Jay-Z and Kanye West have been ranked as the highest-grossing hip-hop artists of 2021, according to a list published by former Forbes magazine editor Zack O’Malley Greenberg this week. Ye comes in second place earning $ 250 million during 2021, largely thanks to his Yeezy shoe empire. Watch the Throne collaborators pass hip-hop as the highest paid musicians of any genre, except for the old rockers who sold their catalogs last year. The 20 biggest hip-hop winners of 2021 doubled their 2019 amount by more than $ 1 billion. Diddy’s lucrative Ciroc vodka empire gave him a spot in the top 3 with $ 75 million, while Drake finishes fourth with $ 50 million. Wiz Khalifa earned $ 45 million (No. 5), from a variety of cannabis products including its Khalifa Who brand, and the sale of its April issue. After the Astroworld festival tragedy, Travis Scott entered the list with $ 38 million (No. 6), followed by DJ Khaled (No. 7, $ 35 million), Eminem (No. 8, $ 28 million) and J. Cole (No. 9, $ 27 million). Also not forgetting to mention, Doja Cat is the only female in the top 10. The rapper “Kiss Me More” raised $ 25 million from her global presence and partnership with Pepsi, Taco Bell and Candy Crush. The list, which was compiled by former Forbes editor and “Hip-Hop Cash Kings” list creator Zack O’Malley Greenburg, measures pre-tax revenue for the 2021 calendar year before deducting fees for agents, managers, lawyers and the living expenses of the artists.
Below you can read the full list:
Jay-Z ($ 470 million)
Kanye West ($ 250 million)
Diddy ($ 75 million)
Drake ($ 50 million)
Wiz Khalifa ($ 45 million)
Travis Scott ($ 38 million)
DJ Khaled ($ 35 million)
Eminem ($ 28 million)
Cole ($ 27 million)
Birdman ($ 25 million)
I Wanted Cat ($ 25 million)
Tech N9ne ($ 25 million)
