Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter, stood and danced at the 2023 Grammys with a big smile on his face while the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop Tribute concert took place. Jay-Z, (53) is very familiar with all the artists that took stage, but to see them live again must have been incredible. They share roots together, they share the game together, and they have a passion for hip hop together.
What they don’t have together, however, is Jay-Z’s bank account. Yes, Shawn Carter is worth a lot of money, so much so, he is worth nearly double what all of those artists who performed are worth, put together. There were so many entertainers who took the stage, how can that be? Jay-Z is worth well over one billion, that’s how. Some of our favorite hip hoppers have blown through all or most of their money too; that or they didn’t make as much as we thought they did. Keep reading to find out more details on the top 8 moneymakers of the 25+ hip hop artists.
8 Kasseem Daoud Dean A.K.A. Swizz Beatz
Net worth 150,000,000. Swizz Beatz moved to Atlanta, Georgia, when he was 16; where he stayed with his uncles as a result of his series of physical aggression in school. It was a good move, though. His Uncles were the Co-CEOs of Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Darrin and Joaquin Dean. As a result of his connection to the music industry, Dean started making tracks at the age of 16. When Dean was 17 he sold his first beat to the label's artist, D.M.X.
7 James Todd Smith A.K.A. LL Cool J
Net worth 120,000,000. Ok, it’s LL, what more do you need to know? He is a singer, rapper, songwriter, music producer, and actor. James found out that ladies love cool jams when he signed with Def Jam Records at the age of 16. His debut hit, "I Need a Beat," which was distinguished by harsh, rapid, fluid rhymes and cleverly haughty wording, sold more than 100,000 copies. In 1985, the same year he had an appearance in Krush Groove, the film commemorating the founding of Def Jam, he released his debut album, Radio. After that, he outlasted the majority of his competitors by consistently coming up with creative, unique ways to express himself.
6 Run DMC Introduced “New-School” Rap
Net worth 100,000,000. Run DMC was originally made up of three members; Reverend Run A.K.A. Joseph Simmons who is worth 60,000,000. DMC A.K.A. Darryl McDaniels who is worth 40,000,000. And, Jam Master Jay [RIP] A.K.A. Jason Mizell. Jam Master Jay was murdered the day before Halloween in 2002; shot down in a recording studio.
Originally they formed in Queens, NY in 1982. Run DMC paved the way for a lot of future artists and a lot of them admit to that. Run DMC were the first as rappers go, with a gold album, to be on MTV, get an endorsement deal with Adidas, and let’s not forget the re-mix with Aerosmith. Run DMC changed the game and they were honored with an induction into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
5 Dana Elaine Owens A.K.A. Queen Latifah
Net worth 70,000,000. The OQ (original queen) interrupted the scene in the 1980's making waves and laying the first stones for female rappers to come. Queen Latifah was originally signed with Tommy Boy Records, but ended up signing with Motown after the release of her second album didn’t do as well as it was thought to. Tommy Boy’s loss, because the Queen’s third album is really what ‘Set it Off’ for her. She became an activist for women’s rights and spoke out about how and what women are referred to in the music industry.
Queen Latifah also got into acting. She debuted in Jungle Fever, got a role on the sitcom, Living Single, and of course, made the movie Set it Off in her down time. This only had more and more people knocking down her door. She went on to have a very successful career with many more movies, music, and even her own talk show. All hail the Queen.
4 Melissa Arnette Elliot A.K.A. Missy Misdemeanor A.K.A. Missy Elliot
Net Worth 50,000,000. Missy got a nod for the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame this year, after being an outstanding performer and entertainer 30+ years now. Missy was in a girl band for a second, but that didn’t work out. Instead she ended up working with a childhood friend; Timothy Mosely, most people know him as Timberland. They wrote music for Jodeci and Aaliyah [RIP] which led to the head of Elektra Records giving her a deal. Missy Elliot was then able to write, produce, and record music under her own record label, Gold Mind, with the safety net of Elektra as an umbrella company.
3 Antwan André Patton A.K.A. Big Boi A.K.A Andre3000
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Net Worth 35,000,000. Andre is one of two who made up Outkast. They were obscenely popular. Outkast's debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, was released in 1994. The duo's inventiveness and passion for memorable hooks were showcased by this critically acclaimed and extremely successful record. Their subsequent album, ATLiens (1996), sold 1.5 million copies and featured the smash song "Elevators (Me and You)".
More live instruments were used on Outkast's third album, the double-platinum Aquemini (1998), which also received a Grammy nomination for the song "Rosa Parks." The team's appearance, particularly the increasingly extravagant wardrobe of Dré (now known as André 3000), as well as their theatricality and chic music videos, became unmistakable as being part of the Outkast brand.
2 Trevor George Smith Jr A.K.A. Busta Rhymes A.K.A Busta Bust
Net Worth 20,000,000. Wooha! Wooha! Busta Bust is an amazingly talented and gifted rapper. He is famous for this type of skat-rap he does, at light speed no less. Busta attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where he was friends with The Notorious B.I.G.[RIP], DMX [RIP], and Jay-Z. Can you even imagine? Epic.
He formed the group Leaders of the New School, which eventually worked with A Tribe Called Quest on Scenario. After that Busta Rhymes started doing his own albums. He put out his first three albums within three years. 1996, The Coming. 1997, When Disaster Strikes. 1998, ELE (Extinction Level Event). Busta now has 9 albums out, he is an icon, plain and simple.
1 Clifford Smith Jr A.K.A. Method Man
Net Worth 14,000,000. Method Man is one of the GOAT’s of rapping. He actually appeared on Tupac’s album, All Eyez On Me. Method Man was part of the Wu-tang Clan. The Wu-tang had many members that also had solo careers. ODB [RIP], Redman, RZA, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface, and U-God to name a few. They were a busy bunch and put out quite a few records together.
Method Man and Redman did their own albums together and Meth did some solo. He is on soundtracks too. He really has his hand in just about everything, he’s a little businessman of sorts and strategic about what he does and who he works with.
