Forbes Magazine’s Most Powerful Celebrity List includes Hip Hop artists for the first time

By: Ashley Finigan

The Australian newspaper the Courier Mail has reported that for the first time in the history of the publication Forbes Magazine has included hip hop artists in their “Most Powerful Celebrity List”. As Paris Hilton was dropped from the list due to her runs in with the law and film stars Cameron Diaz, Jim Carrey and Halle Berry were not included due to poor box office sales, hip hop moguls replaced these stars because of impressive financial gains. The list is put ranked by celebrity earning power and the level of their public profile on television and the internet.

On the list is Jay-Z, who as President of Def Jam Records placed above Irish super group U2 and below actor, Tom Cruise. Joining Jay-Z is fellow mogul and Queens native, 50 Cent at 32^nd place, bolstered by his stock in the popular Vitamin Water drink.   Their placement on the list represents both the changing times, with hip hop culture at the forefront of the media and in the financial sector.