JAY-Z has re-affirmed his position as the King of Hip-Hop - his past year earnings of $35 million (£23.3 million) have placed him at the top of a new Forbes magazine fortune list.
The Big Pimpin' hitmaker, real name Shawn Carter, raked in the cash from his various music, fashion and lifestyle ventures, including his new Roc Nation record label and his Rocawear clothing line.
He beat pals Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Kanye West to the top spot - they ranked just behind Jay-Z with $30 million (£20 million) and $25 million (£16.7 million), respectively.
The Forbes magazine Hip-Hop Cash Kings 2009 honour comes just weeks after Jay-Z was named the most powerful person in the rap industry.
He claimed the number one position on hip-hop magazine The Source's Power 30 list in June (09), while his wife, R&B superstar Beyonce, was declared the Best Paid Celebrity Under 30 with a 12-month total of $87 million (£58 million) in earnings in another Forbes poll earlier this week (begs06Jul09).
The top 10 stars in the Hip Hop Cash Kings 2009 list are as follows:
1. Jay-Z - $35 million
2. Sean 'Diddy' Combs - $30 million
3. Kanye West - $25 million
4= 50 Cent and Akon - $20 million (£13.3 million)
6. Lil Wayne - $18 million (£12 million)
7. Timbaland - $17 million (£11.3 million)
8. Pharrell Williams - $16 million (£10.6 million)
9. T-Pain - $15 million (£10 million)
10. Eminem - $14 million (£9.3 million).