Every year since 2007,[1] MTV has compiled a list of ten Hip-Hop stars deemed to be the "hottest" of that year known as the Hottest MCs in the Game. Although MTV has stressed that the list is not meant to represent the greatest rappers of all time but the most interesting and culturally relevant artists of the current year, the list is met with much controversy and debate each year.
Contents |
The Hottest MC in the Game List was formed in 2007 and every year a group of Hip-Hop journalists known as "The Brain Trust" debate on who is the hottest rapper of that year. The Brain Trust has been composed of:[2][3]
The Brain Trust judges rappers on the grounds of their artistic execution (lyrical ability, flow), commercial success (charting hits, radio spins, album sales), cultural impact (business acumen, ushering in other big artists), digital metrics (Myspace friends, Facebook fans, Twitter followers, new songs on mixtapes), buzz and other intangibles. In order to be eligible to be included in on the list an artist must have actively released music that year.[4]
| Rapper | Year Inducted | Appearances | Peak Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanye West | 2007 | 4 | 1 |
| Jay-Z | 2007 | 4 | 1 |
| Lil Wayne | 2007 | 4 | 1 |
| Rick Ross | 2008 | 3 | 4 |
| Young Jeezy | 2007 | 3 | 6 |
| Drake | 2009 | 2 | 3 |
| Andre 3000 | 2007 | 2 | 4 |
| Eminem | 2010 | 1 | 1 |
| Game | 2007 | 1 | 3 |
| Snoop Dogg | 2008 | 1 | 5 |
| Gucci Mane | 2009 | 1 | 6 |
| Nicki Minaj | 2010 | 1 | 6 |
| Lupe Fiasco | 2008 | 1 | 7 |
| Fabolous | 2009 | 1 | 8 |
| Waka Flocka Flame | 2010 | 1 | 8 |
| B.o.B | 2010 | 1 | 9 |
| Common | 2007 | 1 | 9 |
| Jim Jones | 2007 | 1 | 10 |
| Raekwon | 2009 | 1 | 10 |
| Ludacris | 2010 | 1 | 10 |