He led Run-DMC to historic heights, as they became the first hip-hop group to flex B-Boy minimalism to the masses(Sucker MCs), go gold (1984s King of Rock), appear on MTV, reach multiplatinum status (with 1986s landmarkRaising Hell, punctuated by the boundary-breaking Aerosmith collab Walk This Way), headline arena tours and ink a major endorsement deal (Adidas). In 2015, she earned $154 million and was named Forbes' highest-earning . For measurement, the magazine used pretax earningsbefore deducting fees for agents, managers or lawyers. Im drivin Caddy, you fixin a Ford, Joseph Simmons boasted on Run-DMCs 1984 breakthrough Rock Box. While DMC was the majestic voice and the late DJ Jam Master Jay the heartbeat of the epochal 80s rap trio, Run was the undisputed star. Streaming: $3.2M Based in Philadelphia, he gained recognition after releasing his debut single, "Money .more. In 2022, he relaunched the Rock the Bells Festival in Queens, which included performances from Rick Ross, The Diplomats, Ice Cube and more. Sign Up to track. As the No. Check the list below: 1. Outside of the top 10, The Weeknd ranks at No. 8. . 8 in that category. After signing with Dr. Dres Interscope imprint Aftermath Entertainment a year later, Lamar hit the ground running with second studio album good kid, m.A.A.d City becoming an instant creative and cultural force. Hip Hop's highest earners of 2021 have been announced, and it appears the global COVID-19 pandemic . (The genre dates back to 1973, when DJ Kool Herc first set up his two turntables to rock a Bronx party.) 9 spot in that category. Pandemic-induced isolation led to Bad Bunnys most successful year yet, yielding three albums, including the best-selling Latin album in the United States and Spotifys most globally streamed album of 2020, YHLQMDLG. Last years rank: No. The band also remains strong in physical album sales: It sold 412,000 copies last year, 272,000 of them on vinyl. No matter the moniker, theres no denying Calvin Broadus Jr.s estimable impact as one of the founding fathers of West Coast and gangsta rap. After collaborating on projects by Aaliyah and others, the pair focused their attention on Elliotts solo career, beginning with her arresting 1997 debut, Supa Dupa Fly. Yet like Colors, Ices masterful 1988 first-person account of the Crips and Bloods gang violence that gripped Los Angeles, street manifestos like Rhyme Pays(1987), Power(1988) andThe Iceberg/Freedom of Speech Just Watch What You Say! 1 album, My Turn, which landed 12 songs simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 2020, vaulted him to No. Raised in Fayetteville, N.C., hes Southern to the core but also reps Queens asa St. Johns graduate. 1 on Billboards 2020 Money Makers list is one of the few unsurprising results of a ranking that holds many surprises. Guwop initially emerged alongside one-time adversary Jeezy with their 2005 collaboration So Icy, before things went south between them. The rollout began with the Jan. 11 reveal of the rappers ranked 50-41. But with his peerless technical skills, larger-than-life personality and turn-of-the-century run of classic albums, Slim Shady has rightfully earned his spot in the upper echelon of GOAT rappers lists. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. After calculating this revenue and deducting a producers fee and the musicians union cut, acts were credited with a 41% split from the SoundExchange payouts from services like Music Choice and SiriusXM. 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. 31, and then charted with his own single, South of the Border, featuring Camila Cabello and Cardi B, which hit No. #4 of 97. From there, Pusha became a fashion icon and served as president of Wests label, while continuing to release well-received solo albums full of vivid descriptions of his drug hustling and emotional struggles. The list includes Drake, Nicki Minaj, Eminem, JAY-Z, and more. Collection download grand theft auto v m World Tour (only two of which were reported to Boxscore), she still made a bundle in streaming and publishing income. Lil Waynes cultural, sonic and lyrical influence will forever be embedded into the fabric of hip-hop, by way of his talent as both an artist and as an A&R. The multi-talented artist may write, rap, produce, act and more but his wealth comes mainly from his clothing line and stakes in companies like Croc Vodka, Revolt TV and Aquahydrate. He can turn the mundane into something sweet (Foldin Clothes) or act out in rebellion (Fire Squad). 6 in April. Touring: $0. According to Billboard 's report, published on Monday (July 19), rappers Post Malone, Drake, YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Lil Baby are among the publication's Top Paid Musicians of 2020. 14 ($9.7 million), DaBaby at No. Jadakiss signature laugh and ah-hasqueal have signaled for decades that a lyrical masterclass was on the way. The majority of Sheeren's earnings this year were from touring. 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. 9 with $11.9 million. Last years rank: No. Streaming: $3.7M The Copyright Royalty Board streaming formula produced an average publishing rate of 13.1% for on-demand audio streaming revenue; the blended per-play terrestrial radio rates, according to Massarsky Consulting, were applied, ranging from 82 cents to $4, depending on the genre and whether hit songs triggered bonus payment plans from the songwriters performing rights organization. Touring: $0. Touring: $0. Last years rank: Pink Floyd $8.8 million. 11 junio, 2020. Once a tag-along member in Digital Underground, Pacs larger-than-life demeanor became too big to shelter. Scott moved up four places in the rankings in 2020, even though his take-home pay in 2019 was $15.5 million. Shawn Carter leads the rap pack with a career-best total of $470 million. In 1991, Large Professor tossed him an alley-oop on Main Sources posse cut Live at the Barbeque, and Escobar delivered a rim-rocker of a performance. Streaming: $1.7M 24, $7.4M), Rod Wave (No. He ranked at No. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. The Wu-Tang Clan member possesses it all: unmistakable voice, impenetrable flow, witty rhymes, dark sense of humor, charm and good looks that also translated into Hollywood success. 35 As of March 2023, Pitbull is the 15th richest rapper in the world, with a net worth of $100 million. Ed Sheeran is among the highest-paid rappers globally, with an estimated net worth of $200 million. Sales: $3.7M Additionally, he earned $126,000 in sales and $129,000 in touring before the pandemic. His sold-out show at the Pepsi Center in Denver on March 12, 2020, was one of the last concerts to take place before the live industry went dark, and the $12.4 million he took home from that show and 19 prior dates qualified him for second place and a spot on the Billboards Global Money Makers list. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Unfortunately, the same demons that bore his provocative art led to his unfortunate demise: he died of a cocaine-induced heart attack in 2021. Lonnie Rashid Lynn was seemingly carrying the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the entire Chicago rhyme community on his back with 1992sCan I Borrow a Dollar? Known for his versatility, Ed Sheeren's cross-genre success has brought him to the top. In 2020, Forbes reported that the English singer-songwriter received $64 million from his singing activities. Sales: $4M Streaming: $4.96M Despite his legal problems, YoungBoy Never Broke Again managed to collect bank thanks to streaming. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 17, $9.1M), Future (No. Touring: $17M. 8 in digital album downloads with 114,000 copies. Touring: $0. Top Rap Artists Ranking is based on an artist's chart performance on the Hot Rap Songs, Top Rap Albums and Boxscore touring revenue. However, after the murder of the groups DJ Scott La Rock, he shifted to socially conscious rap aimed at empowering Black people and resolving the ills plaguing inner-city communities. Like other hip-hop artists, he lags in sales royalties, taking home $161,000. He earned $2 million in publishing and $712,500 in sales. Touring: $91.5K. Aventura $10.2 million13. NBA YoungBoy is the third highest paid rapper in 2020 behind Drake and Post Malone who was the highest earner. Touring: $0. Touring: $2.5M. Aventura makes its debut on the Money Makers list, totally on the strength of its box office. Like George Straits, Sheltons more than 1.6 billion combined streams were strong for a country artist, but his 749,000 track sales were also healthy and just shy of the top 10 for the format. Em also certifiably spits a mile a minute, breaking Guinness World Records like fastest rap in a hit single with Godzilla, where he rapped 225 words in a 30-second segment. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2ad8190c8c380f Touring: $4.2M. Eve - $10 Million. 9 with $11.9 million. The murder trial of rapper Lil Boosie has taken several twists and to commit the killing - Michael "Marlo Mike" Louding - had admitted . 22 ($8.2 million), Roddy Ricch at No. Touring: $0. 17 #1 of 29. In a year with little touring, hip-hop/R&B acts dominated . Last years rank: Last years rank: No. Blow may not possess his descendants complex rhyme skills, but he was a star in his own right thanks to a magnetic voice and charismatic stage presence. Last years rank: The group notched three No. Sales: $152K Eagles $16.3 million5. Bolstered by two mammoth deals with luxury giant LVMH and Jack Dorsey's Square, Jay-Z has lapped the competition to become the highest-paid rapper of 2021; and as per Rolling Stone, the 2nd highest-paid musician behind Bruce Springsteen and his US$590 million / AU$811.9 million music catalogue sale.. Hip-hop's first billionaire managed to rake in a grand total of US$470 million / AU$646.75 . Sales: $446.8K Despite breaking several Billboard records in 2019, when the group also made its albums available to digital platforms, fans seem to be adapting slowly to streaming: Tool logged just 604 million combined streams for the year. Last years rank: He earned an additional $2.2 million from publishing and $253,000 from two concerts. Publishing: $1.1M Ludacris became Atlantas first crossover superstar of the 2000s, dominating theairwaves and the clubs with an arsenal of Dirty South anthems at his disposal, coupled with his uniquely charismatic twang. At this point, hip-hop purists know Nas path to greatness all too well. Sales: $2.1M Here are the highest-paid musicians and their estimated net worth, according to Forbes as of 2020: Kanye West - $241M Kanye Omari West is a rapper with a variety of musical genres and . Publishing: $2.4M Sales: $310K Those wins contributed to his Money Makers debut as a solo act. Kodak Black Pays Tribute to XXXTentaction: 'We Lost a Legend', Big Sean and EST Gee Drop 'Anthem' for 'Creed III' Soundtrack, Cardi B and Offset's McDonald's Meal Receives Pushback From Restaurant Owners, Chris Brown Throws Fan's Phone During Lap Dance, Billboard Names Top 10 Greatest Rappers of All Time, Stream the 'Creed III' Soundtrack Featuring J. Cole, Big Sean, and Kehlani. That year also marked his major foray into film with the Black Panther the Album. 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). 6 with $14.2 million with most of his revenue coming from streaming ($11.7 million) and publishing ($1.9 million). Christopher The Notorious B.I.G. Wallace is the ultimate rap phenomenon. Last years rank: Read through our list of the highest-paid musicians to see just how rich the most successful performers can be! Like many hip-hop artists, his sales royalties were minimal. After serving a two-year prison sentence in 2016 for firearm possession by a convicted felon, a rejuvenated Guwopsubsequently went on a mainstream run like he was a new artist. Touring: $4.3M. The other two were Las Que No Iban a Salir and his first Billboard 200 No. Publishing: $194.5K Sales royalties, digital and physical, were also up 39%, from $42 million to $59 million; a trend that continues so far this year. It's impossible to overstate the influence of rap on popular culture. But through only two studio albums that still resonate nearly 30 years later, Wallace proved that a charismatic big man could mix lyrical street rhymes with heart and humor and permeate the mainstream with style. But few rappers, if any, have repped the Bay longer or stronger than E-40. Streaming: $4.7M Trump Didn't Sing All The Words To The National Anthem At National Championship Game. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. 22 The art-metal outfit released Fear Inoculum, its first album in 13 years, in late-summer 2019 and played nine 2020 dates behind it before canceling the rest of the tour. "Things got bigger and betterGod is great," says DJ Khaled, who ranks No. Shes undeniably blazed the trail for the next generation of female MCs, while at the same time, building a legacy whose impact is hardly limited to the hip-hop world: Nicki is one of only a dozen artists to have more than 100 Billboard Hot 100 entries, and earned the MTV Video Vanguard Award in 2022 for her provocative music videos. 1 at the end of that year and kept on selling and streaming through 2020, as well as delivering two 2020 Hot 100 hits, Watermelon Sugar, which topped the chart in August, and Adore You, which hit No. And in a notable accomplishment for a rock band, Queen generated 1.2 billion on-demand audio streams in 2020, a feat that other legacy acts on this list including Pink Floyd, the Eagles, Metallica and AC/DC have yet to do.