The rap mogul, who reverted back to his original “Puff Daddy” moniker ahead of his forthcoming album, earned $60 million over the past year, according to Forbes, securing his spot as this year’s hip-hop cash king. Cheers to Drake, because according to The Los Angeles Times his $39.5 million is the only one in the top three substantially made up of music sales.
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Rapper and Tidal owner Jay Z came in a close second with an estimated earning of $56 million. During the outlet’s scoring period, he performed 50 shows, averaging $1 million nightly.
“That’s pretty much my objective every year”, Drake once said of making the FORBES list.
Forbes estimated that he came fourth in 2014-15 with $33 million in earnings.
For more about the business of music, check out my Jay Z biography, Empire State of Mind, and my other book, Michael Jackson, Inc. “Other than making good music”.
King Combs: Whether you call him Diddy or Puff Daddy, he’s hip-hop’s top earner of 2015.
Dr. Dre last month released “Compton“, which he has described as his final album, to accompany the blockbuster film “Straight Outta Compton” about his former band N.W.A.
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Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, Nicki Minaj is the only woman to crack the list (let alone the Top 10), coming in at #9 with $19 million from touring, and endorsements from Pepsi, OPI nail products, and Myx Moscato. “Throughout the late ’80s and ’90s, nearly all of Dre’s tracks (particularly his work on his solo debut, 1992’s The Chronic) featured a stabilizing heavy bass line with the iconic sound of his famous synth over it. Dre’s use of samples (both recorded and re-created live) also helped to bring the sound of everyday hip hop from that classic ’80s hip hop sound to what we hear today”.
