Although Lil Wayne spent most of 2010 behind bars, the rapper still managed to earn $20 million, landing him the no. 4 spot on the popular Forbes “Hip-Hop Cash Kings list.”
More surprising is the fact that the figure was $2 million more than he made last year. But can he catch up to Hip Hop’s gold standard for finance – Jay-Z?
In an article on forbes.com, the money-minded publication doesn’t consider it entirely outside the realm of possibility. “Lil Wayne will be riding high from the proceeds of two albums — I Am Not A Human Being, which was recorded before he went away and made him the first artist since Tupac Shakur to have an album go to No. 1 on the Billboard charts while incarcerated. Sales could easily approach 2-3 million units. The eccentric rapper is also said to be working on Tha Carter IV, an album that could see the light of day sometime in 2011.”
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The article predicts that Wayne could make the majority of his earnings from a concert tour. With the albums and tours combined, as well as guest appearances and merchandise, Forbes predicts Wayne could take in $30-$35 million next year.
However, the article says, Jay is likely to hold on to his spot. Although he won’t likely be releasing a solo album, his collaboration with Kanye West, Watch the Throne, in addition to a greatest hits album and his upcoming book, Decoded (as well as existing ventures), Hov is poised to rake in up to $40 million next year.
