Every year the public is graced with several repetitive lists of some of the top money making men in hip-hop culture. We’ve learned not to flinch as we learn the huge sums reaped by repeat high-earners such as Jay-Z, Diddy, Kanye West and others. These “cash kings” (as they are called by Forbes) tip the scales as some of the most wealthy figures in today’s pop world. But even in an environment that is so male-dominated, these men are not the only ones who can rake in the big bucks. Female hip-hop icons are also making a lot of noise in and out of the studio, and collecting quite a bit of cash along the way. Let’s check out some of hip-hop’s top earning cash queens that prove ladies are also running things in the world of rap.
Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott : The Game Changer, $225 million
This unique recording artist and songwriter has been bringing her midas touch to the music industry for almost two decades now. Beginning as a songwriter for ’90s R&B super group Jodeci, Missy Elliott finally got her big break with her memorable verse on Gina Thompson’s 1996 single “The Things That You Do” Bad Boy remix. Since then things have gone nothing but uphill for this talented woman. On top of garnering five Grammy wins, Missy is also the only female rapper to have six albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one double-platinum record with 2002’s “Under Construction.” She has sold over 7 million albums domestically, and holds songwriting and production credits for a number of top artists from Whitney Houston to Beyonce. And Missy doesn’t stop there. She has also snagged endorsement deals from top companies like Coca-Cola, Gap, M.A.C. Cosmetics, and even her own Adidas clothing line “Respect M.E.” Missy has also been endorsing several big checks at the bank, as she reportedly has an impressive net worth of $225 million. Now that’s hittin’ em with the hee!
Note: This list contains amalgamated estimates of each artist’s overall net worth based on earnings from record sales, touring and performances, brand endorsements, property and business investments, TV/film projects, etc. Sources include: www.celebritynetworth.com, http://www.hiphopqueens.com, http://www.globalgrind.com, http://www.wikipedia.com, and http://whatuwantnow.blogspot.com.
Queen Latifah: The Empress, $50 million
This East Orange, NJ native has been making her mark on the entertainment scene since the late ’80s. A talented rapper, singer and actress, Latifah has done it all, from releasing hard-hitting hip-hop classics like “Black Reign,” to starring in a wide range of films and TV shows. Memorable roles include leads in the urban crime drama “Set it Off,” and the movie version of famed musical “Chicago.” This lady has an eye for profitable projects, as she was reportedly paid $10 million to produce and star in the urban comedy “Beauty Shop,” and signed a massive deal with CoverGirl cosmetics to endorse their Queen Collection. She’s even had her own talk show and TV series, “Living Single.” In addition to producing many films, her amazing talents in music and more have helped her to amass a reported net worth of $50 million. All hail the queen!
Salt-N-Pepa: The Dynamic Duo, $29 million (combined)
This animated pair has the proud claim of being one of the first female rap groups to make it big in the game. After forming in 1984, Salt (Cheryl James) and Pepa (Sanrdra Denton) joined forces wth DJ Spinderella to release classic albums like “Hot, Cool & Vicious” and “Very Necessary.” By consistently blending sexiness with feminism and hot rhymes, Salt-N-Pepa has risen to become one of the most respected groups in hip-hop culture. The group is the first female hip-hop act to win a Grammy, and also has gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums under its belt. After splitting in 2002, in 2007 Salt and Pepa reunited to star in the VH1 reality show “The Salt-N- Pepa Show” for two seasons. Pepa has gone on to star on other reality series like “The Surreal Life,” has acted in TV and film projects, and also penned a book — named after her own series, “Let’s Talk About Pep.” Luckily for fans of their music, the team has begun touring again in recent years throughout the U.S. The duo’s on-the-grind success has them pushin’ it all the way to the bank. Salt has a reported net worth of $14 million, while Pepa is reportedly worth $15 million.
Lil’ Kim: The Queen Bee, $18 million
Since the mid-’90s, Lil’ Kim has always been the subject of awe and controversy, most of the time simultaneously. A former protégé of the late, great Notorious B.I.G., her debut album “Hardcore” made it clear that this queen bee had a lot of sass and even more talent. Through her powerful presence, Lil’ Kim has helped pave the way for women in hip-hop to marry sex appeal with vicious lyrics, and commanded respect from both men and women in the genre. She is also the only other female rapper (besides Missy Elliott) to have one RIAA certified double-platinum album, and two platinum albums. Along with her success came several bumps in the road. Kim is rumored to have a plastic surgery addiction, has suffered some legal woes, and even did a stint in prison. However, she is not letting any obstacles get in her way. She continues to make music and defend her throne as the hottest female emcee. Despite her setbacks, Lil Kim is reported to maintain a net worth of $18 million earned from her public appearances, live shows and investments.
Eve: The Firecracker, $18 million
This Philly-born emcee jumped into the public eye as a feisty blond bombshell in 1998 — the first lady of the Ruff Ryders crew. Soon after joining, her debut album entered at number one on the Billboard 200 making her the first female rapper to accomplish this feat. Since that time Eve has continued to climb the ladder of success, making her way into films (“Barbershop” and “Barbershop 2”), and signing substantial endorsement deals with Candies and Reebok. She even had her own TV series “Eve” on UPN, which lasted for 3 seasons. Eve has profited substantially from these opportunities, using her talent to accumulate a reported net worth of $18 million. That’s definitely given her some “Satisfaction.”
Lauryn Hill: The Loner, $9 million
This highly talented (yet heavily controversial) singer and rapper changed the face of hip-hop and R&B during her most active years. With her early work in the hip-hop group The Fugees, Lauryn Hill commanded respect as a female emcee and then went on to smash records with her 1998 solo debut “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” It sold 18 million copies over the next decade and earned Hill 10 Grammy nominations and 5 wins in 1999. After this smashing success however, Hill became entangled in a multitude of difficulties, and began to recede from the spotlight. Over the years there have been quiet murmurings of a comeback album or Fugees reunion, yet nothing has ever materialized. Some speculate this has been the result of Lauryn’s reputation for increasingly odd behavior and business methods. Despite her mysterious actions, Lauryn Hill still sporadically tours. She maintains a reported net worth of $8.7 million dollars gleaned from performing, record sale royalties, and various investments in Jamaica and abroad. Thankfully, managing her finances was one thing Ms. Hill was not miseducated on.
Nicki Minaj: The New Kid on The Block, $8.5 million
Anyone can tell you that 2011 has certainly been “The Year of Nicki.” And Ms. Onika Maraj, a.k.a Nicki Minaj, is only getting started. Although she has been rapping since the mid-2000s, Nicki officially exploded into hip-hop after joining forces with Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money posse. Donning lots of crazy wigs and multiple personalities, Nicki’s unique style and lyrical prowess soon put her on a fast track to the top. Just recently, Minaj became the only female to make the Forbes 2011 ‘Hip Hop Cash Kings’ List, where she was reported to have made $6.5 million in the past year — beating out male contenders like 50 cent and Rick Ross. Nicki also just inked a major endorsement deal with M.A.C. Cosmetics, and will be making her voice-acting debut in the upcoming film “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift.” With a reported total net worth of $8.5 million, Ms. Minaj has more than enough moula to share with all of her alter-egos.
MC Lyte: The Originator, $8 million
One of the true original female emcees, MC Lyte has been rocking the mic since her late ’80s debut release “Lyte as a Rock.” Never afraid to tackle heavy subjects in her music like drug abuse and inner city living, early in her career MC Lyte was named one of the top female rappers of all time. She has also taken her talents to the screen starring as herself on shows like “New York Undercover,” “Moesha” and “My Wife and Kids.” She has also played various characters on shows such as “Half and Half” and “In the House.” In addition, Lyte has made great strides as a voice over artist, lending her vocal cords to several corporate brands — most recently the Starz Network. MC Lyte has channeled all of her talents into building an overall net worth of $8 million. This amount ensures her pockets are nowhere near “Paper Thin.”
Trina: Miami’s First Lady, $8 million
After breaking into the mainstream as a featured rapper on Trick Daddy’s hit single “Nann N*gga,” Trina was thrust quickly into the national spotlight and has been doing her best to stay there ever since. Known for her sexually-charged and biting lyrics, she has released five relatively successful albums in her decade-long career. In late 2010 she was heralded by urban publication XXL as “The Most Consistent Female Rapper of All Time.” Trina has collaborated with top artists from Ludacris to Lil’ Wayne, continues to tour and perform, and is working on forthcoming music. Her efforts have awarded her a reported net worth of $8 million dollars, making her one of the true ‘baddest chicks’ in the hip-hop game — just like all the ladies on The Atlanta Post’s Cash Queens list. We salute you all!
