S. Samuel
Cash Money Records' co-owner Baby has responded to Forbes Magazine's recent Top 5 Wealthiest Rap Artists list and said the financial publication shortchanged his earnings.
Despite being credited with wealth projected at the $100 million mark, Baby said he easily banks in more money.
“I don’t know how they tally up,” Baby said in an interview with Uptown Angela referring to Forbes‘ list.”To my knowledge I thought it was down. They said I made a $100 million dollars. I don’t know where they get that sh*t from. I’m banking in more than a $100 million. That’s a low number for a n*gga like me. But it’s cool. For anybody to recognize anything is respected. We know what to do. The goal in our life and my life is to be a billionaire. I’m flipping hundreds. I ain’t that far. I’m about eight steps.” (Urban Radio NO)
In addition to Baby, Jay-Z and Diddy also made the Forbes list.
When it comes to net worth, Jay-Z is number two. 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. Super producer/rapper Dr. Dre ranks third with $125 million, fueled by past earnings generated from his own career and by helping to launch those of Snoop Dogg and Eminem. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, a one-time Dr. Dre protege who reaped a nine-figure payday from the sale of Vitamin Water to Coca-Cola, rounds out the top five in a tie with Cash Money Records cofounder Bryan “Birdman” Williams at $100 million. (Forbes)
Following the publication’s release, Diddy shared his reaction and downplayed his wealth.
“To be honest, on that list, I was on the cover of Forbes back in ’98,” Diddy explained in an interview. “I been on that list. I don’t really get caught up into the list. I think people think that I have that money actually sitting at home in the basement…It’s really like if I sold all my companies, and I take pride in [building] something as a black man that’s worth that much…To everyone calling me for a loan today, I do not have that money today! … It helps inspire people and it shows the power of hip-hop.” (MTV)
Outside of money, Baby recently discussed the future of his Cash Money/Young Money empire.
Cash Money is planning for a busy year, too, which will also include releases by Drake, Nicki Minaj, Kevin Rudolf, Lil Twist, Mack Maine, Shanell and Tyga. “It feels like a new excitement around here,” Birdman reports. “We had Nicki blast off, Drake blast off, Wayne’s back…It just feels like a whole new excitement around here. It’s a real family, a team. We look after each other and are there for each other. We dedicate our life to this, and we make sacrifices for success. There’s no stopping with us.” (Billboard)
Check out Baby’s interview below:
