Kanye Tops List Of Highest Paid Hip-Hop Acts For 1st Time, Jay-Z Is #2 + Cardi B & Nicki Minaj Are The Only Women On The List

Kanye West, Jay-Z, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj

Kanye Tops List Of Highest Paid Hip-Hop Acts For 1st Time, Jay-Z Is #2 + Cardi B & Nicki Minaj Are The Only Women On The List

It’s a good year for Kanye West! From his successful weekly Sunday services to welcoming his fourth child this year, West has been doing well in his personal life and his career. And now, the rapper has another reason to celebrate.

For the first time, he’s #1 on Forbes’ highest-paid hip-hop acts list!

His pre-tax income is reported at $150 million, thanks in huge part to the success of his Yeezy shoe line, a partnership with Adidas. That brand is expected to bring in at least $1.5 billion this year. This is half of what Nike’s Air Jordan makes in a year.

West’s success pushed Jay-Z down to number 2, with $81 million after his On The Run II tour with wife Beyonce last year.

And Drake, who is currently the most-streamed artist in any genre, is still going strong at number 3, with $75 million.

Drake

Diddy is fourth on the list with $70 million amid his ongoing success with Ciroc, and Travis Scott’s Astroworld tour is just one of his endeavors that made him fifth on the list with $58 million.

Diddy

Travis Scott

Childish Gambino made the list for the first time at number 10 with $35 million. His success is thanks in part to his series Atlanta and the This Is America tour.

Donald Gover (aka Childish Gambino)

Cardi B also made the list for the first time at number 13 with $28 million. Not only is she just one of two women on the list, but she’s also the youngest.

Cardi B

Nicki Minaj is neck in neck with Cardi as she’s number 12 with $29 million.

Nicki Minaj

The list is conducted of pre-tax income from June 2018 to June 2019, minus payments for managers, agents and lawyers. An artist has to bring in at least $18 million to even make the list. This is the highest this requirement has ever been. All 20 musicians on the list bring in $860 million total, which is a major boost from last year’s $648 million.

See the full list below.

20. Pitbull ($18 million)

19. Wiz Khalifa ($18.5 million)

18. Nas ($19 million)

17. Future ($19.5 million)

16. Birdman ($20 million)

15. Meek Mill ($21 million)

14. Swizz Beatz ($23 million)

13. Cardi B ($28 million)

12. Nicki Minaj ($29 million)

11. J. Cole ($31 million)

10. Childish Gambino ($35 million)

9. Migos ($36 million)

8. Kendrick Lamar ($38.5 million)

7. DJ Khaled ($40 million)

6. Eminem ($50 million)

5. Travis Scott ($58 million)

4. Diddy ($70 million)

3. Drake ($75 million)

2. Jay-Z ($81 million)

1. Kanye West ($150 million)

What do you think of the new list? Tell us in the comments!

Source: Forbes