Forbes has released its annual hip-hop cash king list. Jay-Z tops the pile, as Forbes estimates that he grossed $63 million last year. Rounding out the top five are Dr.Dre ($17 million), Lil Wayne ($20 million), Akon ($21 million) and Diddy ($30 million).
According to Forbes, Jay-Z's income level places him in the 35% tax bracket, which means he'll pay Uncle Sam about $22 million this year--a sum greater than the total earnings of any other rap star besides second-ranked Diddy. "Jay-Z is in a league of his own right now," says Ryan Schinman, chief of Platinum Rye, the country's largest buyer of music and talent for corporations. "There are very few artists of any genre, not just hip-hop, who've created such brands for themselves."
By the way, if you're curious, Drake landed at number 11 and is the highest-earning newcomer on the list. He banked $9 million over the past 12 months, thanks to a new record deal, an advertising pact with Sprite and an agreement with Virgin America that plasters his likeness onto the sides of airplanes.
Not bad for a newcomer Drake, not bad at all
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