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

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.