Rapper Jay-Z tops Forbes hip-hop "cash kings" list

Hip-hop star Jay-Z's talent for extending beyond rap to the executive worlds of music, fashion and other businesses has earned him the top spot on Forbes magazine's "Hip-Hop Cash Kings" list.

Forbes on Thursday said Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, raked in $34 million in 2006, the year he released a comeback album "Kingdom Come."

But the boyfriend of pop singer Beyonce earned much of that income as chief executive of New York-based Def Jam Recordings, owner of a sports bar franchise and holder of endorsements deals with Budweiser, Hewlett-Packard and General Motors, Forbes said.

In March, Jay-Z, 36, sold his Rocawear fashion label for $204 million -- a sum that will again place him high up in the music world's earnings for 2007.

Coming in at No. 2 was rapper 50 Cent, a.k.a Curtis Jackson. He earned $32 million from his music and businesses such as a record label, video games and a line of books, the survey said.

Diddy -- real name Sean Combs -- came in third. He owns the Sean John clothing label and a cologne that he licensed to Estee Lauder. He also is an MTV television producer. Timbaland, whose real name is Timothy Mosley, was No. 4 with earnings of $21 million from collaborations and running Mosley Music Group.

Dr. Dre, a.k.a. Andre Young, grabbed fifth place with $20 million from ventures that include running Aftermath Entertainment, followed by Eminem at No. 6, who brought in $18 million, and Snoop Dogg at No. 7, who earned $17 million.

Forbes associate editor Lea Goldman said the hip-hop stars are "masters at branding and cross-promotion" so that "they're still making a killing as the rest of the music industry suffers."

"They get that it's not just about selling albums, but about selling a lifestyle," she said. "So they've plowed their earnings into media empires that include their own record labels, clothing lines, restaurants and bars."

Grammy award winner Kanye West was No. 8 with $17 million followed by Pharrell Williams, who has his own sneaker and clothing lines, and Scott Storch, a former keyboardist with the Roots turned hip-hop and pop writer and producer. Both also earned $17 million.