Billboard Names Lil Wayne Top R&B/Rapper Of 2011, Nicki Minaj Places Second

LIL WAYNE NAMED TOP ARTIST OF 2011 AND NICKI MINAJ IS SECOND!

(AllHipHop News) Young Money CEO Lil Wayne will end 2011 as the top R&B/Hip-Hop artist, according to data released by Billboard magazine.

The rapper had a banner year, thanks to his hits album Tha Carter IV.

The release debuted at #1, sold almost a million copies during its first week in stores and is certified double platinum.

Lil Wayne also scored four #1 singles, along with 24 chart entries on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart during 2011 alone.

Lil Wayne was also one of the top touring artists of 2011 as well.

The rapper performed 69 arena shows in 2011, that were attended by a total of 712,000 people.

Lil Wayne’s total gross for touring in 2011 was $46,300,000.

The good news for the Young Money brand doesn’t stop with Lil Wayne.

Nicki Minaj has landed at #2 on the list of Billboard’s top artists in 2011, thanks to the success of her debut album Pink Friday.

Pink Friday spent six weeks at #1 on the Top R&B Albums and produced six Top 10 singles.

Nicki was also named the Top Rap artist by Billboard, besting Lil Wayne, Drake and Kanye West.

It’s also the first time a female rapper has topped the year-end chart since Missy Elliott landed at the top in 2000.

Bryan “Birdman” Williams, is the CEO of Cash Money, the label that distributes Young Money.

In recent interview with AllHipHop.com, Williams said both labels were ready to top 2011’s accomplishments in 2012.

“Nicki’s coming out…Tyga, Twist, Bow Wow, myself, Kevin Rudolph, Jay Sean,” Williams told AllHipHop.com. “Wayne got another album, everybody. I mean, we’re gonna drop 10 to 14 albums in the first six months of the year, so everybody’s cocked and loaded.”

Other notables on Billboard’s top R&B/Hip-Hop year end list includes Chris Brown, Miguel and Wiz Khalifa.