Master P is an American rap mogul, film producer, and entrepreneur with a net worth of $200 million. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Master P was one of the most successful individuals in hip-hop. Up to today, he is one of the richest rappers and entrepreneurs in the world.
Early Life
Percy Miller, known as Master P, was born on April 29, 1970, in New Orleans, Louisiana, a city renowned for its music scene, although not the genre he would later excel in. Raised in the Calliope Projects, he was one of four children, including brothers Vyshonne and Corey, who achieved success as rap artists under the names Silkk The Shocker and C-Murder.
Growing up in the notoriously violent Calliope Projects after his parents’ divorce, Master P split his time between New Orleans with his father’s family and Richmond, California, where his mother’s relatives lived.
During his schooling at Booker T. Washington High School and Warren Easton High School, he displayed a passion for basketball and earned a scholarship to the University of Houston. However, he eventually transferred to Merrit Junior College in Oakland, California, where he pursued studies in business.
Career
Master P has so many careers it would be challenging to narrow it down to just two or three. His net worth has been accumulated through many revenue channels, including his work as an entrepreneur, rapper, and at times an actor.
While residing in Oakland, he inherited $10,000 following his grandfather’s passing. Utilizing this inheritance, he launched a record store named No Limit Records. After understanding his customers’ preferences, he expanded the store into a record label in 1990.
The label’s inaugural release was the 1990 cassette-only EP “Mind of a Psychopath,” attributed to The Real Untouchables (TRU), a supergroup featuring two of his brothers. During this time, tragedy struck when his brother Kevin was killed in New Orleans.
Master P has consistently produced and released music since his debut album “Get Away Clean” in 1991. His solo projects and collaborations with TRU elevated his status in the underground gangsta rap scene. In 1995, he relocated the label to New Orleans, further growing his influence. He has since delivered a range of albums with varying degrees of success.
Among his notable releases are “Mr. Ice Cream Man” and “Ghetto D,” featuring the hit single “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” The latter sold over 260,000 copies in its first week and achieved triple platinum status. In 1998, “MP Da Last Don” surpassed the sales of “Ghetto D,” debuting at number one on the Billboard charts and selling over 400,000 units in its first week. Accompanying the album was a film released in the same year.
Master P continued to release albums regularly, with highlights such as “Game Face” in 2001 and his eleventh studio album in 2004. He also ventured into independent label work with Guttar Music alongside his son Lil Romeo, releasing an album dedicated to Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005.
Collaborative efforts and annual mixtape releases have been part of his ongoing musical journey, including the 2017 mixtape “We All We Got” with his group No Limit Boys. In total, he has released 15 studio albums.
Master P’s Other Endeavors
In the late ’90s, Master P set up a well-diversified business empire that featured several rap labels, a management company, a clothing line, a film production company, a high-end travel agency, a phone sex line, and a video game company.
Despite his diverse business ventures, No Limit Records remains Master P’s most notable and successful undertaking, pioneering Southern Rap and selling over 80 million records globally. In 1998 alone, his empire generated over $160 million. He expanded his portfolio as an author in 2007 with the release of “Guaranteed Success.”
As an investor, Master P has excelled, founding and leading No Limit Entertainment, one of the most prosperous independent record labels in history.
Beyond music, he has ventured into acting, appearing in various films since 1997. He briefly joined World Championship Wrestling in 1999 and competed on Dancing with the Stars, partnering with Ashly DelGrosso. Although his time on the show was short-lived, he gained recognition for his role on the Nickelodeon sitcom “Romeo!” alongside his real-life son, rapper Lil Romeo.
In 2015, Master P and his family starred in their reality show, “Master P’s Family Empire,” which aired for one season on Reelz. Additionally, in October 2019, he acquired ownership in the Brooklyn-based wrestling promotion House of Glory.
Awards
Master P’s achievements include winning Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist at the American Music Awards in 1999. He was also honored by VH1, ranking at number 36 on their list of 50 Greatest Hip Hop Artists in 2005, with his single “Make Em Say Uhh!” landing at No. 94 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs.
His influence is further recognized by BET, where he holds the 28th spot on The Most Influential Rappers of All Time list and is listed among the 25 Most Influential Black Music Executives.
In July 2013, Master P made history as the first hip hop artist inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. More recently, in 2021, he received an honorary doctorate from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.