Hip-Hop music and celebrity rappers are as normal to the youth of today as Rock-N-Roll was to their parent’s generation. Hip Hop was the evolution of dance that allowed youth coming into adulthood to express and define themselves.
Rap is the verbal expression of what is important at this pivotal point in their history. We people look to our creative artists to express our message in a way that is clearly understood while holding us, blameless for the purchase or singing of the lyrics.
Rappers today rap more about money than ever before. In the beginning, rap music touched on a lot of topics. The topics were about the struggles of the people usually in the area that the writer lived in. In some ways, it was code. If you had never experienced a neighbourhood, you may not “get it”, but soon things changed because talent came to the area to get into rap.
2017 Changes In The Air
Around 2017, rap started changing into what rappers wanted to have, and not what they just expected. This is when the music started to change. That’s when rappers started talking about money, big money, success, sex, and all the same things other people felt they had a right to dream of.
So Who Are The World’s Richest Rappers?
Kanye West, Net worth: $1.3 billion – According to Forbes, West is the richest rapper in the world. A good portion of his money comes from his fashion business but his sales from music also add to his net worth.
Jay-Z, Net worth: $1 billion – Well, Jay-Z will have added a bit of coin to his net worth with his recent sale. He has a great business mind and his raps are always premium, so he will not be dropping down this list anytime soon. We are all rooting for him.
Sean Combs, Net worth: $885 million – Sean aka P. Diddy has a total net worth of $885 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. Once he was the richest rapper in the world, but he is also paid from other ventures he is involved with such as his clothing line and stakes in companies such as Cîroc Vodka, Revolt TV and Aquahydrate.
Dr. Dre, Net worth: $820 million – We know his millions mostly come from Beats Electronics which he co-founded and sold rights to Apple. We say, “Good on you!”, but he started as a rapper and producer, so he is a rapper and he belongs on this list.
Eminem, Net worth: $230 million – Eminem has a net worth of about $230 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His earnings come from his albums and his record label Shady Records.
Master P, Net worth: $200 million – Master P has a business empire and has a hand in a lot of things, but it all started with him putting about $10,000 into his record label and he did really well with the music end of his empire.
Pharrell Williams, Net worth: $200 million – The ‘Happy’ singer and producer Pharrell Williams has a lot to be, well, happy about. From launching multimedia creative collective I Am Other as an umbrella for his ventures. His clothing line is taking off and going well too. It seems like everything he touches turns to gold that makes a lot of people happy.
Drake, Net worth: $180 million – The rapper and actor from ‘The Six’ has a net worth of $180 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Our Grammy award-winning Canadian treasure has several endorsement deals on top of his whole music thing. He is also doing well as a producer and expanding his talents in other areas of the industry. But, His first love has always been music.
Ice Cube, Net worth: $160 million – In addition to busting out memorable raps like ‘Check Yo Self’, Ice Cube generates income from acting, writing screenplays, a clothing line, and co-created 3-on-3 basketball league Big3. His estimated net worth is $160 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This multi-talented star seems to be a genius at everything he does. Rapping serves him well.
Snoop Dogg, Net worth: $150 million – As a celebrity who is pro-cannabis, Snoop Dogg’s estimated net worth of $150 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, is made up of some parts music and other parts movie and TV gigs and business parts that include a line of legal marijuana products.
Rappers knew impulsively they would find the trail to money with their creativity and talent of leading the nations with music. People always want money. People will listen to the song about hitting it big on the lotto every time, Money, fame, and money. If you produce it, people will follow.
Words by Ana Maria De La Cruz
