Forbes has shared its annual list of the highest-paid hip-hop acts for 2019. Topping this year’s list for the first time in his career is Kanye West with a pretax income of $150 million USD, hugely thanks to YEEZY’s expected $1.5 billion USD sales grab. He jumps from last year’s No. 10 spot to outrank JAY-Z, 2018’s top earner, who steps down to No. 2 with $81 million USD.
Coming at No. 3 is Drake, moving up one spot with $75 million USD. He’s followed by Diddy who falls from last year’s No. 2 to No. 4 with $70 million USD, succeeded by Travis Scott at No. 5 whose $58 million USD kicks him up from 2018’s No. 15 spot. Eminem also climbs an impressive seven spots to No. 6 with $50 million USD, just above DJ Khaled’s $40 million USD and Kendrick Lamar’s $38.5 million USD. Rounding out this year’s top 10 are trap trio Migos with $36 million USD at No. 9 and Childish Gambino at No. 10 with $35 million USD.
Take a look at the full list below.
Forbes Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Acts of 2019
1. Kanye West ($150 million)
2. Jay-Z ($81 million)
3. Drake ($75 million)
4. Diddy ($70 million)
5. Travis Scott ($58 million)
6. Eminem ($50 million)
7. DJ Khaled ($40 million)
8. Kendrick Lamar ($38.5 million)
9. Migos ($36 million)
10. Childish Gambino ($35 million)
11. J. Cole ($31 million)
12. Nicki Minaj ($29 million)
13. Cardi B ($28 million)
14. Swizz Beatz ($23 million)
15. Meek Mill ($21 million)
16. Birdman ($20 million)
17. Future ($19.5 million)
18. Nas ($19 million)
19. Wiz Khalifa ($18.5 million)
20. Pitbull ($18 million)