2015’s Wealthiest in HIP-HOP

Many were shocked to find out that Dr. Dre has not yet been granted admission into the exclusive Billionaire Boy’s Club. Aside from the upscale attire, none in hip-hop have yet dawned the highly exclusive title of becoming the first to have a billion dollar net-worth.

Diddy was able to take the forefront of this year’s wealthiest in hip-hop, by accruing an incredible net worth of over $732,000,000! Diddy has accomplished this by consistenly seeking out new and creative business ventures and managing them better than most top-level MBAs. His most profitable businesses have trancended music: Ciroc, Revolt, Sean John and Enyce are a few of the reasons Diddy has taken the number one spot. This goes beyond hustle. Today, Combs was open a store-front  in Macy’s; a place he once worked as a cashier. This level of achievement is a statement to anyone any where that is courageous enough to dream, despite your background, you too can become legendary. Remember, you get out what you put in. What are you investing your time into? If you invest into self-improvement and success, you can make significant progess in your life. Remove your excuses and you are left wih potential. Hey…What do I know? I am but a dreamer building upon aspiration…

What may or may not be even more surprising is the fact that Sean Combs was able to, once again, spring past last year’s list leader, Dr. Dre. Considering Dre had self-proclaimed himself the first billionaire, Last May. He, unfortunately, has not crossed that threshold. You may be wondering how this is possible, when the majority of people who has listened to music–in the last three years or so–has owned or currently has a pair of “Beats by Dre.” Dre did an incredible ob building and branding his audio empire, but the sale did not go quite as expected. The sale of Beats was initially set for 3.2 billion dollars, but it sold for 3 billion. Of the Beat’s sale, Dre was entitled to a 25% stake; this came to a roughly $750,000,000 pay-out, but after taxes, he was able to take home about $500,000,000. This is why his net worth is approximately $700,000,000. By far, the largest yearly gross for hip-hop. Not too shabby. The only concern I have for the West Coast mogul is: what is next? Besides the Beats empire, how else does he plan to close the gap on the Harlem renaissance man?  

Coming in third, for the second year is Brooklyn’s Finest, Mr. S DOT Carter. JayZ has had a challenging year, but he was still able to firmly secure a position in the top 3, and is on the was to leap-frogging anyone who becomes stagnant in the race to a first-place finish. Jay has recently been critcized for his ambitious attempt to expand his empire with the launch of TIDAL early in 2015. Dispite whatever set-backs, Mr. Carter was able to move past his last plateau of $520,000,000 to $550,000,000 in 2015, by strategically investing into high growth industries that are sure to make him a billionare, but will he be the first? At this level, there are no losers. To be a self-made mogul competing for excellence is a blessing, really. Not bad, Jigga man. Keep going.

Coming in fourth–with a networth of $170,000,000– is the King of Queens. Curtis Jackson, is the real wolf on Wall Street. He takes ambition to another level. Forget Sammy, he is the bull; when he said get rich or die trying…well…he meant it. With a variety of business ventures and an unothodox investment style, Curtis uses his 50 Laws of Power to win, again and again. 50 has been able to build wealth in ways others had not thought possible. His stock purchase and collaborations with famed author Robert Green were an indication that he means business. Brains and muscle, pause. Fifty’s list of companies is growing, year by year. He has now been able to expand from his historic deal with Vitamin Water to his SMS Audio and sports ventures, Effen Vodka, SK Energy and GUnit Records to include Frigo–an upscale brand of male undergarments. This is what I call entrepreneurship. Wait until I get my turn…  

With a net worth of over $150,000,000, the last on the list is none other than Mr. Cash Money himself, Mr. Bryan Baby Williams. Baby BKA the number one stunter has been able to make history by being the founder of one of the most successful record labels, Cash Money Records. Baby was able to leverage his genius into a fortune and turn nothing into something amazing. Despite his early success, Baby has recently come under fire, when several of his artists–Little Wayne, most recently–began to berrate him to the media and are suing him for a large amount of unpaid royalties. I grew up listening to a lot of Cash Money artists; I hope they can come to a peaceful solution. Nothing but love for the Cash Money Camp.