Putting Money Where Their Mouths Are

Who was hip-hop's top earner in the past year? No surprises here.

From MSN.com:

Four years ago Jay-Z issued a lyrical taunt to his fellow rappers: "What you call money, I pay more in taxes." Turns out his line was more than just a boast.

Jay-Z pulled in $63 million over the past 12 months, earning him his second-straight hip-hop cash crown. His income level places him in the 35 percent tax bracket, which means he'll pay Uncle Sam about $22 million this year -- a sum greater than the total earnings of any other rap star besides second-ranked Diddy.

Given today's financial landscape, as well as the woes of the record industry, it's worth noting that just about everyone in Forbes' top 20 has another hustle besides rap. And in most cases, the performer saw a significant portion of his earnings come from his other business ventures.