Hip-Hip has been good to those artists that have managed their careers as a business.  Many artists focus on having a good time and dismiss the business part of the process until it is too late.  This recent list by Forbes is a great example of Top Hip-Hop artists that kept their careers in balance.  In the coming years, it would not be surprising if one of these artists wrote a top selling business book.

Here are the Top 5 Earning Hip-Hop / Rap Artists of 2012:

1.    Sean “Diddy” Combs – $550 Million

-         Multiple sources of income like music, Ciroc vodka and clothing

2.    Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter - $460 Million

-         Reportedly earned $204 Million from Rocawear and $150 Million from LiveNation

3.    Andre “Dr. Dre” Young - $260 Million

-         Reportedly earned $300 Million from his part in Beats Electronics

4.    Bryan “Birdman” Williams - $125 Million

-         Cofounder of Cash Money Records supporting artists like Lil Wayne and Nikki Minaj

5.    Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson - $110 Million

-         Reportedly made over $100 Million from Vitamin water

Which artist do you think will be next on this list?

Tags: Top 10, Top 5, Rap, Hip-Hop, music, artist, wealth, money, cash, diddy, jayz, 50 cent, ciroc, rocawear, dr dre, beats, boombox

Ever wondered which areas of the country have the biggest gap between those with the highest income and lowest income?  The team at 24/7 Wall Street put together a list that ranked each state by the biggest gap in wealth.  Some states would immediately be considered due to the large number of millionaire’s. Other states are surprising due to not being known for having such large gaps in wealth. 

Here are the Top 10 States with largest gap in wealth:

1.     New York 

Median household income: $55,246 (16th highest)

Households earning $200,000+: 8.0 percent (6th highest)

Population living below poverty line: 16.0 percent (21st highest)

2.     Connecticut

Median household income: $65,753 (4th highest)

Households earning $200,000+: 11.2 percent (the highest)

Population living below poverty line: 10.9 percent (5th lowest)

3.     Louisiana 

Median household income: $41,734 (7th lowest)

Households earning $200,000+: 3.5 percent (17th lowest)

Population living below poverty line: 20.4 percent (3rd highest)

4.     New Mexico

Median household income: $41,963 (8th lowest)

Households earning $200,000+: 3.4 percent (tied for 15th lowest)

Population living below poverty line: 21.5 percent (2nd highest)

5.     California 

Median household income: $57,287 (10th highest)

Households earning $200,000+: 7.8 percent (7th highest)

Population living below poverty line: 16.6 percent (18th highest)

6.      Florida
Median household income: $44,299 (14th lowest)
Households earning $200,000+: 4.4% (19th highest)
Population living below poverty line: 17.0% (17th highest)

7.      Massachusetts
Median household income: $62,859 (5th highest)
Households earning $200,000+: 9.9% (4th highest)

Population living below poverty line: 11.6% (9th lowest)

8.     Texas
Median household income: $49,392 (25th highest)
Households earning $200,000+: 5.4% (16th highest)
Population living below poverty line: 18.5% (11th highest)

9.     Georgia
Median household income: $46,007 (18th lowest)
Households earning $200,000+: 4.3% (21st highest)
Population living below poverty line: 19.1% (5th highest) 

10. Tennessee
Median household income: $41,693 (6th lowest)
Households earning $200,000+: 3.4% (tied for 15th lowest)
Population living below poverty line: 18.3% (12th highest)

Read entire article

Tags: Top 10, Gap, wealth, poor, rich, money, state, USA, New York, income, millionaire, poverty, list, rank, most, least

Democrat, Republican or Independent? A recent market study by YouGov Brand Index surveyed and released a top 10 list of corporate brands by party affiliation.  So take a look and see how close your political preference aligns with the survey.

Tags: republican, democrat, independent, romney, obama, conservative, liberal, top 10, most, least, rank, list, brand, google, amazon, fox news

Going off to college is considered one of the best times in a person’s life.  A new start and opportunity to define and grow into the adult that you hope to become.  Regardless of whether you attend a Top 10 College Party school, picking a major can influence the career you have for the next few decades.  A recent article on MSN by Kiplinger ranked the Top 10 worst college degrees for future employment and earnings.  

No. 1: Anthropology 

Unemployment rate: 6.9%

Recent grad employment rate: 10.5%

Median salary: $40,000

Median salary for recent grads: $28,000

Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020: 21%

Likelihood of working retail: 2.1 times average

 

No. 2: Fine arts 

Unemployment rate: 7.4%

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 12.6%

Median salary: $44,000

Median salary for recent grads: $30,000

Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020: 5%

Likelihood of working retail: 1.8 times average

 

No. 3: Film and photography 

Unemployment rate: 7.3%

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 12.9%

Median salary: $45,000

Median salary for recent grads: $30,000

Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020: 13%

Likelihood of working retail: 2.6 times average

 

No. 4: Philosophy and religious studies 

Unemployment rate: 7.2%

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 10.8%

Median salary: $42,000

Median salary for recent grads: $30,000

Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020: Not available

Likelihood of working retail: 2.0 times average

 

No. 5: Graphic design 

Unemployment rate: 8.1%

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 11.8%

Median salary: $45,000

Median salary for recent grads: $32,000

Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020: 13%

Likelihood of working retail: 0.6 times average

 

No. 6: Studio arts 

Unemployment rate: 8.0%

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 11.1%

Median salary: $37,000

Median salary for recent grads: $35,900

Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020: 5%

Likelihood of working retail: 2.3 times average

 

No. 7: Liberal arts 

Unemployment rate: 7.6%

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 9.2%

Median salary: $48,000

Median salary for recent grads: $30,000

Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020: not available

Likelihood of working retail: 1.8 times average

 

No. 9: Sociology 

Unemployment rate: 7.0%

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 8.6%

Median salary: $45,000

Median salary for recent grads: $32,000

Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020: 18%

Likelihood of working retail: 1.4 times average

 

No. 10: English 

Unemployment rate: 6.7% (average for all graduates with bachelor's degree: 4.9%)

Unemployment rate for recent grads: 9.2% (average for top 100 majors: 7.7%)

Median salary: $48,000 (median for all grads with bachelor's: $54,756)

Median salary for recent grads: $32,000 (median for top 100 majors: $37,000)

Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020: 6% (average: 14%)

Likelihood of working retail: 1.4 times average

 

 

View full article on MSN

 

 

Tags: Major, Degree, Career, Worst, Terrible, university, most, list, rank, top 10, earnings, best, least, unemployed

The folks at Playboy and Princeton Review have different qualifiers for partying.  Take at the difference according to Playboy's list. At these schools, many would guess that it might take 5 or 6 years with being known as a Top 10 College party school. The team at Playboy has compiled their annual list of all things college and used such important factors as access to adult beverages. Here are the Top 10 colleges that party hard every day of the week:

1.     University of Virginia

2.     University of Southern California

3.     University of Florida

4.     University of Texas

5.     University of Wisconsin

6.     University of Georgia

7.     Vanderbilt

8.     Tulane

9.     Texas Christian

10.         Ohio State

Tags: UVA, Playboy, Top 10, College, Party, School, List, Rank, Top, Most, beer, keg, Fraternity, university

College is known as the best 4 years of your life. At these schools, many would guess that it might take 5 or 6 years with being known as a Top 10 College party school.  The team at Princeton Review has compiled their annual list of all things college and used such important factors as access to adult beverages.  Here are the Top 10 colleges that party hard every day of the week:

1.     West Virginia University

2.     University of Iowa

3.     Ohio University

4.     University of Illinois at Urbana Champagne

5.     University of Georgia

6.     University of Florida

7.     UC – Santa Barbara

8.     Florida State University

9.     Miami University

10.   Syracuse University

Last Place: Brigham Young University – Surprise!

Tags: top 10, College, Party, school, WVU, university, list, rank, beer, alcohol, drinking, most, girls

Does travelling in paradise provide the worst driving experience? A recent list by the team at Forbes calculated the Top 10 cities with the highest average time wasted in traffic and the list starts in the far west in the USA and moves east.  With satellite radio and Bluetooth for mobile phones built in, driving in cars is more productive and entertaining.  But many of us would trade the hours wasted in the car for a chance to visit one of the top 10 places to visit in Hawaii. Check out the list of the cities with the worst traffic.

1. Honolulu

Average annual time wasted in traffic (versus driving the same route on uncontested roads): 58 hours.

2. Los Angeles

Average annual time wasted in traffic: 56 hours.

3. San Francisco

Average annual time wasted in traffic: 48 hours.

4. New York City

Average annual time wasted in traffic: 57 hours.

5. Bridgeport, CT

Average annual time wasted in traffic: 42 hours.

6. Washington, D.C.

Average annual time wasted in traffic: 45 hours.

7. Seattle

Average annual time wasted in traffic: 33 hours.

8. Austin, TX

Average annual time wasted in traffic: 30 hours.

9. Boston

Average annual time wasted in traffic: 35 hours.

10. Chicago

Average annual time wasted in traffic: 36 hours.

How much time do you waste a year in traffic in your town?

Read the full article at MSNBC - Forbes

Tags: Hawaii, Traffic, Honolulu, top 10, worst, list, rank, gridlock, jam, delay, most, San Francisco

Are you thinking about cutting back on hours at work? This list of the Top 10 countries that work the least will provide the perfect place for you to live.  There is a strong correlation between the highest average wage per hour and the nations that work the least.  If an individual works an average of 40 hours per week in a year, the common number used for calculation is 2,080 hours.  So pack up the family and move to one these countries that work the least and cut back at least 400 hours a year.

1.      Germany 

·         Average annual hours per person: 1,330

·         Average working hours per week: 25.6

·         Average wage per hour: $35.33 (7th highest)

·         2011 unemployment rate: 6 percent

 

2.      Netherlands 

·         Average annual hours per person: 1,336

·         Average working hours per week: 25.7

·         Average wage per hour: $42.67 (4th highest)

·         2011 unemployment: 4.4 percent

 

3.      France 

·         Average annual hours per person: 1,392

·         Average working hours per week: 26.8

·         Average wage per hour: $34.26 (8th highest)

·         2011 unemployment rate: 9.3 percent

 

4.      Austria 

·         Average annual hours per person: 1,431

·         Average working hours per week: 27.5

·         Average wage per hour: $36.63 (6th highest)

·         2011 unemployment rate: 4.2 percent

 

5.      Belgium 

·         Average annual hours per person: 1,446

·         Average working hours per week: 27.8

·         Average wage per hour: $38.90 (5th highest)

·         2011 unemployment rate: 7.2 percent

 

6.      Ireland
 Average annual hours per person: 1,469
> Average working hours per week: 28.3
> Average wage per hour: $45.53 (3rd highest)
> 2011 unemployment rate: 14.6%

 

7.      Denmark
> Average annual hours per person: 1,496
> Average working hours per week: 28.8
> Average wage per hour: $48.82 (the highest)
> 2011 unemployment rate: 7.7%

 

8.       Luxembourg
> Average annual hours per person: 1,565
> Average working hours per week: 30.1
> Average wage per hour: $46.78 (2nd highest)
> 2011 unemployment rate: 4.9%

 

9.      Finland
> Average annual hours per person: 1,578
> Average working hours per week: 30.3
> Average wage per hour: $33.63 (9th highest)
> 2011 unemployment rate: 7.9%

 

10.  United Kingdom
> Average annual hours per person: 1,611
> Average working hours per week: 31
> Average wage per hour: $31.27 (11th highest)
> 2011 unemployment rate: 8% 

Check out the full article and list by 24/7 Wall Street - full article

 

Tags: labor, least, lazy, efficient, work, employment, most, wage, europe, career, job, business

Are you working on your fantasy football draft projections?  The NFL has become a passing league in the past decade and the statistics below sourced from the folks at Pro-Football Reference show that other than Dan Marino and Kurt Warner, most of the top 10 best single season performances have occurred in the last ten years.  Which of these NFL quarterbacks will go down as the best NFL Quarterback of all time?

Rank	Player (age)	TD	Year	Teams
1.	Tom Brady (30)	50	2007	NWE
2.	Peyton Manning (28)	49	2004	IND
3.	Dan Marino+ (23)	48	1984	MIA
4.	Drew Brees (32)	46	2011	NOR
5.	Aaron Rodgers (28)	45	2011	GNB
6.	Dan Marino+ (25)	44	1986	MIA
7.	Matthew Stafford (23)	41	2011	DET
	Kurt Warner (28)	41	1999	STL
9.	Daunte Culpepper (27)	39	2004	MIN
	Brett Favre (27)	39	1996	GNB
	Tom Brady (34)	39	2011	NWE

Which QB will lead the NFL in 2012?

Tags: NFL, Touchdown, quarterback, best, list, rank, most, season, brady, brees, favre, manning, marino, rodgers, football, points, record, stafford

Interesting article on corporate taxes and CEO pay.

 

 

Tags: tax, CEO, salary, pay, corporate, deduction, shelter, USA, IRS, 2011, AIG, AT&T, Motorola, Tyco, list, rank, evade