Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar has brought street corner energy back into rap music. While he might be dominating as the best rapper, people want to know who actually is making the most bank.
The West Coast heavyweight was upset when the song “First Person Shooter” by Drake featuring J. Cole dropped near the end of 2023. On the track the Carolinian rapped, “Love when they argue the hardest MC. Is it K. Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? We the big three like we started a league, but right now, I feel like Muhammad Ali.”
Money Versus Money
Lamar, who has an estimated net worth of $85 million, was not feeling being mentioned in the diss and swiftly firing back during his verse on the Future and Metro Boomin collaboration “Like That.” K. Dot’s response took aim at J. Cole for dissing him and directed shots at Drake amidst years of the two going back and forth with rap jabs.
However, the OVO emcee is never one to be played with.
Champagne Papi, who has made his strides as one of the strategic partners of the Ultimate Rap League and Caffeine to help bring battle rap to the mainstream, is from the culture of lyrical warfare. He dropped “Push Ups (Drop & Give Me Fifty” and sprayed everyone including Lamar, The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky and even tossed in Rick Ross.
If the two were talking money, Drake is light years away from Lamar when it comes down to making money. The former “Degrassi” star comfortably sits on an estimated net worth of $250 million from his various investments.
Lamar has acquired most of his wealth from his music career, which includes his five studio albums, endorsement deals, and extensive touring. His latest album, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” was amplified by the “Big Steppers Tour,” which proved to be a historic success. In 2023, it became the highest-grossing rap tour ever, generating over $110.9 million from 73 shows and nearly a million tickets sold.
One of his notable endorsement deals was with Cash App, where he launched a financial literacy campaign with Ray Dalio.
As outstanding as Lamar’s accomplishments are, including his 17 Grammy Awards and 2022 Emmy Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for his performance at the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI halftime show with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and 50 Cent.
Drake is a different enterprising monster with his hands in a little of everything.
The star earns $70 million a year from his multiple businesses, publishing and performance/ appearance fees.
Drake’s influence extends far beyond the realm of music, as he has strategically aligned himself with a plethora of major brands, solidifying his status as a cultural icon. Among his notable endorsements are Sprite, Burger King, Whataburger, Nike, and Apple, each partnership emblematic of his diverse appeal and marketability.
He also inked a staggering $19 million exclusivity deal with tech giant Apple Music when it launched. This landmark agreement positioned Apple as the sole initial platform for all of Drake’s forthcoming solo releases, underscoring his pivotal role in shaping the digital music landscape.
Moreover, in 2012, Drake took a pivotal step in his career by establishing his own record label, OVO Sound. Operating under the auspices of Warner Bros. Records, OVO Sound has evolved into a multifaceted powerhouse within the music industry.
Beyond propelling Drake’s career as a preeminent rapper, distinguished by his unparalleled feat of 329 total entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart — a record unmatched by any other artist in history — his label, OVO Sound, functions as a dynamic hub for nurturing emerging talent. Its roster features a diverse array of artists including PartyNextDoor, Majid Jordan, and Kash Doll.
Moreover, OVO Sound has curated a cadre of esteemed producers, including Boi-1da, Future the Prince, and Mike Zombie.
While Lamar and Drake are at the center of this rap war, others like Future, J. Cole, and Rick Ross find themselves catching and shooting strays.
What About the Net Worth of the Other Beef Participants?
Like the two, all three are successful businessmen.
Future purportedly has a net worth of $50 million. J. Cole is next with an estimated net worth of $60 million and Rick Ross, who is making the battle most interesting accompanying his diss tracks with a social media blitz, reputedly is worth $150 million.
Combined, all five artists ostensibly are worth more than a half billion dollars — proving that the bars that people used to spit for free on the corner are more than the GDP of countries like Sao Tome & Principe, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, and Tuvalu.
