Hip-hop artists continue to break records when it comes to business dealings. Although it’s no longer a rare occurrence to see a rapper land a multi-million dollar endorsement deal, it’s still fascinating to see how well these brandmakers have infiltrated the mainstream and have become the go-to sources to help hawk and sell products. Not to mention, rappers have become an inspiration for African-American entrepreneurship, having become owners of their music and business offshoots like fashion labels. Here’s a list of some of the biggest deals that have helped to enrich the bank accounts of the biggest names in the rap game.
50 Cent
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson boldly thanked Vitamin Water during a televised performance a few years ago. That’s probably because his deal with the company turned into one of the biggest in hip hop history. In May 2007, Coca-Cola bought Vitamin Water for $4.1 billion. Timing is everything, as 50 cent had recently bought into the bottled water company. After the sale, business experts estimated his take from that sale, after taxes, was about $100 million.
