Rappers Invest in Business Ventures

Rap isn't the only business for these investors.

Snoop Dogg   - Snoop fell victim to the death rumor mill.  It caused a small scare in the hip hop community, but the LBC rapper was alive and well. (Photo: John Shearer/Images for Bethesda Softworks)
Lil Kim (Salon Se Swa) - Lil Kim and her cousin Katrise Jones established a salon franchise, Salon Se Swa, in 1999. They just opened their fifth location, in Charlotte, North Carolina, last month (October 2011).(Photo: Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Diddy (Ciroc) - One of hip hop's most successful businessmen, Diddy took on Diageo's Ciroc Vodka brand in a 50-50 joint venture deal back in 2007. Diddy has always been big on high-end brands and a lavish lifestyle, so an investment in a company like Ciroc is a no-brainer for the music mogul.  (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)Kanye West (turntable.fm) - This week, Kanye West announced his venture into the online business. The rapper invested $7.5 million in startup website turntable.fm, an invite-only chatroom where users can play songs and rate them. (Photos: Joe Corrigan/Getty Images for Universal Music; Turntable.fm)

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Snoop Dogg (Rolling Words) - Snoop Dogg has never been one to shy away from an endorsement deal. His latest adventure, "Rolling Words," a line of rolling papers with some of his lyrics printed on them, has him moving into a market all too familiar to him and linking it with his passion for music.  (Photo: John Shearer/Images)

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