Diddy Reigns Supreme on Forbes’ Hip-Hop Cash Kings List

Dr Dre may have released his long-awaited comeback album this year and been behind the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton – but his place on Forbes’s Hip Hop Cash Kings list has fallen. But twelve months later it’s Diddy who comes out on top with a comparatively modest $60m. Roc Nation also has a sports division that contributes to Jay Z’s earnings. There’s even a bit of wealth in the underground, odd Music’s own Tech N9ne made a nice $8.5 million and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis raked in $5.5 million.

Pharrell Williams rounds out the top five of the 2015 list with US$32 million. The rapper/producer/business mogul earned $60 million over the past year, thanks to his clothing label Sean John, his TV network Revolt, his vodka brand Ciroc and several other ventures.

He leaves artists such as Jay Z and Drake in his wake, with reported earnings of $56 million and $39 million respectively. During the outlet’s scoring period, he performed 50 shows, averaging $1 million nightly.

As for Drake, he makes his money by touring and has lucrative endorsement deals with Nike and Sprite.

Josh Chesler of The Phoenix News Times noted that like Kanye, Dre always had a signature sound in his music, no matter if it’s in the ’90s rap scene or the late 2000s with his highly-anticipated album.

Forbes explains that the list is based on pre-tax income from tours, record sales, streaming, publishing, merchandise sales, endorsements and other business ventures. Management, agent and attorney fees are not deducted. Both of his projects will definitely increase Dre’s earnings for next year.

The producer-turned-rapper secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (£39m) between June 2014 and June 2015.