Jay-Z Is Officially The First Hip-Hop Billionaire

BYMitch Findlay13.2K Views
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Jay-Z
Is there anything that HOV can't do?

The race to become the first hip-hop billionaire has officially come to an end. Today, a report from Forbes has confirmed that Jay-Z has hit an impressive milestone. As the publication tells it, his net worth “conservatively totals $1 billion, making him one of only a handful of entertainers to become a billionaire—and the first hip-hop artist to do so.”

It's no surprise, given his track record both within and beyond the music industry; Hov has 14 number one albums to his name, with at least four of them going down as hip-hop classics. He also launched the fashion company Rocawear in 1999, built D’Ussé cognac alongside Bacardi, and moved forward with the launch of streaming giant Tidal. 

Jay-Z Is Officially The First Hip-Hop Billionaire
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In the Forbes article, longtime Jay-Z collaborator Swizz Beatz offered a few thoughts on the accomplishment. "It’s bigger than hip-hop," he explains. "It’s the blueprint for our culture. A guy that looks like us, sounds like us, loves us, made it to something that we always felt that was above us. If he’s a billionaire now, imagine what he’s about to be. Because he’s only just starting.”

The article also breaks down the makeup of Jay's fortune, which includes a $70 million dollar art collection, $50 million in real estate, a music catalog worth $75 million (he owns his own masters), and more. Check it out in full below, and congratulations to the almighty Jay-Z! Is this man the GOAT?

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About The Author
<b>Feature Editor</b> <!--BR--> Mitch Findlay is a writer and hip-hop journalist based in Montreal. Resident old head by default. Enjoys writing Original Content about music, albums, lyrics, and rap history. His favorite memories include interviewing J.I.D and EarthGang at the "Revenge Of The Dreamers 3" studio sessions in Atlanta and receiving a phone call from Dr. Dre. In his spare time he makes horror movies.
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