Last years rank: The single spent seven nonconsecutive weeks at No. DaBaby $9.1 million18. The Copyright Royalty Board streaming formula produced an average publishing rate of 13.1% for on-demand audio streaming revenue; the blended per-play terrestrial radio rates, according to Massarsky Consulting, were applied, ranging from 82 cents to $4, depending on the genre and whether hit songs triggered bonus payment plans from the songwriters performing rights organization. 2 on the Billboard 200, and her biggest hit of the year was Lifes a Mess with Juice WRLD, which hit No. Where he really shone, though, was on terrestrial radio: Bieber was the top artist in the category with almost 2.4 million plays. He has definitely earned his place as one of the world's highest-paid rappers, with annual earnings of $21 million in 2020. Thats a distinguished and also contentious honor when it comes to ranking who or what is the ultimate best, whether youre talking films, TV shows, restaurants or any other subject. Publishing: $986K Royalties from recorded masters and publishing income made up the difference. The 10 Highest-Paid Musicians in the World (2022) Last years rank: Five No. As of March 2023, J. Cole's net worth is estimated to be $60 Million. Not surprisingly, they ranked much higher on the Global Money Makers list. Those concerts grossed $12.6 million, which yielded $4.3 million in take-home pay, and earned them the No. 1 overall streaming artist (as he was in 2019) with almost 8 billion streams when the on-demand video and web radio streams he amassed last year are included. Latifahs subsequent jump into Hollywood proved to be just as impressive, earning accolades for her television work (Living Single) and an Oscar nod (the 2002 musicalChicago), and making her oneof the first MCs with the star power to prove how deeply a rapper could become embedded in American pop culture, even outside of the world of hip-hop. Kendrick Lamar. and Snoop Dogg to Eminem, Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar. 14. 7 in overall sales royalties with $3.7 million. On-demand streaming royalties were calculated using blended audio and video rates of $0.0053 and $0.0038 per stream, respectively. Touring: $0. While 2020 proved to be a huge setback for most artists' revenue, a new Billboard article says a number of rappers are among the highest-paid musicians of the year. Forbes list of highest-earning musicians - Wikipedia Performance & security by Cloudflare. More than any rock bands fan base, the KISS Army is very late to the streaming party: Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and company generated just 217 million combined streams. 2 Money Maker thanks to a world tour, but without any live dates in 2020, her rank was achieved by strong streaming numbers largely due to her fourth-quarter release, positions. Sales: $4M Shot and killed in a highway Tripple Beanz. Lyrically, she pushed hip-hop beyond its boundaries regarding female empowerment, with a fearlessness that also imbued her innovative and still-influential music videos. and his solo-headlined studio albums The Chronic and 2001 cant be denied. Lil Baby $11.7 million11. Publishing: $194.5K Last years rank: No. 26. Last years rank: Aventura $10.2 million13. To this day, the album remains an undisputed classic, and he continued evolving and staying relevant, scoring No. Rock Quiz. Down to earth and humble, Cole possesses a passion that pulsates throughout his raps and beats. Despite his legal problems, YoungBoy Never Broke Again managed to collect bank thanks to streaming. He has topped the Billboard charts numerous times in over 20 countries. Sales: $160.6K Last years rank: This year, artists should be able to stack some cheddar now that music festivals and tours are opening back up from coast to coast. Last years rank: Her unapologetic tone shattered barriers for women in hip-hop, allowing them to be more sexually expressive and liberated. As a result, Metallica placed at No. As a lyrical purveyor of the violence that littered his Bronx neighborhood, KRS-One started his career in the late 80s on Boogie Down Productions classic Criminal Minded. Sign Up to track. Streaming: $3.9M The group notched three No. Forbes Magazine. Following Taylor Swift, who ranks No. Forbes: Highest Paid Rappers Of 2019 (Top 11-20) 5 in digital track sales (close to 1 million). Check out the count-down of the best rappers of 2023. It took a minute, but Common (then Common Sense) finally garnered national praise after launching one of the most celebrated three-album runs in rap history: 1994sResurrection, 1997sOne Day Itll All Make Sense and 2000sLike Water for Chocolate. Some McDonalds locations refuse to promote the celebrity meal. 4 in physical album sales after moving 517,000 copies of their recordings. Like other hip-hop artists, he lags in sales royalties, taking home $161,000. The Highest-Paid Entertainers 2022 - Forbes Touring: $0. Over a slew of genre-bending albums (Pink Friday, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, The Pinkprint) and killer guest verses (most famously on Kanye Wests Monster), Nicki has defended her title for over a decade, with incredibly animated flows and alter egos from the soft-spoken, pink-haired Harajuku Barbie to the volatile Roman Zolanski with the British cockney accent. But in fact, his limitations were what made the 25-year-old wunderkind one of the greatest MCs to touch Gods green earth: He knew of his shortcomings, but relied on his voice and motivational messaging to resonate and crack through the toughest gangstas. Sales: $215K 22 ($8.2 million), Roddy Ricch at No. Lonnie Rashid Lynn was seemingly carrying the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the entire Chicago rhyme community on his back with 1992sCan I Borrow a Dollar? Unlike most other R&B/hip-hop acts, The Weeknd also generated strong sales royalties. The former honors student dropped out of school at 14 to focus on his music career, five years after entering the mentorship of Cash Money Records co-founder Birdman. Sales: $152K A report from Billboard has revealed the highest-paid musicians and artists of 2020, and many of Hip-Hop's favorites are topping the list.. Amid a year with very little touring due to the pandemic, some of the biggest names in the music industry still managed to come out on top of Billboard's 2020 Money Makers list bringing in millions and millions of dollars. Sales: $635K Publishing: $1.3M The following royalty rates were used: The album and track sales rate is 22% of retail revenue. 3 in 2020 digital album sales (295,000 copies) and No. 6 with $14.2 million. The genre with the biggest gains is R&B/hip-hop, which is represented by 12 artists this year, up from three in 2019. 2020's Top 10 Highest Paid Musicians | Music Times From Billie Eilish To Taylor Swift: Highest Paid Singers Of 2021! 3 title on the year-end Billboard 200 albums chart. Here's their take on the top 20 biggest money makers of 2020, with a YoungBoy surprise at number 9. Singers Quiz. Streaming: $7.3M After a disappointing debut effort with 2001s Im Serious, T.I. 9 on the Hot 100. A remix of the albums lead single Im Not a Player, it flipped a Brenda Russell sample into a salsa-adjacent jam and cemented the Big Punisher as a commercial force. 8 in that category. His prolific output resulted in almost 3.7 billion U.S. audio streams, the 10th-largest in the category, and 4.7 billion combined streams, which netted him $6.8 million in royalties and secured him the No. Capital Punishment also topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and peaked at No. Touring: $0. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. His pair of classic 1998 albums, Its Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, along with the 1999 follow-up And Then There Was X, topped the charts through grim, unforgiving street tales, processing the pains of a traumatic childhood and seeking spirituality for solace. Publishing: $373K The act made another $1.33 million from the 785.6 million combined streams it amassed, which is typical for a group whose fans have been slow to adopt streaming. after his scene-stealing verse on their 1991 hit Same Song. Pacs duality as a solo artist was remarkable: One minute, he was endearing, scripting empathetic classics like Dear Mama and Keep Your Head Up; the other, he was explosive, lacing up his war boots, ready to ride on his enemies (Hit Em Up and Hail Mary). Iggy . He set a new benchmark for erasing musical boundaries and ignoring popular trends, influencing a host of generation-next talents like Pharrell Williams, Kanye West and Tyler, the Creator. And if you ask him, its also a testament to the power of hip-hop. Recorded-music totals are the sum of an artists sales, streaming and publishing earnings for 2020. Thanks to his penchant for making gripping music videos such as the one for Darkness, which dealt with the mass shooting at the 2017 Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas he racked up 887.3 million on-demand video streams, good enough for a fourth-place finish in that category and No. Sales: $970K Last years rank: No. Here are the highest-paid musicians and their estimated net worth, according to Forbes as of 2020: Kanye West - $241M Kanye Omari West is a rapper with a variety of musical genres and . 31, and then charted with his own single, South of the Border, featuring Camila Cabello and Cardi B, which hit No. Here Are the Highest Paid Rappers of 2020 - King Mag Sales: $591.7K Ludacris became Atlantas first crossover superstar of the 2000s, dominating theairwaves and the clubs with an arsenal of Dirty South anthems at his disposal, coupled with his uniquely charismatic twang. Post Malone $23.2 million3. 1. Works like BDPs By All Means Necessary and the KRS-formed Stop the Violence Movements star-studded 1989 single Self-Destruction are some of the most powerful moments that hip-hop has ever witnessed. Streaming: $5.5M Snoop Doggy Dogg. The first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Jay-Z believes everyone has genius-level talent. . With the first-week million-seller Tha Carter III and its smash hits A Milli and Lollipop in 2008 the latter of which was his first Hot 100 No. In 2015, she earned $154 million and was named Forbes' highest-earning . Publishing: $1.2M (Billboard counts her siblings share as part of the artists revenue base.) and 2Pac, show his romantic side on the smash Mary J. Blige collab All I Need and just have fun with Redman on the duos How High films and Blackout! Streaming: $3.74M Touring: $2.7M. Sales: $1.3M 25, $7.37M), and Kanye West (No. According to Billboard's report, published on Monday (July 19), rappers Post Malone, Drake, YoungBoy Never Broke AgainandLil Baby are among the publication'sTop Paid Musicians of 2020. Lyrics Quiz. Q-Tip, co-founder of the alternative hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, has been on point for over 30 years. In early 2023, Billboard/Vibe is ranking the Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time as part of our salute to this year's golden anniversary of hip-hop. Sales: $712,500 Rhymes about experiencing a mental health crisis? The first became his 10th consecutive Billboard 200 No. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many delayed their albums and did not get the chance to tour, but thanks in large part . Lamar first gained local attention as teen rapper K.Dot through various mixtapes before releasing his first studio album on indie label Top Dawg Entertainment, 2011s Section.80. Doubling as one of gangsta raps foundational platforms, the album featured the controversial anthems Fuck Tha Police and Gangsta Gangsta, and was certified triple-platinum despite minimal radio or MTV promotion. The prosecution argues Lil Boosie paid Michael "Marlo Mike" Louding $2,800 to kill a his rival Terry Boyd. Yet on the 1998 collaborative milestoneMos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, Bey proved to be so much more a revelation further amplified on the unmoored race mans gold-certified 1999 solo debutBlack on Both Sides. On Public Enemys 1987 Rebel Without a Pause, the seminal groups mighty orator backed by raps archetypal hype man in Flavor Flav made it clear that hip-hop would never be the same. Streaming: $5.7M For the first time, YoungBoy Never Broke Again scores a spot on the top Money Makers at No. (Whats My Name? Sales: $1.8M Revenue from merchandising, synchronization and sponsorship and livestream concerts is not included. Hailing from South Jamaica, Queens by way of Trinidad and Tobago, Nicki Minaj earned her crown as the modern-day Queen of Rap with her fierce, braggadocious spirit. YoungBoy Never Broke Again breaks into Money Makers for the first time, due almost entirely to the prodigious number of streams his music generated. NBA YoungBoy 3rd Highest Paid Rapper Of 2020 Behind Drake & Post Malone Jada checks off just about every box as a member of hip-hops hall of fame though a bona fide classic solo album from the Yonkers legend could have vaulted him inside this lists top 20. Publishing: $1.17M Touring: $0. And hearing him master the double-time flow on 1999s Slim Shady-featuring Forgot About Dre, from the six-times-platinum-certified masterpiece 2001, is still a shock to the system. Even the title of the original queen of raps 1988 seminal debut album, Lyte as a Rock, was metaphorically heavy. Alongside mentor Dr. Dre, the lanky Long Beach rapper introduced his ultra-cool demeanor and laid-back flow as the guest on the formers 1992 debut solo single Deep Cover. The Chronic, Dres multi-Platinum-certified G-Funk classic (influenced by Parliament-Funkadelics psychedelic sound) arrived later that same year, led by one of the pairs signature anthems, Nuthin But a G Thang. The project was the springboard that rocketed Snoop and G-Funk to the top of the Billboard 200 with his 1993 Death Row Records solo debut, Doggystyle. Billboard's Announces Highest Paid Musicians of 2020 He is that rare artist who still sells downloads, and ranked at No. Sheeran landed on the Hot 100 twice in February 2020. Rozays Hustlin dreams turned to gold when he rattled the cages of raps mainstream with his 2006 summer anthem and pledged his allegiance to Def Jam and its ex-president Jay-Z. Best Rappers of All Time - Billboard 30 ($6.3 million) and Travis Scott at No. With unapologetically controversial and macabre (yet frequently hilarious) bars and unparalleled rhyme schemes and syncopation, hes relished playing the role of raps supervillain. The video rate is higher than generally used because MRC Data counts official video streams and subscriber-paid streams but not user-generated streams for the United States. Taylor Swift. Chuck held everyones feet to the fire: crack dealers in the Black community (Night of the Living Baseheads); purveyors of systemic racism (Fight the Power); a ravenous press (Welcome to the Terror) and greedy corporations (Shut Em Down). His fourth studio album had the makings of a bonafide classic with incredible singles (How Do You Want it, California Love, & I Aint Mad at Cha) and superior production and it reigned for eight weeks at No. The 20 Best Rap Songs of 2020: Critics' Picks - Billboard 19,008 votes. Touring: $8.8M. He showcased his genuine connection to fans by rapping over a YouTube producers J. Cheryl James is an American songwriter and rapper who is best known for being a member of the rap trio Salt-H-Pepa which also includes Sandra Denton and Spinderella. But with his peerless technical skills, larger-than-life personality and turn-of-the-century run of classic albums, Slim Shady has rightfully earned his spot in the upper echelon of GOAT rappers lists. He earned $23.2 million, of which $12.4 million is from touring prior to the pandemic shutdown. 24 ($7.4 million), Rod Wave at No. The World's Richest Rappers in 2020 - Slice Streaming: $6M Im not a player, I just crush a lot, Big Pun declared on the 1998 smash hit Still Not a Player from his debut album Capital Punishment. 1. 1 and No. 24, $7.4M), Rod Wave (No. The shows grossed close to $25.8 million, giving the band almost $8.8 million in take-home pay. Touring: $0. 40 Richest Rappers of All Time. When his metal band Body Counts incendiary Cop Killer (1992) nearly derailed his career, Ice also helpedopen a new lane for hip-hop: acting (New Jack City, Law & Order: SVU). (As in past rankings, DJs are included on Money Makers because they rarely report their live earnings, which constitute most of their income. Touring: $0. 6 with $14.2 million with most of his revenue coming from streaming ($11.7 million) and publishing ($1.9 million). As of March 2023, Cheryl James net worth is approximately 14 million. And he did all of it as one of the Souths first real rap stars, showcasing lyrical complexity and emotional depth in a region that was once wholly dismissed while also making classic cuts with legends from both coasts, like Jay-Z, Nas and 2Pac. Sandra Denton. Sales: $485K 1 album since 1982. Drake & Others Listed As Highest Paid Rappers Of 2020 - Thirsty for News Revenue from featured artist appearances is credited to the main artists but other recording collaborations usually denoted as a duet with, + or & or X are generally split evenly by the artists. The trap pioneersworkaholic mindset led to his flooding the streets with north of 70 mixtapes, and his hunger for greatness has yet to wane as he enters his 40s. As the legendary rap duo UGK, Bun B and the late Pimp C kept the spotlight on Texas while taking the baton from the Scarface-led triad Geto Boys. Who you calling a bch? Like Roddy Ricchs, Waves video streams were particularly robust 793.5 million, the fifth-highest in the category. 3 (although its deluxe status means that it wont be counted as a separate entry on Billboards charts.) He also performed unusually well, for a country artist, in streaming, generating 595.7 million plays on web radio, which lifted his combined streams to 1.6 billion and revenue of $2.1 million. They made the cut because the band owns about half of its catalog the rest belongs to the late Allen B. Kleins label, ABKCO Music & Records and collects 60% of its streaming royalties and 40% of the royalties it receives for physical sales. Last years rank: Andr emerged as the star of the group for his singular flair; sadly, the duo went their separate ways with fans still yearning for a solo album from him. The Staten Island lyricist draws from a Technicolor palette of inimitable slang, colorful character profiles, luxurious wares and slippery flows to craft vibrant, imaginative stories. 1 Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2ad8190c8c380f LLs list of achievements includes being the first rapper to be awarded the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor. Streaming: $823.4K You Got Me, the Erykah Badi-featuring crossover duet from the Roots platinum-selling album Things Fall Apart, remains a shining moment thanks to his rich baritone and riveting storytelling. Other rappers gracing the list include Eminem at No. 38 Touring: $0. Under his now-retired moniker Mos Def, Brooklyn native Bey broke into the underground scene on Rawkus Records influential 1997 compilationSoundbombingwith a charismatic presence that recalled the early 80s chief rocker days of Busy Bee Starski. At 19 years old, Billie Eilish is indestructible. To the Moral Majority, the Godfather of gangsta rap who set the table for West Coast MCs ranging from N.W.A and Snoop Dogg to The Game and the late Nipsey Hussle was a walking Parental Advisory sticker. Touring: $0. Last Played. Touring: $2.5M. Even with those shiny accomplishments, its Nasir Jones longevity and adaptability that make him a one-of-a-kind specimen. And in a notable accomplishment for a rock band, Queen generated 1.2 billion on-demand audio streams in 2020, a feat that other legacy acts on this list including Pink Floyd, the Eagles, Metallica and AC/DC have yet to do. Even if Hill never drops a proper sophomore album, she remains a peerless talent who can still outrap anyone as proven by her memorable verse on Nas KD2 gem Nobody in 2021. 17, $9.1M), Future (No. Ghost continued the winning streak well into the 21st century, firstwith his 2000 sophomore opus Supreme Clientele and on through 2006s brilliant Fishscale and 2013s comic book on wax, Twelve Reasons to Die. Streaming: $11.7M Streaming: $6.8M 3-peaking Hot 100 hit I Feel for You a pivotal early crossover moment between the hip-hop and R&B worlds. His two . And no conversation about that can be had without mentioning The Neptunes, Clipse and the latter duos enduring breakout star Pusha T. After reaching legendary status in the 00s alongside older brother Gene aka No Malice, Pusha later began grinding out a solo career, signing with G.O.O.D. Surprise, Surprise Jay-Z Was The Highest-Paid Rapper Of 2021 The Dominican American bachata group, fronted by Romeo Santos, played 15 pre-pandemic U.S. shows in 2020 its first tour since breaking up in 2011. Billboard Quiz. He remains the overall most-streamed act with almost 8 billion streams, accounting for $11.7 million, only second to Taylor Swift in streaming royalties. Touring: $129K. Hes the artistic, esoteric and philosophical rapper who juxtaposed the streetwise and humble delivery of the groups late Phife Dawg. His most potent project came when he released his double-disc album All Eyez On Me the next year. Those shows gaveTool almost $4.2 million in take-home pay, the eighth-highest live earnings for the year and the bulk of the acts income. Meths total package of street-savvy raps and heartthrob sex appeal made him a dominant force in the 90s and 2000s: he could carry his weight with his Wu brothers, spit muscular rhymes alongside Notorious B.I.G. Highest Paid Artists Of 2020: Post Malone, Drake, Lil Baby, NBA Other Hip Hop figures include Future at 22 with $8.2 million Roddy Ricch at 24 with $7.4 million, Rod Wave at 25 with $7.4 million, and Kanye West at 30 at $6.6 million. In a typical touring year, The Lumineers would probably not have made the Money Makers top 40. And that was only the tip of the iceberg: After releasing 2022s I Never Liked You, featuring current Grammy nominee and No. His performance made him the sixth-place finisher in the streaming royalties category, with a $7.6 million payday a big difference from the $89,300 he made in sales royalties, the sixth-lowest total on this list. Last years rank: No. (Only living acts were included on this list.) Touring: $91.5K. Hip-hop artists remain musics top money makers. Name a subject covered by your favorite rapper, and Scarface probably addressed it first. Touring: $253K. History is also on his side: Hov has 14 Billboard 200 No. Scott moved up four places in the rankings in 2020, even though his take-home pay in 2019 was $15.5 million. After a return-to-form with 2009sThe Ecstatic, the reinvigorated MC-turned-actor (Brown Sugar, Dexter) changed his name to Bey in 2011. The Top 10 Richest Female Rappers of 2023. 1 twice on the Billboard 200, while all six of the groups albums were certified either gold or platinum. After collaborating on projects by Aaliyah and others, the pair focused their attention on Elliotts solo career, beginning with her arresting 1997 debut, Supa Dupa Fly. Streaming: $2.97M source: instagram. Sales: $119K With a ravenous rhyme style and the powerful recurring useof dogs as a lyrical motif, DMX had the most commanding presence rap has ever seen. 1 with $23.8 million, Post Malone moves up to No. Like AC/DC and Queen, Metallica owns its masters, which means the bands royalties are calculated at a rate of 78% (from which 4% goes to the producers of its albums). Last years rank: No. Some of her biggest hits include "California Gurls," "Roar," "Firework," "I Kissed a Girl," "Teenage Dream," and "Wide Awake.". 8. Publishing: $5.7M Another strong year in streams, fueled by the rappers first Billboard 200 No. Changes, Biebers first album in more than four years, became his seventh Billboard 200 No. Touring: $0. Streaming: $4.7M Wielding words like swords, Wayne is one of the most masterful lyricists of our time, delivering mind-boggling verses for the last quarter century.