Money has been the subject of Hip Hop songs since the early beginnings of the genre, although the 90s and 2000s took it to another level. Since the days of Rakim and Big Daddy Kane, both of whom were well-known for bragging in their rhymes, rappers always had the tendency to be flashy through their lyrics as well as appearance. Gold chains, fancy cars, and mansions – we have heard it all in rap songs over the years.
But it is important to remember that it’s just entertainment, and not every rapper leads a lavish lifestyle. Some have certainly made enough money to back up such claims, including the likes of Jay-Z and P. Diddy – but the majority of rappers tend to fall way short of claims made in their songs. In the past decade, the rap culture has become flashier than ever with rappers competing to prove to the world that they are indeed rich – and some went on to do so through antics across various social media platforms.
From posing with stacks of cash to showing off mansions, cars, and exotic pets – there are rappers who will do just about anything to portray the image of a wealthy businessman. By now, most fans realize that rappers love to exaggerate their wealth – and there have been many that have been outed for faking their lifestyle for the sake of stunting on social media. With today’s list, we look at 25 rappers that talk a big game but aren’t as rich as they say:
25 Fat Joe
Considering how many hits Fat Joe has made over the course of his career, most fans would expect him to be doing well. But it is evident that he hadn’t taken care of his finances since Joe was in trouble for many years – owing approximately $3 million. He would end up serving a term for unpaid bills, so you can take everything that he says with a grain of salt. He may brag often in his rhymes and assure you that he has an incredible life – but that doesn’t seem to be quite the case.
24 Tyga
If you have seen any music video by Tyga, or happen to follow him on social media then you know that he takes great pride in showing off his lavish lifestyle. But as they call it, Tyga is stunting for Instagram more than anything else since he isn’t nearly as rich as he wants us to believe. In the past, he has had some financial troubles and also had trouble paying for his Malibu home. This goes to show that you shouldn’t believe everything that you hear from rappers because they are entertainers after all.
23 Bow Wow
There was a time when Bow Wow was a relevant figure in the music industry, but it has been over a decade since he was last successful as a rapper. But that hasn’t stopped the rapper from making exaggerated claims in his songs, as well as social media – making him a meme among Hip Hop fans who are always quick to call him out on some of his posts. And if Bow Wow was living as lavish as he claims then he certainly wouldn’t have accepted to host 106 & Park in its dying days.
22 Swizz Beatz
Like so many rappers, Swizz Beatz was also not taking care of finances despite talking a big game in all his songs. While he is primarily known as a producer, Swizz has also attempted to rap over the years with songs like “Money In The Bank”. He hasn’t gone broke despite being hit with a bill of $2.6 million – which he reportedly struggled to pay off for a number of years. These days, Swizz is keeping a low profile for the most part barring a few posts on social media, but he certainly isn’t balling as much as he claimed in his younger days.
21 Nelly
Nelly had an impressive run at the top with a number of hits that still get played to this day. But it is no secret that rappers tend to be big spenders even when they are no longer in the limelight. Nelly may have been one of the highest paid rappers in the early to mid-2000s, but his income has significantly decreased as he is no longer in hot demand. Two years ago, he joined a list of artists to receive a hefty bill from the IRS with reports claiming that he owes approximately $2.4 million in unpaid bills.
20 Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes was extremely flashy in his younger days – even more so than the average rapper. To his credit, he was able to remain relevant in the industry for so long but not quite enough to make a fortune. In 2008, he released a song titled “Arab Money” in which the rappers alleges to have a bank account that is in line with the wealthiest Arabs. But as most fans would have probably guessed, that wasn’t necessarily the reality. A few years later, it was reported that Busta is having financial issues.
19 Lil Kim
Not many could have predicted Lil Kim’s fall in the 90s when she was the most popular female rapper on the scene. She has been the center of controversy, and has had various beefs in the Hip Hop world. Last month, Kim returned to making headlines for the wrong reasons with reports about her problems with money. Whenever Kim releases new music, she is still bragging as she did two decades ago although it is no longer believable. With a debt of $4 million that Kim claims she is unable to pay off, it’s safe to say Queen Bee hasn’t kept her priorities straight.
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18 Flavor Flav
Flavor Flav has certainly left an impact on the rap industry even if it may not be for his rhymes. Known for his role as the hype man to the legendary group Public Enemy, Flavor Flav had plenty of success in the past. There was a time when Flavor Flav wore the most gigantic and expensive chains during his appearances, but considering his IRS troubles – including a hefty bill of $3.1 million – he may have to part ways with his jewelry. And while the rapper is known for sporting luxurious clocks as a chain, he clearly hasn’t kept track of his finances.
17 T.I
From his rhymes to style, T.I is always looking as flashy as possible with designer clothes and expensive jewelry. During his career, the rapper has certainly been among the highest paid in the industry but he has also been hit with multiple bills over the years. It was initially estimated at around $100K – which he reportedly paid off. Fast forward to 2016, and it was reported that he had the same problem but this time with a higher number of $6.2 million. T.I may not be broke but he can no longer afford to neglect his financial responsibilities as he gets older.
16 50 Cent
During his prime years, 50 Cent couldn’t stop talking about money – his studio album was named “Get Rich Or Die Tryin” after all. But the rapper has seen better days as his fortune took a major hit in the past few years due to lawsuits and bad investments. He ended up claiming that he had lost most of the fortune he had made in previous years. And while he is certainly worth more than his stage name indicates, 50 is no longer balling as he was in his prime years. He had been considered one of Hip Hop’s premier businessmen prior to his recent fall.
15 Soulja Boy
Say what you want about Soulja Boy as a rapper, but you cannot deny that he has helped in changing the music industry through his rise to fame. Although it has been a number of years since he was last relevant in the scene, Soulja Boy is still attempting to resurrect his career with new projects. The rapper has had problems with money, and he seems to have certainly toned down his lavish lifestyle from years ago. There was a time when Soulja Boy dedicated a YouTube channel just to show off his material possessions, but those days are long gone now.
14 Meek Mill
At some point, Meek Mill was among the hottest up and coming rappers in the game then went on to have multiple hits in a span of two years. But the rapper embarked on a bad streak of which questionable decisions from his career standpoint to financial investments. Meek reportedly spent $540,000 on a chain – a decision that he has likely come to regret by now. Considering that he constantly talks about money and material possessions, Meek lands on this list since he isn’t quite the baller that he claims to be – as confirmed by his ex-girlfriend, Nicki Minaj.
13 21 Savage
21 Savage has been among the most popular rappers in the past three years and has plenty of songs in which he brags about his finances as well as lifestyle. But it seems like he has learned from the mistakes of other rappers as he revealed his intention to stop buying jewelry. Last month, 21 Savage noted in an interview that he is looking to cut some expenses out as he begins thinking long term. And while it is a commendable move, it also shows that he clearly isn’t quite as rich as he always claims – at least not yet.
12 Young Jeezy
If you happen to be a fan of Young Jeezy, you are likely well aware of to what expect from the rapper by now. When it comes to subject matter, he has never been diverse as all his songs revolve around money, hustling and braggadocio rhymes. Jeezy has fallen off the radar in recent years with his last hit coming six years ago, while his latest album didn’t exactly perform well on the charts. In the past, he has had debt, while one of his former artists Freddie Gibbs had previously noted that Jeezy isn’t nearly as rich as he portrays himself to be.
11 Gucci Mane
When you have Gucci Mane as your stage name, there is not much else that needs to be said. He has never been one to shy away from rapping about material things, while claiming to have a lavish lifestyle that most people cannot afford. Gucci Mane returned to the rap game in hopes of banking some more money since he had already faced some major losses. But the rapper was hit with a bill of approximately $800,000. Life isn’t quite as Gucci as the rapper wants his listeners to believe.
10 Iggy Azalea
Iggy Azalea rose to fame thanks to her monstrous hit “Fancy” which topped the charts in the United States as well as multiple countries. And while she had a great rookie year, Azalea has faded away from the spotlight and hasn’t been quite as relevant in the music industry. Last year, it was revealed that she owed $300,000 in unpaid credit card bills so it is clear that she was living fancy, but not exactly on her personal budget. With her latest single being titled Kream in which she once again talks about money, it seems like Azalea persists on portraying the image of a young, rich and flashy.
9 Jadakiss
There aren’t many rappers that brag in their rhymes nearly as much as Jadakiss does. Known for exaggerating when it comes to his lifestyle, it is evident by now that Jadakiss may not have a bathtub that lifts up or walls that do a 360 – as he once claimed in a song. But at least he does he owe any significant debt, so it appears that Jadakiss’ financial status is stable at the time. But he definitely isn’t enjoying the lifestyle of a millionaire based on what we know about him – not that it’s going to stop him from making such claims.
8 Juvenile
It’s been over a decade since Juvenile was among the hottest rappers in the game. He had an impressive run from the late 90s to the mid-2000s – but with the industry undergoing major changes, Juvenile didn’t maintain his popularity with the younger generations. He could not make the payments toward child support and it amounted to $150,000. Despite his success years ago, we can’t imagine Juvenile maintaining the same lifestyle that he had back then even if he may still be rhyming about it. Needless to say, it is probably for the best that he settles his debt as he may end up serving another term.
7 The Game
The Game has been a popular figure for 15 years now although it only seems like yesterday when he made his debut. Throughout the years, he has been among the most controversial rappers thanks to his tendency to greatly exaggerate when it comes to just about anything. In the past, he has stolen photos on Instagram to display the supposed baller lifestyle that he has. And when you consider the fact he is constantly involved in lawsuits – many of which he lost – then you realize that undoubtedly his finances have taken a major hit.
6 Young Thug
Young Thug quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the most popular rappers in recent years. But it seems like his popularity is already on a steady decline, so Thugger may want to think twice about his lifestyle. Given that he was recently in hot waters for owing $2.2 million in house payments, he will have to start thinking long-term before it’s too late. Only very few rappers manage to remain relevant for more than a few years as the industry is always changing with new faces. Manny Halley, who was his former manager, made claims regarding Thug neglecting his financial responsibilities.
5 Offset
Offset has had plenty of success in recent years as a member of Migos, but he may have neglected some financial responsibilities along the way. Although the exact amount hasn’t been revealed, the company he had trouble with seems keen on retrieving the money owed to them by Offset. Considering that Offset loves to stunt at any given opportunity, he may have to put that on hold for the time being and focus on getting back on track with his finances.
4 Rick Ross
When you nickname yourself The Boss and have a record label Maybach Music, you must have a luxurious lifestyle, to say the least. Rick Ross has never been one to rap about various topics as he tends to stick to material things for the most part. And when it comes to the music videos, Ross is always attempting to portray a certain image – but it may not reflect reality these days. With $5.7 million owed in unpaid bills, Ross may have more important things to worry about than Hip Hop beefs and proving that he is indeed a boss.
3 Lloyd Banks
Since arriving on the scene, Lloyd Banks always bragged about everything that you can think of from being one of the best lyricists to his fly lifestyle. Unfortunately for Banks, he hasn’t exactly been a mainstream artist in a number of years with his last hit coming in 2010. And now that he is off G-Unit records, he isn’t exactly living the lavish life that he claims to in his rhymes. Perhaps he did so at some point when he was apart of the hottest group in the rap game, but it’s been over a decade and Banks has lost most of his listeners from back then.
2 Ma$e
In the 90s, it was nearly impossible to escape hearing Ma$e on a record who quickly rose to the top thanks to his association with P. Diddy, and a unique style that put him at the forefront of mainstream rap. But once he decided to quit the industry to become a pastor, Ma$e has never quite regained that same magic despite numerous comebacks. To this day, he still brags just as he did in 1997 – but it isn’t exactly believable anymore. While he is living just fine these days, he is no longer enjoying the same lifestyle during the peak of his popularity. To make matters worse, it has been recently revealed that he owes $33,583.67 in bills.
1 Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne was the most popular and successful rapper for a number of years, but those days are long gone now as he has struggled to be relevant in recent times. He has also had some personal issues to deal with along the way, which affected his rap career as well as financial status. Every year, it seems like there is a new report about Wayne owing debt to various parties with the latest one being a credit card worth $87,000. He also reportedly owes over $1 million, and had some of his art collection seized to cover another debt owned to a jet company.
Sources: Vladtv, DJBooth, Billboard
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