Top 20 Hip Hop Ca$h Kings

(Above: Jay-Z's recent Rolling Stone cover. Interview here) Back in August Forbes put up a slideshow style list of the richest individuals in all of hip hop. The usual suspects are on the list, Jigga, 50, and Diddy. Here's a look at the Top 20 Cash Kings in Hip Hop: 1) Jay-Z (Recent Album: American Gangster) 2) 50 Cent (Recent Album: Curtis) 3) Diddy (Recent Album: Press Play) 4) Timbaland (Recent Album: Timbaland Presents Shock Value) 5) Dr. Dre (Upcoming Album: 2001) 6) Eminem (Recent Album: Curtain Call) 7) Snoop Dogg (Recent Album: Tha Blue Carpet Treatment) 8) Kanye West (Recent Album: Graduation) 9) Pharrell Williams (Recent Album: In My Mind) 10) Scott Storch (Recent Album: N/A) 11) Ludacris (Recent Album: Release Therapy) 12) T.I. (Recent Album: T.I. vs T.I.P.) 13) Outkast, Big Boi & Andre 3000 (Recent Album: Idlewild) 14) Lil' Jon (Recent Album: Crunk Juice) 15) Ice Cube (Recent Album: Laugh Now, Cry Later) 16) Jermaine Dupri (Recent Album: Yall Know What This Is) 17) Swizz Beats (Recent Album: One Man Band Man) 18) Chamillionaire (Recent Album: Ultimate Victory) 19) The Game (Recent Album: Doctor's Advocate) 20) Yung Joc (Recent Album: New Joc City) The above list also translated into an hour long show on E! in which they counted down and discussed each of the choices. Many of the names on the list, if not all, have deals with advertising, their own labels, products or companies, which provides a nice additional income. It's surprising to see Joc on the list rather than Jeezy or Lil Wayne. Storch is technically the only name on the list of someone who doesn't rap, but his beats are still heavily sought after by many artists in the hip hop world. Read more about the list of Hip Hop Cash Kings here.

Top 5 Rapper Turned Actors?

Seeing that Will Smith has a new movie coming out, "The Pursuit of Happyness", it's a good time to examine some rapper turned actor roles floating around... 1)Will Smith as Ali - Top actor easily, he was even nominated for the best actor grammy award, showing that Smith has great acting range. He's done other successful roles including "Men in Black" (1 and 2), "Independence Day" and "I, Robot". He got his start as himself on the hit TV show "Fresh Prince of Bel Air", which still airs on reruns on TV Land now and is still one of the funnier sitcoms around. 2)Ludacris in "Hustle N Flow" & "Crash" - Ludacris is showing that he can be a very promising actor. His performances in the aforementioned movies were both solid. He hasn't had many roles above the gangsta, hustler or criminal type character yet, so we aren't too sure what he's got. He also hosted SNL recently. Despite the show's recent downhill sketches, Luda held his own. 3)Ice T as Detective Tutuolo on Law and Order: SVU - Ice plays a rather straight role here; the tough-guy detective with street sense. He doesnt really show a ton of dynamic range, but he's been successful for many seasons now in this role and hasn't been "kicked off", so he can't be all that bad. Many love Ice as the hard-nosed street style cop in "New Jack City" as well. Ice has been mostly doing episodes of SVU lately, aside from his "reality project" on VH1. 4)2PAC - Would probably be up at the 2 spot if his life hadn't been cut so short. He's been in great roles in Poetic Justice, Above the Rim, Grid Lock'd and several others. RIP to a true legend in rap and entertainment. 5)Ice Cube & Eminem - tie - Cube hasn't exactly had a hugely successful role yet. "XXX" was a letdown in terms of cheesy, unbelievable special efx and the overall plot and revenue made. "Are We There Yet?" I have not seen and don't plan to, so I won't comment. Cube was in the hugely successful movie "Barbershop" so he does show promise as an actor, so keep an eye out for better roles in the future. Slim Shady received rave reviews off this performance, his only one so far. It should be interesting to see if he gives more in the future, or if this was his "1 shot". I wouldn't be surprised to see him doing more acting and even directing/producing in the future. So can Will Smith turns in another solid performance in his latest film, opening, December 15, 2006 in theaters. He is also the most mainstream rapper of the list (in terms of household name/popularity, etc), but to leave him out of a valid discussion of the roots of hip-hop and especially its comedic side would be to ignore one part of hip-hop completely.

Top 20 Rap Albums All Time

Here's my top 20 rap albums of all time...Ranked in terms of their impact upon me and my love for the music.. 1) "Licensed to Ill" - Beastie Boys - The rock/rap crossover appeal lured me in, and I was hooked for good 2) "Raising Hell" - RUN DMC - Wow I can remember playing this tape over and over in my walkman on trips with my parents..I bet they wish I never got a walkman ;) 3) "The Low End Theory" - A Tribe Called Quest - This tape and group is what really got me into rap, their style was so unique and varied and the beats were full of soulful bass and horns, strings and just good stuff. 4) "Death Certificate" - Ice Cube - Another one I listened to quite a bit. Yes it was gangsta, and violent and full of racist ideas and suggestions, but its an eye opener for sure. 5) "De La Soul is Dead" - De La Soul - Another group like Tribe who really fueled my love for rap. Their creativity is unparalleled and this concept tape was amazing. 6) "The Chronic" -Dr Dre - Another one that along with Ice Cube really got me into that gangsta westcoast scene. 7) "Paid in Full" - Eric B & Rakim - Most people know this has to be in a top 10 for greatest rap albums. I bought it later than sooner (like 1997) but even so I recognize its major importance to the genre. 8) "Straight Outta Compton" - N.W.A. More gangsta, got this album late too, but I knew it had to be part of my collection. 9) "Illmatic" - Nas - My alltime favorite rapper with his 1st debut album, and a definite classic 10) "Reasonable Doubt"/"Black Album" (tie) - Jay Z - Very hard to call this one, one album marked the start of a great career, the other was the "supposed"end. But both are extremely introspective & deep. 11) "Ready to DIE" - BIG - RIP to one of the all time greatest, baby baby. 12) "Enter the 36 Chambers" - Wu Tang Clan- I remember first getting my hands on this from my roommate at UCONN and loving the rawness of the combined talents of this group..amazing style. 13) "The Infamous" - Mobb Deep - I remember the hype that built up before this release dropped, and it definitely lived up to it..It sure bumped the bass out of our 81' Corolla ;) 14) "Fear of a Black Planet" - Public Enemy the rap revolutionaries..Another group with alot to say. 15) "The College Dropout" - Kanye West - This really should be higher because it has so much meaning to me, just the concept of Kanye's career and what he's come through to get where he is. 16) "93 Til Infinity" - Souls of Mischief - These guys were interesting, because they came from the West Coast but had a nitty gritty underground style,like the Native Tongues..fresh. 17)"The Fix" - Scarface - I used to listen to this album over and over while driving for a job I had, it was rare at the time because there wasnt many good rap albums out..but this one is solid start to finish. 18)"Me Against the World" - 2PAC - An all time rap top 20 list needs to include BIG & Pac, two of rap's finest. This album's title track is legendary. 19) "The Score" - The Fugees - Classic hip hop, soulful singing, reggae and rap all in one. 20) "Can I Borrow a Dollar?" - Common Sense - This one will surprise people, but I remember getting his tape off a recommend buy in "Source" magazine. And it mesmerized me in my walkman, because the style was just so off base and out there..and now, hes one of my top 3 faves, all time. (Honorable mentions: EPMD - Business as Usual or Business Never Personal, Eminem - Marshall Mathers LP, Redman - Whut? Thee Album, Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions, LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out)