Hot on the heels of his latest album's release, Jay-Z has earned a top spot on Forbes' Hip-Hop Cash Kings list having earned an estimated $37 million over the past year. His money comes from his deals with Live Nation, stakes on the New Jersey Nets, the 40/40 Club chain, advertising group Translation and others. It should be noted that this is the first time he out-earned wife Beyonce since they married in 2008.

But it's definitely not lonely at the top. Diddy came in second with a reported $37 million income and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne partner, Kanye West, earned a cool $16 million. Newcomers to the list include Nicki Minaj, B.o.B. and Wiz Khalifa, who was suprised he made the cut.

"I'm one of them?" he exclaimed. "That’s what's up!"

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