Jay-Z tops Forbes Hip Hop "Cash Kings" list

This week Jay-Z and Kanye West released their long-awaited collaborative project, Watch the Throne. According to Forbes, the album’s timing and title couldn’t have been more appropriate as Mr. Sean Carter is hip-hop’s top earner with $37 million in the past 12 months, claiming his fourth Cash Kings crown in five years, whereas his partner-in-rhyme claims rank number three with $16 million. Sean “Diddy” Combs made it to the second spot with $35 million.

YMCMB companions Lil Wayne and Birdman rang in at fourth and fifth place respectively by tying the same numbers in earning $14 million each. Rounding out the top ten is Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Akon and rapper/actor Ludacris.

This year’s list also features plenty of newcomers. Wiz Khalifa celebrates his debut on this prestigious list at eleventh spot, earning $11 million dollars due to his heavy tour schedule increasing his visibility and album sales. Young Money is represented well in the top 20 as Drake tied Wiz with $11 million in earnings in claiming the twelfth spot. Rounding out the rest of the list are Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, 50 Cent, Pitbull, T-Pain and B.o.B.

Here is how Forbes as calculated the ranking:

Touring was one of the many revenue streams we looked at to come up with the Cash Kings list, which charts pretax earnings for all living artists whose work is primarily classified as hip-hop or rap. The estimates also include income from record sales, digital downloads, films, merchandise sales, endorsements, books and other ventures; management, agent and attorney fees are not deducted. Earnings are calculated for the period from May 2010 to May 2011 and based on data from Pollstar, Nielsen SoundScan, the RIAA and individual record labels, as well as interviews with numerous lawyers, media buyers, managers and many of the artists themselves.

1. Jay-Z – $37 Million
2. Diddy – $35 Million
3. Kanye West – $16 Million
4. Lil Wayne and Birdman – $15 Million
6. Eminem, Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre – $14 Million
9. Akon – $13 Million
10. Ludacris – $12 Million
11. Wiz Khalifa & Drake – $11 Million
13. Pharrrell – $10 Million
14. Timbaland – $7 Million
15. Swizz Beatz & Nicki Minaj – $6.5 Million
17. Rick Ross, Pitbull & 50 Cent – $6 Million
20. T-Pain & B.o.B – $5 Million