Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) and Diddy (Sean Combs) lead list of Wealthiest Hip-Hop Artists

Hip hop mogul Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) and wife, Beyoncé Knowles were named the highest earning Hollywood couple last year, but this year Carter, who hails from Brooklyn, New York, is filling the number two spot on Forbes' 2011 Five Wealthiest Hip-Hop Artists" list, the New York based magazine reported.



The "Empire State of Mind" versifier, and part owner of the New Jersey Nets, has a net worth of $450 million and has made the Cash King list three years running. He's running a close second place to Forbes' top billet moneymaker, Sean "Diddy" Combs' a native New Yorker from the "Boogie Down Bronx," with a net worth reported at $475 million -nearly half a billion dollars.

Combs financial interests in joint venture, Ciroc - a new brand of Vodka-record label "Bad Boy," and his Sean John clothing line have no doubt helped launch him to such ranking.

Carter and Combs, both New Jersey residents of Alpine, christened the grand opening of the Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on New Year's Eve along with hundreds of other A-listers, Haute Living.Com reported.

On Forbes' 2010 richest performers list, Carter led with a net worth of $63 million, while Combs made a cool $30 million. Aliuane "Akon" Thiam followed Combs with $21 million and Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter came in at number four with $20 million.


The list's third-place runner-up, former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records, Dr. Dre whose real name is Andre Young. The producer and former rapper, from Los Angeles, is the married father of five, two with wife Nicole Threatt (former wife of retired NBA star Sedale Threatt). His net worth is placed at $125 million. Young is credited for launching the careers of Michel'le, the mother of one of his sons, rappers 50 cent, Snoop Dogg and Eminem.


According to Young's Wikipedia page, in 2001, he earned a approximately $52 million from a buyout of his share in record label Aftermath Entertainment to Interscope Records in addition to producing hits songs by several artists, including Mary J. Blige's Family Affair." That same year, Rolling Stone magazine named Young the second highest-paid artist of the year.



Forbes says the artists rankings are calculated based upon their current account holdings, past earnings and financial documentation. Magazine editors, responding to Russell Simmons fans wondering why the media and fashion mogul did not top their list say they limited their list to performers only. Simmons, a resident of Saddle River, is the co-founder of pioneering hip-hop record label Def Jam and creator of the popular fashion line, Phat Farm. He is noted as the third richest figure in hip-hop, with a net-worth estimated at $340 million.

reported by BY ALICIA CRUZ


NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Cash Money Records Recruits Dallas, TX Artist- Big Chief

Las Vegas, NV , February 16, 2011-- Cash Money Records CEO, Bryan "Birdman" Williams recruits local Dallas , TX artist Big Chief during a live radio broadcast.

Cash Money Records CEO Bryan "Birdman" Williams announced during a visit to Dallas , TX radio station K104 FM Cash Money's search for the hottest hip hop artist in the city.

K104 FM air personality and A&R "Bay-Bay" introduced "Birdman" to Eat Greedy Music's "Big Chief," Dallas' largest, most highly anticipated up and coming artist. Shortly after the meeting Cash Money CEO Williams announced publicly his label's plans to sign Big Chief as the newest member of Cash Money. Cash Money and Big Chief teams are working out contract details; both sides expect Big Chief to join Cash Money Records in the very near future.


Big Chief: Wildly recognized in the Texas music community for the substance of his real world lyrics, story telling ability and catchy hooks. Chief, commonly known as an artist who controls his own success with the conception of the "Eat Greedy Movement" began to record and press numerous albums creating a catalogue of street classics themed the Eat Greedy Volumes. Through Chief's persistence, consistency and talent, he created his own market of loyal listeners, earning significant admiration and respect within the south's music community.

Today, Big Chief's audience precedes him. His reputation for the creation of instant street classics such as "When U Gone Let Me?", "Used To It", and "Check" ft. Slim Thug and Bobby Valentino and more have created strong anticipation for the next level in his career.

Cash Money Records: Founded by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Motown Republic Group, and is distributed by Universal Motown Records.