Hip Hop Cash Kings 2009 Forbes Ranks The Earners

Forbes magazine has released it's third annual ranking of Hip Hop's top earners. Shawn Carter aka Jay Z tops the list for the second time with an estimated $34 million in 2006, earning him the top spot on Forbes' first-ever list of hip-hop Cash Kings.

Unlike traditional music genres like pop, rock and country, whose artists generally make the bulk of their money selling albums and touring, hip-hop has spawned an impressive cadre of musicians-cum-entrepreneurs who have parlayed their fame into lucrative entertainment empires.

While endorsement deals with top-shelf brands used to be the exclusive domain of pop's biggest acts--Michael Jackson and Madonna, among them--hip-hop artists now routinely land such gigs.

Last year, the top 20 Hip-Hop Cash Kings made $500 million; this year they made $300 million, a 40% drop. 50 Cent's VitaminWater stake was responsible for one-fifth of the total take last year. Its absence accounts for half of hip-hop's year-over-year decline.

The Forbes Hip-Hop Cash Kings list includes male recording artists whose work is primarily classified as hip-hop or rap. Earnings estimates, which include income from record sales, digital downloads, touring, films, TV shows, endorsements, books and other entertainment ventures, are calculated between June 2008 and June 2009. Management, agent and attorney fees are not deducted.

This Years Hip Hop Cash Kings Are:

• 1. Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, $35 million
• 2. Sean "Diddy" Combs, $30 million
• 3. Kanye West, $25 million
• 4. Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, $20 million, tie
• 4. Aliaune "Akon" Thiam, $20 million, tie
• 6. Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter, $18 million
• 7. Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley, $17 million
• 8. Pharrell Williams, $16 million
• 9. Faheem "T-Pain" Najm, $15 million
• 10. Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, $14 million
• 11. Andre "Dr. Dre" Young, $13 million
• 12. Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus, $11 million
• 13. Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges, $10 million
• 14. Lonnie "Common" Lynn, Jr., $8 million, tie
• 14. William "will.i.am" Adams, $8 million, tie
• 14. Clifford "T.I." Harris, $8 million, tie
• 14. Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, $8 million, tie
• 18. Andre "Andre 3000" Benjamin, $7 million, tie
• 18. Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, $7 million, tie
• 20. Tramar "Flo Rida" Dillard, $6 million, tie
• 20. William "Rick Ross" Roberts, $6 million tie
• 20. Jayceon "The Game" Taylor, $6 million tie
• 20. Jay "Young Jeezy" Jenkins, $6 million, tie

 SOURCE: Forbes.com