Surprise! Rappers lie about cash

On Versus, an interlude from Jay-Z’s new album Magna Carta … Holy Grail, the rapper takes wealth-boasting to a new level, noting that other MCs are deceptive about how rich they truly are. "The truth in my verses," he rhymes, "versus your metaphors about what your net worth is."

And thanks to an interactive chart from Business Week that compares rappers’ real-life wealth with quotes from their lyrics, fans can now fact-check their favorite artists.

The tool supports Jay-Z’s claims of overblown wealth, pulling data from Forbes’ "Cash Kings of Hip Hop" and "Forbes Five" reports.

At the bottom of the exaggeration chart is reclusive producer/rapper Dr Dre, whose 1997 track Been There, Done That features the lyric "Imma keep buildin’, make a killin/ Kick back, relax, and grow old with my millions". Business Week is letting Dre slide, since he’s currently worth $350-million.

At the top is Pitbull, the most notorious bragger, who claims to make "billions" on this year’s smash Live This Moment. The chart lists his actual 2012 earnings as a cool $9.5-million.

Meanwhile, Jay-Z himself is also put to the test. H*A*M, his 2011 collaboration with Kanye West, features a boast about earning "half a billi," which is shockingly accurate: Business Week lists his net worth as $475-million.

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