When people talk about savviest independent rappers in the game, Rich The Kid is a name that’s been popping up more and more.

The 24-year-old Queens-native who moved to Atlanta when he was 13 has created a brand and business around himself that’s impressive for any kid his age.

By just being a student of the game, Rich The Kid transitioned his hustle from pushing mixtapes to charging racks for a feature verse. When it comes to the business, Rich The Kid knows his worth in an industry where it’s all about authenticity.

Now that he’s actually in the game, he’s playing it his way and stacking mad bread in the process. Through strategic partnerships and just fuckin’ with the right people, he’s established himself as one of the hardest working young artists in the game.

With such a broad vision, set on conquering every lane possible, only time will tell how far the Rich The Kid brand can really go. This is how he turned the habit of working hard to claiming the title of being the hardest worker (his words).

Rich The Kid is proof that hard work truly pays off when you have a vision and work towards it.

There’s NO success without struggle 🔑

A post shared by Rich The Kid (@richthekid) on May 9, 2017 at 5:26pm PDT

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His story started off just like everyone as a regular kid but then he decided to start making moves.

My dad think he a movie star at Church today 😂😂😂⭐️🙌🏽 #BlessedWay

A post shared by Rich The Kid (@richthekid) on May 7, 2017 at 1:40pm PDT

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The run of music he’s been creating over the past few years shows why he has the lifestyle he can afford.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUK2ZLOh7AB/

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In 2013 he dropped his debut mixtape Been About The Benjamins.

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That same year he collabed with Migos to drop Streets On Lock  parts 1 and 2.

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They would drop part 3 to this mixtape trilogy in 2014.

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His second solo mixtape Feels Good To Be Rich dropped later that year too.

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In just under two years, Rich The Kid came from seemingly out of nowhere to having a stacked catalog and the respect of all his peers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSZSw0xBLVh/

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With his success with Migos beforehand, they would drop their fourth collab project, Still On Lock, in 2015.

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Keeping the grind going, Rich The Kid then dropped another solo project later that same year called Flexin’ On Purpose which had features from Ty Dolla $ign and Young Dolph.

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Then he linked up with Migos again to drop Streets On Lock 4 which featured 27 tracks and featured 2 Chainz.

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Still in 2015, he released an 8-track project with Makonnen called Whip It which even got featured in Madden 17 a couple years later.

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The last project he’d drop that year would be Dabbin’ Fever.

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In just two years he ran through mixtapes to the point where he was making some serious cash. But how would he follow up his most productive year?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSMjLPXBjjG/

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In 2016, he officially formed his own label called Rich Forever Music. He signed his first artist Famous Dex and producer TheLabCook.

https://twitter.com/RichForeverInc/status/723577387816898560

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The first official release from his label came that year with Rich Forever Music: The Mixtape.

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Then a couple weeks later he dropped Trap Talk which featured Kodak Black, 21 Savage and PartyNextDoor.

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He made the XXL Freshman class around this time and his career has been on a rocket ever since.

https://twitter.com/RichForeverInc/status/724424377845030913

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The Rich Forever 2 mixtape was also released later that year which featured Wiz, Young Thug, Lil Yachty, Playboi Carti and Jaden Smith.

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Later in 2016, Rich The Kid signed a deal with 300 Entertainment for 300 to be a parent company for Rich Forever Music.

https://twitter.com/richforeverinc/status/746750896747470849

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In just four years, Rich The Kid literally outworked his competition to reach the top.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BS9HS7zBXh-/

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In an interview with Forbes he says he’s able to charge anywhere from $10,000 – $15,000 for a guest verse.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BT9ii_7h6r-/

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These days he’s getting on tracks with Justin Bieber and Diplo…

https://twitter.com/RichForeverInc/status/764692300899508224

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Touring the world playing all of his hits…

https://twitter.com/RichForeverInc/status/749250761989754880

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And living a life so many kids dream of.

https://twitter.com/RichForeverInc/status/741710631481409536

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When you’re kicking it with Jaden Smith you know you’re getting bread!

https://twitter.com/RichForeverInc/status/736648900191395841

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The scary part is that it’s only really been four years and if he keeps up this work ethic it’s a wrap for the game.

https://twitter.com/richthekid/status/866480367640788992

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Rich The Kid knows what it takes to be successful in rap now and there’s no stopping him.

https://twitter.com/richthekid/status/862055301331075072

While most people might know him for being that smooth dude on ‘Shark Tank’, Daymond John is more than just another successful businessman on TV.

The Queens-native is yet another example of the American dream; a young man who was deadass broke but hustled his ass off to be in the position he is today.

From chauffeuring his own 15-passenger vans in his section of Hollis, to selling t-shirts out the back of his van up and down the east coast, Daymond John did countless things not many kids would even try in 2017.

His big break came in the early 90s when he launched FUBU and the brand took off to become one of the most culturally relevant brands of a generation. By 1998, John built his company’s value to $350 million and today it’s a global brand valued at $6 billion, according to Forbes.

Daymond himself is worth an estimated $300 million. Not bad for a kid from Queens.

Today, the brand is as brolic as ever as he gets to invest in pretty much anything he wants, both on and off ‘Shark Tank’. His philosophies are studied today by many young entrepreneurs who can relate to his story and aspire to reach his level of flyness.

On the show you can see a calm, collected dude who knows what he’s doing and what he wants when it comes to investments. But it was his humble beginning that allowed Daymond John to see business the way he does.

Here are 8 Daymond John quotes that will help you in business and life.

Every successful person seems to consistently say the same thing about failure… because it’s true. You’re never going to make it on your first try and it’s your persistence to stay grounded and figure shit out that gets you to your goals.

Plans can change but people rarely do. If you’re the type to just drop everything once shit gets tough, then you’ll never get anything done in life. Daymond John took one hustle to fuel the next. In America that’s what it takes: never giving up.

He’s failed way more than he’s succeeded. It’s just that his successes have now far overshadowed his failures.

This is one of the most important pieces of advice DJ has ever spoken. So many times people believe that time is on their side or that they should wait certain things out to start what they know they should be doing.

But time is never on ya side, b. The only time you got is what you have right now in this moment. If you’re working towards your goals and being aggressive with what you want, then eventually something is going to happen. But if you’re just at the crib shwapping it all day, it’s quiet for you.

Problem solving, and more importantly strategizing, is the most important part of building a brand or business. What are your goals? What do you need to do to reach them? What obstacles are in the way?

If you don’t know the answer to any of these questions there have been many people who’ve come before you, like a Daymond John, who’ve paved the way and answer a lot of the unknown. If not, there’s always you and Google, FOH and figure shit out.

Losing money and making a fool of yourself is one of the reasons people are afraid to fail. But it’s when you have to tuck your tail between your legs, go back to the drawing board, and start from scratch where some of the greatest ideas begin.

Looking back on it today, FUBU might’ve never have become the $6 billion company if he didn’t have the determination and vision to keep shit going. If you’re going to fail, and you will, try to fail forward.

As corny as that “your net worth is your network” saying goes, it’s also low key true.

Who you’re able to surround and align yourself with dictates a lot with your overall direction and who you end up doing business with.

The best thing to do is to never burn bridges (unless that person was a true f*ckboy) but if you’re not able to see how you could eventually build with someone in the future, what’s the point of even keeping them there?

When it comes to building the brazy ideas you have, not everyone is going to understand the vision. Find the ones who do, but beyond that put in the extra hours that none of them are trying to do.

Understand your craft, competitors and goals just like Daymond John did with FUBU. Create something that will not only sustain you, but push you and change things around you. If that’s not what you’re working for then go drive a city bus.

No journey to success is walked alone. It takes a team, motivators and most importantly mentors. Daymond had help along the way and he now spends time giving back to the new generation, spreading his knowledge and kicking game to the next generation of hustlers.

But mentors go far beyond just business. They are people to help guide you through the confusing and murky parts of life and business to be able to overcome obstacles and hone in on what you’re really supposed to be focusing on.

You think Daymond John is done creating this wealth? Not even close. As an entrepreneur, that itch to keep building and expanding never goes away.

In fact, the further you get, the more your drive will continue grow and the more life you unlock and shit.

You’re definitely gonna keep failing but in the process you learn more about business and yourself. The more you actually try, the more you’re gonna get.

When it comes to hustlers in the rap game, there are two types making waves on that entrepreneurial tip.

Obviously, first you’d have to the moguls at the top of the list. The guys like 50 Cent who went from drug dealing to selling platinum records. Now he’s executive producing on television and landing movie roles with a net worth of $150 million.

Not to mention the five richest guys in hip-hop who just made it to the Forbes Five.

Then there’s the younger independent artists who are kinda like the startups, finessing their way through the game and controlling their own brand. It takes a shitload of work but guys like Chance The Rapper and Curren$y have found the formula.

Then there’s artists like Nipsey Hussle.

He falls somewhere in between that independent rapper title and mogul status but if there’s one thing that’s for certain, sooner or later he’s headed to that Forbes list.

That’s because his mindset for business and the way he strategizes his marketing is already up there with some of the best. But how, you ask?

Nipsey has been in the game since he dropped his first mixtape Slauson Boy Vol. 1 in 2005.

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He would go on to grind for the next five years collaborating with the likes of Drake, Snoop Dogg and Problem.

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But he didn’t get to flex his business acumen until he walked away from his deal with Epic Records to go independent in 2010. This is when Nipsey began to shine.

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He then launched his own record label All Money In. That’s when he released his mixtape The Marathon which also became a mantra.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTNA-4BBaJ7/

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What made Nipsey different though was his strategic marketing scheme to sell records in an industry where no one buys shit anymore. So what did he do?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGe8Ppwpy0S/

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He priced his 2013 mixtape Crenshaw for $100 each and reportedly sold 1,000 copies.

5 days #CRENSHAW

Free on http://t.co/t1HLMzLpoq

$100 for a 1 of 1000 Proud2pay hard copy w access to the secrect live event. TBA soon.

— THA GREAT (@NipseyHussle) October 3, 2013

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That means he made $100,000 in 24 hours for the project. This was the trailer he made leading up to the release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74IxsEDRYZk

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Even Jay Z bought 100 copies by himself totaling a $10,000 transaction.

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With the success of this strategy, Nipsey keeps trying to find new and different ways to monetize his product and his brand. He did a similar thing for the albumVictory Lap through the Proud 2 Pay program, also offering it up for free with an option to buy. Through this genius marketing, and a rabid fanbase, people still copped Victory Lap for $100.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSXaoVkBOXD/

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Nipsey ran this marketing plan back again for the mixtape Mailbox Money but capped the $100 copies to just 1,000 orders, making them more exclusive.

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Nipsey Hussle understands supply and demand and the psychology of the consumer. People will talk about the fact that there’s a limited supply of only 1,000 his mixtapes at a cost of $100 and in turn people will cop.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEFVv5yJy7C/

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He actually got the idea to price his mixtapes at this amount from author Jonah Berger who wrote about a restaurant that charged $100 for a Philly Cheesesteak in the book Contagious.

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Nipsey is able to release his music and brand himself like this in large part due to his success.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHu0bbuA8HO/

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Nipsey can give his music to guys like LeBron to preview who he knows will help promote his shit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSou5tUBCJK/

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Other stars like Isaiah Thomas rock Nipsey’s brand All Money In. The Crenshaw rapper develops meaningful and loyal relationships with stars and spreads his movement throughout popular venues, like the NBA.

@isaiahthomas wearing the all money logo hat after securing the #1 ranking in the east Going into the playoffs. 🏁

A post shared by Nipsey Hussle (@nipseyhussle) on Apr 13, 2017 at 7:50am PDT

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Nipsey is one of the most respected artists in the game, not just for his music but for his bold and savvy business moves.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BM5ybJ_gn8E/

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He’s currently working with his city to build more small businesses within the community.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BT7IOYajeBu/

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And he even has his own weed strain, sold in California dispensaries.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTprg2jhapA/

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He even collaborated with Fatburger when they opened their first franchise in Compton by giving employees special edition uniforms to rock.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BH-FHxhgvaU/

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In an age where artists get fucked with 360 deals and royalty splits, independent artists like Nipsey are controlling their own future. As his label says it best, All Money In.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJMVdaUA7au/

Yesterday Forbes released their annual Forbes Five of the richest hip-hop artists in the game and there weren’t exactly any surprises.

The names here are pretty much what we’ve come to expect on these kinds of lists, with the biggest moguls in hip-hop making up the top 5.

Diddy comes in at number one on this list, he’s essentially become a mainstay when it comes to the top of the Forbes Five. As Zack O’Malley Greenburg writes, “the only thing more predictable than a Diddy name change? His place atop our annual list of the wealthiest hip-hop artists.”

But Greenburg also points out that Diddy has found himself some real competition at the top echelon of hip-hop opulence. This competition comes in the form of Brooklyn native Jay Z, whose net worth has spiked in the last year,

“Jay Z’s fortune has jumped 30% in the past year after a $200 million investment from Sprint reportedly put the valuation of his music-streaming service, Tidal, at $600 million, more than 10 times what he paid for the company two years ago.”

Slotting in at third is superproducer and Beats founder Dr. Dre. In 2014 Dre sold Beats to Apple for $3 billion, which puts his net worth at an estimated $740 million.

The top three on this list are in a completely different class, falling just short of the billionaire tag. Diddy is worth a reported $820 million, Hov at $810 million is right behind him, and Dre rounds out this top three.

At number four is Birdman, but to illustrate the sharp drop off from those three mega-moguls, Birdman is valued at about $110 million.

That’s not chump change by any means, but Birdman is not touching those three legends, especially with the chaos going on over at Cash Money Records. Having Drake, Lil Wayne, and Nicki Minaj on your label only works until they leave, which all three have reportedly expressed their desire to do.

Rounding out the top 5 is by far the youngest on this list, Drake. While not altogether shocking, Drake’s place on this list shows the moves he’s been making with a streaming deal with Apple music and sponsorship partnerships with Nike and Sprite.

While the music industry has changed pretty radically in the last twenty years, artists have found different ways to make money, beyond album sales. Whether it’s being at the forefront of streaming services, lucrative sponsorship deals, or making the dankest sounding headphones, these hip-hop moguls have used their entrepreneurial drive to make wild bread despite the changing face of the industry.