof of the genres future capabilities. Streaming: $9.1M Billie Eilish $14.7 million6. Under the tutelage of the late Notorious B.I.G., Queen Bee debuted as a member of Junior M.A.F.I.A., becoming an icon following her titillating 1996 solo debut album Hard Core. Last years rank: Since his 2009 breakthrough mixtape classic, So Far Gone, Drakes ability to swerve in and out of genres and mix of sugary crooning with spiky bars made him an untouchable force: Anything hes graced with his Midas touch has been zapped into platinum and gold. Andr emerged as the star of the group for his singular flair; sadly, the duo went their separate ways with fans still yearning for a solo album from him. The group also generated over 1.8 billion streams, which is impressive for a rock band. As the legendary rap duo UGK, Bun B and the late Pimp C kept the spotlight on Texas while taking the baton from the Scarface-led triad Geto Boys. Shes also the No. Publishing: $398K Bring the crowd and Im loud in living color/ It is Weezy Fkin Baby, got these rappers in my stomach, Lil Wayne opens his 2005 deep cut, Best Rapper Alive, foreshadowing the years to come. 1. Those concerts grossed $12.6 million, which yielded $4.3 million in take-home pay, and earned them the No. 40 Richest Rappers of All Time. Hip Hop's highest earners of 2021 have been announced, and it appears the global COVID-19 pandemic . 1 alongside Twista and Jamie Foxx on Slow Jamz. Then came a torrent of beloved albums (Graduation, 808s & Heartbreak and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy). and 2Pac, show his romantic side on the smash Mary J. Blige collab All I Need and just have fun with Redman on the duos How High films and Blackout! Last years rank: Halseys 2020 album, Manic, debuted at No. Jay-Z ($560 million) Music . History is also on his side: Hov has 14 Billboard 200 No. Sales: $712,500 The former honors student dropped out of school at 14 to focus on his music career, five years after entering the mentorship of Cash Money Records co-founder Birdman. They accounted for close to 20% of his 4.1 billion combined streaming plays. The $5.7 million that she and her brother, FINNEAS, took home from their publishing royalties was tops in the category. Streaming: $7.3M 31, and then charted with his own single, South of the Border, featuring Camila Cabello and Cardi B, which hit No. His 2002 mixtape Guess Whos Back? A year with little touring resulted in many of rock and country musics regular road warriors giving up their spots to artists with strong 2020 streaming and physical sales performances many of them hip-hop acts. hey google, open the assistant settings,