Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969),better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American hip hop artist and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $150 million, selling over 30 million copies of his albums in the United States alone and receiving several Grammy Awards for his musical work. Jay-Z co-owns The 40/40 Club and the NBA's New Jersey Nets and is also the creator of the clothing line Rocawear. He is the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings, one of the three founders of Roc-A-Fella Records and recently, the founder of his new venture Roc Nation. He is also the current holder for the record of most number one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200. Jay-Z also had 4 number ones on the Billboard Hot 100, one as lead artist. (Heartbreaker with Mariah Carey, Crazy in Love with Beyonce, Umbrella with Rihanna and Empire State of Mind featuring Alicia Keys.)
Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969), known by his stage name Diddy, is an American record producer, rapper, actor, men's fashion designer, entrepreneur and dancer. He won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally known as Puff Daddy and then as P. Diddy (Puff and Puffy being often used as a nickname, but never as recording names). In August 2005, he changed his stage name to "Diddy". He continues to use the name P. Diddy in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the latter after a legal battle with another artist, Richard "Diddy" Dearlove. In June 2008 Combs' representative denied rumors of another name change. His business interests under the umbrella of Bad Boy Entertainment Worldwide include Bad Boy Records; the clothing lines Sean John; Sean by Sean Combs, a movie production company; and two restaurants. He has taken the roles of recording executive, performer, producer of MTV's Making the Band, writer, arranger, clothing designer, and Broadway actor. Combs is one of the richest hip-hop performers, having a net worth estimated at US $346 million in 2006.
Russell Wendell Simmons (born October 4, 1957) is an American entrepreneur, the co-founder, with Rick Rubin, of the pioneering hip-hop label Def Jam, and creator of the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyle-culture, and American Classics. Russell Simmons is the younger brother of Daniel Simmons, Jr and he is the older brother of Rev. Joseph Simmons, better known as "Run" of Run-DMC, and son of Daniel Simmons, Sr, a public school administrator and Evelyn Simmons, a New York City park administrator. His brother Daniel Simmons, Jr is an accomplished abstract artist. Russell Simmons has been vegan since 1998, and advocates the adoption of veganism citing animal rights along with the environmental and health benefits. Since May 2005 he has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post. In January 2009 he was named Editor-In-Chief of GlobalGrind.com: The World According To Hip-Hop Russell Simmons is the third richest figure in hip hop, having a net-worth estimate of $340 million[3], behind Jay-Z with $547M and Sean Combs with $358M.
