US rapper, Kanye West has been named the highest-paid hip-hop act of 2019 in a list compiled by global entrepreneurship magazine, Forbes.
The 42-year-old mogul earned a pre-tax income of $150 million in the year under review, the majority of which comes from his Yeezy empire, a partnership venture with a popular footwear giant.
For the first time, Kanye West out-earned his close ally, Shawn Carter, also known as Jay-Z, who ranks second on this year’s list with $81 million.
Drake, who amassed a fortune with his chart-topping album ‘Scorpion’, rounds out the top three with $75 million, while Diddy takes the number four spot ($70 million), following his deal with Diageo’s Ciroc vodka.
The ladies are also holding it down. Nicki Minaj places number 12 with $29 million, while Cardi B is on her heels at number 13 with $28 million.
The top 20 acts in hip-hop earned a combined $860 million, up 33 per cent from $648 million last year.
Forbes’ Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Acts of 2019
- Kanye West – $150 million
- Jay-Z – $81 million
- Drake – $75 million
- Diddy – $70 million
- Travis Scott – $58 million
- Eminem – $50 million
- DJ Khaled – $40 million
- Kendrick Lamar – $38.5 million
- Migos – $36 million
- Childish Gambino – $35 million
- J. Cole – $31 million
- Nicki Minaj – $29 million
- Cardi B – $28 million
- Swizz Beatz – $23 million
- Meek Mill – $21 million
- Birdman – $20 million
- Future – $19.5 million
- Nas – $19 million
- Wiz Khalifa – $18.5 million
- Pitbull – $18 million
Comment here