Diddy Tops Forbes’ Hip Hop’s 5 Wealthiest Artists List
Sean “Diddy” Combs ranks No. 1 on this year’s Forbes Five list of hip-hop’s wealthiest artists with an estimated fortune of $700 million, an increase of $120 million over his net worth last year. The change comes largely from the addition of Revolt TV—the new, music-focused, multi-platform channel of which he’s the majority owner—to his already-hefty portfolio. “Right now my focus is Revolt and making it the number one, most-trusted, most credible worldwide brand for music,” he told FORBES in a recent interview. “And to get Revolt to be the quintessential definition of real time. I think that’s the future.”
Diddy is also set to give this year’s commencement speech at Howard University, his alma mater (although he eventually dropped out). Diddy will also receive an honorary degree for being a trailblazer in his field. Last year, after he donated $250,000 to The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, he told the aspiring, young business owners:
I understood that it was being an entrepreneur, I understood that that was my career path. Being an entrepreneur means freedom, it means independence. It means being invested and believing in myself.[…]I did the research and did the work to make sure that I was a master in whatever category I went into, too. If I went into apparel, I wanted to know everything about that. I went into spirits, so I knew everything about that. I’m starting Revolt, and I’m still learning on that one. [Laughs] But it’s about starting a brand, which I’m a specialist at.
I think it’s easier now [to start a company]. Over the years, entrepreneurs — people take it as a serious career and respect entrepreneurs, because they’re risk takers. Now people celebrate entrepreneurship.
Before, it was just, ‘That guy’s crazy! He needs to get a real job!’
Hip Hop’s Top 20 Earners in 2011
It’s that time again when Forbes releases their annual Cash Kings of Hip Hop list. For the third year in a row, Jay-Z tops the list with an estimated revenue of $37 million in the last year. Jay-Z who unveiled his long-awaited collaboration with Kanye West – Watch the Throne this week, continues to reap the benefits of a 10-year $150 million Live Nation deal, as well as stakes in the New Jersey Nets, the 40/40 Club chain, ad firm Translation and others. This year marked the first time he out-earned wife Beyonce since their marriage in 2008. In last year’s list, his earnings were estimated at $63 million.
Touring was one of the many revenue streams they looked at to come up with the Cash Kings list, which charts pretax earnings for all living artists whose work is primarily classified as hip-hop or rap. The estimates also include income from record sales, digital downloads, films, merchandise sales, endorsements, books and other ventures; management, agent and attorney fees are not deducted. Earnings were calculated for the period from May 2010 to May 2011 and based on data from Pollstar, Nielsen SoundScan, the RIAA and individual record labels, as well as interviews with numerous lawyers, media buyers, managers and many of the artists themselves.
Check out who else made the list after the break. (more…)
Swizz Beatz and Eve on the Set of Coolin’
How excited am I? I was scared that E.V.E. had gone Hollywood on us but she’s back!!! Not only is she back, but she’s returning to the winning formula of working with Swizz Beatz. I think he brings out the best in her. They were in California to shoot the video for “Coolin,” off of Swizz Beatz’ upcoming album, Haute Living. The video was shot by Taj and features Diddy’s son, Christian. That boy is a carbon copy of his dad. Diddy couldn’t even deny him if he wanted to.
Eve is looking amazing. One thing I love about her is how comfortable she is in her skin. She ‘s never had the need to get cosmetic surgery done, even though she has tiny boobs. She’s secure in who she is as a person and I think that’s really sexy in a woman. She also commits shoeicide with a crazy pair of booties from the latest Spring Summer 2011 design by Iris van Herpen x United Nude (Crystallization Collection) and rocks a a spiked sequin dress by The Blonds (Phillipe & David), while Swizzy is killing them in a Tom Ford floral tuxedo jacket! Check out the pics after the break. (more…)
Diddy is the Wealthiest Artist in Hip Hop
Forbes recently released their list of the top 5 wealthiest Hip Hop artists. Amazingly, Diddy tops the list, beating out Jay-Z and 50 Cent. Diddy just won’t stop. The best thing that ever happened to Diddy was Biggie. However, Diddy took that exposure further and built a huge empire and brand. Regardless of what you think of the man, you have to admire his work ethic. The Forbes list was formed using the same procedures used to form the list of the world’s top billionaires – valuing current holdings, looking at past earnings, leafing through financial documents and talking to a bevy of analysts, attorneys, managers and other industry players to find the nitty-gritty details.
The top spot goes to Sean “Diddy” Combs, who tops our accounting of rap’s richest with a fortune of $475 million, fueled by his interests in Sean John clothing, Bad Boy Worldwide record label and, most significantly, his Diageo joint-venture vodka brand Ciroc. Jay-Z ranks a close second, with $450 million. (more…)
Diddy Has Made My Morning
Diddy is in the August 2010 issue of GQ magazine. Of all the choices they had in the shoot, they had to use this one of him hanging from the chandelier, legs wide open while a mysterious man hovers in the background. I swear I can almost smell his stuff. Sheeesh. It made me laugh though. Dude is nuts (no pun intended). Just for this, I think I’ll get a bootleg copy of his new album, Last Train to Timbuktu, or wherever the hell the train is going.
Is Diddy A Good Daddy?
ABC Nightline’s Martin Bashir interviewed Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs a few days ago and Diddy got a bit defensive. After covering Diddy’s new movie, Get Him To The Greek, as well as his life as a music, fashion, television mogul, Bashir switched the focus to Diddy’s parental skills. (more…)
Inside Diddy's 40th BDay Party Hosted by CIROC Vodka
Diddy held one of the hottest parties of the year last week at the Plaza in New York to celebrate his 40th Birthday. The event was black tie and super exclusive. Celebrity guests included the likes of Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, Martha Stewart, Kim Kardashian, Tyrese, Keri Hilson, Al Sharpton, Spike Lee, Cassie, Steve Stoute, Kenny Burns and more. Music Legend Al Green performed and Trey Songz sang the birthday song.
AMARIE ADHIS 