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Jay-Z and Kanye West continue their successful week following the release of  Watch The Throne on Monday. Today, Forbes released its annual Hip Hop Cash Kings list ranking the top earners this calendar year. Jay-Z comes in at #1 for the second straight year, bringing in an estimated $37 million. Diddy, who topped the Forbes Five list in March, followed with $35 million, while Kanye West rounded out the top three with $16 million.

Jay topped this year’s list thanks to his Blueprint 3 tour sales, his stake with the New Jersey Nets, the on-going $150 million deal with Live Nation, his 40/40 club franchise, ad firm Translation and more. This becomes the fourth time in the past five years he’s topped Forbes’ list. History was also made as Nicki Minaj became the first female to make the list, debuting at #15 this year with $6.5 million due to the success of her multi-platinum album, Pink Friday.

via Forbes

Read the full list after the jump….

Forbes Cash Kings 2011: Hip-Hop’s Top 20 Earners:

1. Jay-Z – $37 million
2. Diddy – $35 million
3. Kanye West – $16 million
4. Lil Wayne  – $15 million
4. Birdman  – $15 million
6. Eminem  – $14 million
6. Dr. Dre  – $14 million
6. Snoop Dogg  – $14 million
9. Akon – $13 million
10. Ludacris – $12 million
11. Wiz Khalifa  – $11 million
11. Drake – $11 million
13. Pharrell Williams – $10 million
14. Timbaland – $7 million
15. Swizz Beatz  – $6.5 million
15. Nicki Minaj  – $6.5 million
17. Rick Ross  – $6 million
17. 50 Cent  – $6 million
17. Pitbull  – $6 million
20. T-Pain  – $5 million
20. B.o.B  – $5 million

Previously: Jay-Z Reigns #1 On Forbes 2010 Cash King List