Back in 2007, Jay-Z, Diddy and 50 Cent gave us “I Get Money (The Forbes 1-2-3 Billion Dollar Remix).” The song, which is the only official collaboration between the three hip-hop heavyweights, was recorded in celebration of the triumvirate’s position atop the inaugural Forbes Hip-Hop Cash Kings list.
The song ushered in a wave of lyrical mentions. In 2009, Akon added “Forbes Cash King.” The following year, Bruno Mars and Travie McCoy released “Billionaire,” with its catchy chorus voicing a desire to be “on the cover of Forbes magazine.” According to RapGenius.com, the name “Forbes” has shown up in 31 different songs since the Billion Dollar Remix made its debut.
The latest lyrical shout-out comes from up-and-coming rapper Tauheed “2 Chainz” Epps, who recently released the song “Forbes Musik” with DJ Infamous and Jim Jones (listen below).
The Atlanta-based emcee, who’s worked with the likes of Lil Wayne, Ludacris and T.I., came to the Forbes studio late last month (video below) to discuss the inspiration behind his song–and gave his thoughts on the reasons behind hip-hop’s growing interest in Forbes.
“Hip-hop deals with bragging and braggadocio, being boastful,” 2 Chainz explained. “It’s always been about who’s got the most money. A way that you can detect it is, [a valuation] coming from a magazine that’s reputable.”
Making the Forbes list, then, is in some ways the ultimate bragging right. Just as the words “Benz” or “Rolex” signify money, so too does “Forbes.” The connection has surprised many, but perhaps it shouldn’t–our brand is built on issues like the Forbes 400, a ranking of the country’s wealthiest individuals, and other “rich lists” like the Celeb 100and Hip-Hop Cash Kings packages.
To be sure, there are a handful of artists who aren’t eager to see their names on the list. Think someone like Pharrell Williams, whose music isn’t based on boasting about financial success. Then there are those who try to downplay our wealth estimates ahead of pending divorces or alimony hearings. Same goes for billionaires. But for the most part, top-earning artists are pleased to see their names in Forbes. Some even take a page from Donald Trump’s book and insist that our estimates are too low.
And make no mistake–just as inclusion in our list often prompts a gleeful reaction from recording artists, we at Forbes get a bit more bounce in our step anytime our employer is lionized in song. As one staffer tweeted after hearing the 2 Chainz verse: “Whatever causes rappers to rap about Forbes, gosh I hope it continues.”
To hear more from 2 Chainz, including additional thoughts on Forbes, what inspires him to write songs, and his pick to be hip-hop’s first billionaire, check out the video interview below.
