We've often wondered how much our favorite rappers get paid to collaborate - so we decided to find out! Here are some of the fat checks that were cashed for guest verses in hip hop, from Eminem to Jay-Z.
40. Eminem: Verse for Verse
He’s not just the real Slim Shady, it's safe to say that Eminem paved the road for rap and set a pretty high standard for the genre! This might be why Tech N9ne was so shocked when Eminem named his price for a feature in a new track.
TechN9ne let slip that Eminem had agreed to do a verse on his track for... no money at all. "[Eminem] did the verse for nothing but a swap," he said. "I was flabbergasted... For him to say, 'I just want a song from you for this.'" Not everyone in the biz can say that they're not in it for the money!
39. Lil Yachty: $3,500
With his red braids and fire bars, it's been entertaining watching Lil Yachty come up from obscurity to being one of the more successful hip-hop artists in contemporary times. And although he raps about Oprah's Bank Account, there's no doubt he's got an impressive bank account of his own.
In fact, when he was performing in 2016 he admitted that he expected at least $3,500 for any guest verse he was asked to take part in. "It's a lot," he said at the time. But we can't help but think that with his meteoric rise in recent years, he's probably raking in a lot more than that!
38. Soulja Boy: $10,000
For those of us who were kids or teenagers in the late 2000s, there's a special place in all of our hearts for Soulja Boy, the man behind hits like Crank That. Over the years Soulja has built his brand selling accessories and gaming consoles, but he’s still very much in the rap game.
The artist jumped onto social media to share some of his new offers for collaborations with other artists. "In the studio recording... get a feature for $10,000 from me," he shared. Not to mention the option of "$2,500 for a Soulja Boy beat." He has yet to release these collabs, but we're anticipating another future hit!
37. Boosie BadAzz: $15,000
You know your career is heating up when you don't have to pay to collab with someone as famous as DaBaby because DaBaby is hitting you up instead! This was the case with Boosie Badazz, who was contacted by the formerly mentioned rapper to appear on the track Baby Jesus.
But how much did DaBaby shell out for the feature? "I get $15,000 a verse and $10,000 a video," BadAzz said. We know that Baby Jesus was a hit - and now that Period has been pulling in big numbers in 2021, we have no doubt their collabs are raking in even more.
36. Asian Doll: $15,000
The hustle never stops, and rapper Asian Doll made that clear when she discussed how much she charges for a feature verse. "Friend or not I'm charging you... $15k for a verse & $25k for the song & video." It may seem harsh, but as they say - don’t hate the player, hate the game.
The Dallas-born Fight Night rapper certainly doesn't shy away from talking shop and proved that being a successful artist also means being a successful businesswoman. But that doesn't mean she's being fake. "I'm fast with it. I know what I gotta say. I'm an authentic person. Everything is authentic," she shared on Twitter.
35. Yo Gotti: $20,000
For Memphis-born rapper Yo Gotti, this next collaboration taught him a lesson that no one ever wants to learn. After linking up with a North Carolina rapper named Young Fletcher, a $20,000 feature verse would be blown epically out of proportion, taking $6.6 million out of Gotti's pocket.
How, you ask? Well, it turns out that Gotti made a life-changing error - he failed to release the single that he and Young Fletcher had worked on together. At least, that was the reasoning given by Fletcher. And the courts seemed to agree, charging Gotti for a breach of contract, resulting in a $6.6 mil fine. Ouch!
34. Roddy Ricch: $25,000
When it comes to charging for features, it's no surprise that Roddy Ricch lives such a High Fashion lifestyle. The rapper has soared to the top of the industry in just a few years, and these days he can charge pretty much whatever he wants for people who want to collaborate.
In 2019 Patrick Cc, a viral music YouTuber, let slip that Ricch charged $25k for all features. But despite being in high demand, he's not selling out for the sake of it - he's been known to reject $100k feature offers! "It ain't about the money to me. It's about just really making good music," he explained.
33. Wizkid: $25,000
Nigerian superstar and hip hop singer-songwriter Wizkid has been taking the global music industry by storm in recent years and has captured the attention of his listeners in a variety of ways. It was recently revealed that a feature with the artist costs $10 million Naira ($25k USD).
But he won't just drop a feature with anyone who has the money. The Essence singer prefers to mix things up a bit, doing things that fans won't expect. "I really hate when people can predict me," he explained. "Why should people know I am dropping an album tomorrow? I just love... when people are less expectant."
32. Coi Leray: $50,000
This New Jersey-born rising star is making a name for herself in the industry, particularly with her hit No More Parties. And Coi LeRay has already figured out her worth in recent years, using Nicki Minaj as guidance. "What Nicki say? 50k for a verse no album out?" she tweeted.
That’s right, 50k for a feature is nothing when it comes to this superstar! And while some have suggested her price might be a little steep, she only had this to say: "Don't be the person at home debating with their dusty... cousin if I'm hot or not, telling each other I won't make it."
31. Blueface: $50,000
For some players in the industry, particularly rap and hip hop, courting controversy is part of the deal. Blueface is one of these players. But his high-profile shenanigans aren’t always quite so serious. Just look at what happened when he was asked to give a quote for feature verses...
"The feature gonna run ya about $50,000, but I'm giving a one-time quarantine deal for $49,995," he joked slyly on a social media post. While it's funny enough, the first part of his post was no joke - for anyone looking to get the Thotiana rapper on their track, you'll have to be ready to cough up the big bucks.
30. Davido: $70,000
"Let's make music. That's why we're here," up and coming rapper Davido proudly announced recently. Through his journey from Atlanta, to Lagos, and back to America again, it's safe to say that his star is still very much on the rise in the hip-hop industry.
And despite only appearing on the charts recently, the Fall singer is already stacking up mad cash through his musical endeavors, even taking to social media to announce it. "Yo, right now, I'm charging American artists for songs… Two American artists done pay me $70,000 for a verse," he said.
29. Tory Lanez: $75,000
When we get the chance to ask our favorite rappers some deeper questions, of course, we want to take it. And when Tory Lanez held a brief Q&A on Twitter, that's exactly what his fans did, prompting their idol to answer questions on everything from industry struggles to feature verses.
"Bro... How much for a feature?" One fan asked the Say It star. Lanez didn't skip a beat, putting his business details on the table. "On everything I love I charge 75k," he wrote. "I can take it to the top because this kid never let the millions of people on the internet tell him anything."
28. Meek Mill: $75,000
Some rappers might be at the top of their game, but that doesn't mean everyone is willing to pay the price. At least that was the case when Philadelphia-based rappers Meek Mill and Quilly began discussing a future collab. Fans were pumped to hear what came out of it but were quickly disappointed.
As it turned out, Quilly wasn't really impressed with Meek's prerequisites for a feature verse. "He told my business partner he needed $75,000 for the feature." Later he even cast some shade on the Going Bad rapper, going onto Instagram to say, "All the money u got couldn't buy u my talent."
27. Nav: $80,000
Nas has his hands in all sorts of pies, from throwing out wild diss-tracks, releasing his own hits like Beibs in the Trap, and producing some of the hottest tracks in the industry today. The Canadian rapper is very much a successful artist and charges a hefty amount to show it.
Though he hasn’t admitted it himself, unlike others on this list, there are several sources inside and outside of the industry that put his fees at a minimum of $80,000 per feature! While it might seem like a shocking amount to some of us, there are certainly many who are willing to pay it.
26. Lil Uzi Vert: $90,000
Considering that he's infamous for implanting an incredible $24 million diamond into the center of his forehead, you can bet that Lil Uzi Vert is charging a hefty amount for feature verses. And with an estimated net worth of $16 million, according to Wealthy Gorilla, that's unlikely to change soon.
"Ninety thousand dollars, that's just for one of my hooks," is what Uzi let slip on the track Never Bend. It's a jaw-dropping amount, but Uzi has more than justified it with his continual success in the music industry. And considering that the track came out in 2017, that quote is likely much bigger today.
25. 21 Savage: $100,000
A lot of people jump to the gram or Twitter to try and contact their favorite musicians. But not everyone is on board. "Y'all gotta stop with the, 'Check ya DM bra u playin,' lol naw cause when u get hit with the ticket u ain't built for it," is how 21 Savage responded to these unsolicited messages.
That's right, the Bank Account rapper is certainly blowing up his bank account with the amount he charges for features. According to Meazy, his manager, "a 21 Savage feature is 6 FIGURES." That’s right, with enough Grammy's and huge record sales under his belt, a $100k price tag is probably a good deal.
24. KSI: $100,000
This iconic Youtuber sure has made a name for himself as a multi-talent, releasing single after single, raking in huge numbers streaming online, and drawing the world's attention going toe-to-toe with Jake and Logan Paul. So it's no surprise that KSI's bars are going to cost some big bucks.
Specifically, his feature verses cash in at $100,000. And it makes sense, as according to Amazon Prime, "With the release of his #1-second album, preparation for his sold-out European tour, and a headline show at The SSE Arena... amongst many other significant moments, this year is the biggest in JJ's career."
23. Lil Baby: $100,000
When making as many money moves as Lil Baby, it makes sense to be more selective with work. After all, the Freestyle star has become one of the biggest names in the rap game in recent years. "Aint doing no more features unless it's worth it, I got tooo many," he announced on social media.
It may sound like a bit of a flex, but it also acted as a practical warning for all the ambitious young upstarts trying to contact the rapper. "Imma feel offended if you want a verse from me, but don't got 100 [thousand]," he continued. "Respect my hustle."
22. YK Osiris: $100,000
"Know your worth. I know mine," is one of the many mic drops rapper YK Osiris has landed on his social media followers. This was in response to questions about his lack of features with other big-name rappers, which might be because of the hefty price tag that comes along with it.
"I charge a hundred thousand. If you don't got a hundred thousand, I'm not doing it. Periodt," the Worth It rapper snapped back in October 2020. While not everyone will necessarily agree with the cost, we've gotta support that level of self-confidence.
21. Kevin Gates: $100,000
With multiple arrests, charges, and public altercations, it's safe to say that Kevin Gates's journey from troubled teen to successful rapper has not been an easy one. But he's managed to prove himself to the haters, gaining a strong reputation in the industry.
Fellow Louisiana rapper Fredo Bang has spoken out in support of Gates's musical gifts, saying "As far as musically... he's a whole other monster." And there are many people who agree with that sentiment, which might be why Gates is charging at least $100k per feature, according to industry estimates.
20. Moneybagg Yo: $100,000
After penning A Gangsta's Pain in 2021, his fourth studio album, Moneybagg Yo's career finally took off. The Memphis-born rapper dropped an album that was well-received by both fans and critics, kicking off an all-new chapter of his fast-paced career.
And the amount he now charges for feature verses only strengthens that fact. He reportedly charges approximately $100,000, according to some sources. The rapper even gave a nod to this rumor, sharing on social media, "I swear I used to get $750 for a feature now look, that's a whole 'nother conversation."
19. 2 Chainz: $100,000
If we needed any more proof that a verse from 2Chainz is worth its weight in gold, we just gotta ask Kanye. "100k for a verse now cause he's G.O.O.D.," the iconic rapper tweeted about his collab with the Georgia native. And that's exactly how much he's charging these days.
But the Bugatti rapper is ready to guarantee that a potential collaborator will get what they pay for. "I'm gonna give you bars. I'm gonna wear fancy glasses and a bunch of chains you've never seen," he said. "You get me. You get charisma. You get girls that's gonna come to your video... this [is] your chance!"
18. NBA YoungBoy: $100,000
While he was serving time in prison in 2021, friends and fans of NBA YoungBoy jumped at the opportunity to sing the rapper's praises, reminding everyone that he was still one of the rising talents in the industry despite his hiatus. Herm Tha Great was one of the first to do so publicly.
The fellow rapper took to Instagram to remind us how much YoungBoy charged for a feature, even one's he refused to take. "One thing fasho, Yb the only artist that never paid for a feature and turns down 100,000s for them," he announced. "The industry don't have street [artists] no more FREE TOP."
17. André 3000: $100,000
For those who haven't listened to Kanye's newest album, may not know about his current feud with fellow global superstar Drake. And as it turns out, one of Ye's newest collaborators (who happens to be a hip hop legend in his own right) didn't know about it either.
After featuring on Donda, André 3000 of Outkast fame acknowledged the feud in an interview - including the diss track he unknowingly took part in. "I didn't know that was the plan before I wrote and recorded my verse," he admitted. Hopefully the accidental diss was worth the $100,000 paycheck (it probably was).
16. Trippie Redd: $100,000
If you want to know how much Trippie Redd charges for a single feature, just look at the skeleton chain he bought back in 2018. With 6,000 diamonds and 50-carats, the infamous piece of jewelry cost him a whopping $100k! And that’s exactly how much you'll be shelling out if you want to collab with Trippie.
The Life’s a Trip rapper isn't strict about it though, and in 2020 he even offered to cut a discount for fans and future collaborators, seeing as we were in a pandemic and all! "I used to charge 100, but... I'll charge you 80 bands,” he told his Twitter followers.
15. Lil Mosey: $100,000
Imagine being 19-years old and hitting the big time with your self-penned raps. Well, that's exactly the case for Lil Mosey, whose track Blueberry Faygo has climbed the charts as of 2021. And with a bright future ahead of him, plenty of people want to know what he has in mind for his career.
"Let me go to work with that, Get Rich or Die Tryin'd," he shot back. And considering how much he now charges for a feature verse, we think he's well on the way to riches. "I'd put a $100,000 [fee] too. I already did a feature for $100,000 anyway, and I got paid for sure too."
14. Rich the Kid: $120,000
After releasing New Freezer alongside legendary rapper Kendrick Lamar in 2017, Rich The Kid has been steadily gaining traction in the hip-hop world. A year later he released the track Plug Walk, and there was no denying that the Queens native had made it.
And the current price tag for features with The Kid certainly reflects that. "Artist tell your labels ya want me for the features, 120k bring the cash," he shot back on Instagram in 2020, after being flooded with DM requests for collaborations. From $4000 per track to $120k, we couldn’t be happier for him!
13. Polo G: $150,000
When you look at the beginning of Polo G's career, there's no denying he's one of a kind. Polo started writing bars in Chicago's Cook County Jail, itching to make a name for himself in the music scene when he got out. And that's exactly what happened.
The Rapstar artist's rise was unprecedented - his spot blew up so quickly that in 6 months he went from charging $85 to $150,000 for a feature! "I'm going to keep going up on the price for sure because I take everything that I do seriously," he later said. "I know you gonna get a good verse out of me."
12. 24kGoldn: $175,000
It turns out that TikTok has been a real moneymaker for people from all mediums: from influencers to comedians to rappers! And no one is a better example of that than 24kGoldn. After his lip-syncing clips went viral on the popular app, he was able to ramp up his feature fees to a pretty... surprising amount.
He talked to Trapital Podcast about the shockingly large price tag in a recent interview. "I think if people knew I got $175,000... they'd be like mind blown," he said. When asked why he's able to charge so much? "People kind of underestimate the global impact I have," he answered matter-of-factly.
11. Saweetie: $200,000
Considering the incredible fame and success this ICY GRL has seen in the last few years, it should be no surprise to anyone that she's now charging big bucks for any potential collaborations. But just how much would a Saweetie feature set you back? Well, she can tell you herself.
On the track Tap In she revealed "Two hundred for a verse... I'm way too pricey." And no, she wasn't exaggerating to make a point. According to several sources, she charges $200,000 minimum for a collab. And with Netflix and McDonald's deals lined up, that number is only likely to rise.
10. Lil Durk: $200,000
There's a lot of mud-slinging and diss tracks in the world of hip hop, so when rapper Lil Durk hit back at Lil Baby's $100k price tag for features, it's understandable to fear the worst. But instead, Durk's comments were actually in support of his fellow rapper. He felt Lil Baby should be charging more. But how much?
"200k," he said bluntly. After all, that's how much the Backdoor artist charges himself! And that's not all - he also insists on the same price for any shows he performs. "Finna show y'all why I want 200k a show," he declared to his Instagram followers.
9. Juice WRLD: $200,000
The late rapper Juice WRLD made a resounding impact on the music industry in his time, largely because of his incredible songwriting and shining personality. When fellow rapper and friend Kid LAROI recalled fond memories of his friend, he revealed both his generosity and the value behind the bars.
LAROI retold a story of how Juice once failed to attend his friend's birthday party but shot back with an incredible birthday gift. "He was like, 'Oh, I'm sorry I missed the dinner, bro, but... I'll give you a verse!'" LAROI said. It was "a $200,000 gift," Juice WRLD said jokingly after the feature was released.
8. Gucci Mane: $250,000
While THE GUCCI MANE GUIDE TO GREATNESS might be enlightening in a lot of ways, you don't need to read it to realize how the I Get The Bag star, well... got the bag. After all, Gucci is practically famous for it.
With the release of one mixtape, Gucci managed to charge five times the amount for a feature! "I charge 50 a verse, but after #Droptopwop come out I want a quarter million," he shared on Twitter. That's right - with just four features Gucci Mane can cop a cold million, and he's recorded way more than that...
7. Offset: $250,000
If you know a lot about Migos’ rapper Offset, you know he'll stop at nothing "for clout." But according to rumors and reports floating around during his collaboration with Cardi B in 2017, he won't do a feature for it. Or maybe it was for the clout that he charged such a crazy fee?
During that year the superstar duo had teamed up on the track Lick, leading to a ton of industry whisperings that the duo was actually a couple. They were quick to deny the rumors, but it didn't stop the second rumor that popped up - that Offset reportedly billed the star 250k for his feature verse.
6. Chris Brown: $250,000
"Not to toot my own horn… I've gotten on records from a new artist, and they've went No. 1," is how Chris Brown humbly announced one of his newest collabs. Though he may not be everyone's favorite rapper, there's no denying that he's got the skills to stay at the top, even after more than 15 years in the industry.
And with those years of experience comes a hefty paycheck. "Some people I give a homie price to… the most I charge is like $250,000… If the song's already a hit, then I'll get on it. But I'm still gonna take some publishing… and if they say they can only give you $30,000, I need 50 percent of the publishing," he explained.
5. DaBaby: $300,000
Back when he started in the business, DaBaby had no problem announcing that his 5k feature fee was "too high for you," but we think it's safe to say that his new verses cost much, much more. These days, DaBaby is one of the biggest names in the industry, and you only need to look at how much he charges to prove it.
In just two short years, the Leave Me Alone rapper has gone from charging $5k for a feature verse to an unbelievably high amount. "From 5k a verse to 300k," DaBaby announced matter-of-factly on his Instagram, informing fans that his fees now truly are too high for us...
4. Kendrick Lamar: $400,000
In just three years, Compton-based rapper Kendrick Lamar dropped two of the most acclaimed albums in hip hop history - Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, and To Pimp A Butterfly. "Kendrick shook up the rap game," Nas, another rap icon, once said. Given his legendary status, it's no surprise he's making big money moves.
But it definitely isn't all about $$$ with Kendrick. For him, music is what matters most. Though he let slip in a 2014 interview with Complex magazine that his feature fees are as high as $400k, that entirely depends on if he wants to do the verse. If it isn't up to his standard, there's no price high enough to convince him.
3. Nicki Minaj: $500,000
Back in 2020, young upstart rapper Davido (who also appeared on this list), decided to shoot his shot with one of the most successful female rappers in hip hop history - Nicki Minaj. "I woke up the next morning, and I forgot that I had messaged her the night before. I was like, 'Oh [shoot]... I was drunk," he said.
He had asked the superstar to feature on one of his tracks, and to his complete shock, she agreed, sending him her verse for Holy Ground within 24 hours of getting his DM. And what's more? She didn't charge him. "Nicki be charging people $500,000 for verses. And she did it for me for free," he gushed.
2. J. Cole: $700,000
When you've been on top as long as J Cole has, you can pretty much charge what you want for whatever you do. And these days, he charges a lot. Even back in 2019, he was charging an incredible amount. Take his feature on the Young Thug track The London, that same year.
"A verse from me is like eleven birds... that's like two thousand dollars every word," he rapped on that track. By that logic (or math?), he would have been paid around $700k for that one verse. And that's just an average, it's likely he has charged even more for other tracks!
1. Jay-Z: $1.5 Million
If you come at the king, you best have enough cash in your bank account! Jay-Z is the best of the best and has been for decades, with nearly countless Grammy's and other awards on his resume. To get a feature with the biggest name in the game, it's gonna put you out by a small fortune.
According to Forbes, the hip hop entrepreneur has an estimated $1.4 billion net worth, so it should come as no surprise that the Roc Nation rapper demands at least $1.5 million for any feature he's offered. It's no wonder he once rapped, "You can't afford to pay me."