Kanye West Tops List of 2019's Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Artistsbr .br "If they hate then let 'em hate br and watch the money pile up." br -Kanye Westbr .br West made $150 million in 2019 to earn the title br of hip-hop's cash king for the first time.br .br Yeezy, West's shoe brand with Adidas, made br more than $1.5 billion in sales this year.br .br There was a beam of light on the idea of me making athletic footwear. A paradigm shift. Like the Yeezy is desired as much as a Jordan.br , Kanye West, via 'Forbes'.br The top 20 hip-hop acts this year made br a combined $860 million, an increase br from $648 million last year. br .br Jay-Z was No. 2 on this year’s list with $81 million earned in 2019.br .br Drake made $75 million br in 2019 to finish in third.