Jay-z

Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter was the top-earning hip-hop celebrity of 2006, according to Forbes' first-ever list of Hip-Hop Cash Kings, and that's before he sold his Rocawear fashion label for $204 million. Forbes on Thursday said Jay-Z raked in $34 million in 2006, the year he released a comeback album "Kingdom Come." Carter is said to have earned much of that income as chief executive of Def Jam Recordings, owner of a sports bar franchise the 40/40 club and holder of endorsements deals with Budweiser, Hewlett-Packard and General Motors. Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson, who did not release an album last year, is sitting close in second place with an estimate $32 million in earnings thanks to his G-Unit label, clothing line, video games, ringtones, publishing and other ventures. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs comes in at number three with $28 million with sales from his Sean John clothing label and cologne that he licensed to Estee Lauder. He also is an MTV television producer. Timbaland, whose real name is Timothy Mosley, was No. 4 with earnings of $21 million from collaborations and running Mosley Music Group. Dr. Dre added $20 million and Eminem $18 million. Check out Forbes' complete list of Hip-Hop's Cash Kings.