MTV's Hottest MCs in the Game

MTV's Hottest MCs in the Game is a list compiled of ten Hip hop artists deemed to be the "hottest" of that given year by MTV since 2007.^[1] 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 that year, the list is met with much controversy and debate each year. MTV named one rapper the "Hottest Breakthrough MC" of 2011 and that honor went to Machine Gun Kelly.^[2] Kanye West currently holds the record for most appearances on the list, being the only rapper to appear on the list every year since its inception.

Background

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 their favorite rapper of that year. The Brain Trust has been composed of:^[3][4][5]

• Sway Calloway (on-air correspondent, MTV News)
• Tuma Basa (manager, MTV Music Programming)
• Bridget Bland (producer/writer, MTV Radio Network)
• Buttahman (director, music and talent, "MTV Jams")
• Rahman Dukes (senior producer, MTVNews.com)
• Andrea Duncan-Mao (senior music editor, MTV.com Editorial)
• Sean Lee (supervising producer, MTV News)
• Joseph Patel (producer, MTV News)
• Shaheem Reid (hip-hop editor, MTV News)
• Jayson Rodriguez (hip-hop writer, MTV News)
• Hillary Crosley (RapFix)
• Steven Roberts (MTV News)
• Sheila Grullon (MTV Jams)
• Yomi Desalu (mtvU)
• Ahmed Abdulle (mtvU)
• Mike Masic (mtvU)
• Moe Ahmed (mtvU)
• Rebecca Thomas (writer, MTV News)
• Renaud Jean-Baptiste Jr. (junior copywriter, MTV News)
• Nadeska Alexis (blog editor, RapFix)
• Rob Markman (senior Hip-Hop writer, MTV News)

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 Facebook page likes, 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]

Hottest MC in the Game recipients

Legend

1. °: New entry
2. ↑: Up / Re-entry
3. ↓: Down
4. -: Same

2007^[1]

1. ° Lil Wayne
2. ° T.I.
3. ° The Game
4. ° André 3000
5. ° Kanye West
6. ° Young Jeezy
7. ° Jay-Z
8. ° 50 Cent
9. ° Common
10. ° Jim Jones

2008^[6][7]

1. ↑ Kanye West
2. ↑ Jay-Z
3. ↓ Lil Wayne
4. ° Rick Ross
5. ° Snoop Dogg
6. ↑ 50 Cent
7. ° Lupe Fiasco
8. ↓ Young Jeezy
9. ↓ André 3000
10. ↓ T.I.

2009^[8]

1. ↑ Jay-Z
2. ↑ Lil Wayne
3. ° Drake
4. ↓ Kanye West
5. ↓ Rick Ross
6. ° Gucci Mane
7. ↑ Young Jeezy
8. ° Fabolous
9. ↓ 50 Cent
10. ° Raekwon

2010^[9]

1. ° Eminem
2. ↓ Jay-Z
3. ↑ Kanye West
4. ↓ Drake
5. - Rick Ross
6. ° Nicki Minaj
7. ↓ Lil Wayne
8. ° Waka Flocka Flame
9. ° B.o.B
10. ° Ludacris

2011^[5]

1. ↑ Rick Ross
2. ↑ Drake
3. - Kanye West
4. ↑ Nicki Minaj
5. ↑ Lil Wayne
6. ↓ Jay-Z
7. ° Meek Mill
8. ° Big Sean
9. ° Wiz Khalifa
10. ° Wale

2012

1. ° Kendrick Lamar^[10]
2. ° 2 Chainz^[11]
3. ↓ Rick Ross^[12]
4. ° Nas^[13]
5. ↓ Drake^[14]
6. ↑ Big Sean^[15]
7. ↓ Kanye West^[15]
8. ° ASAP Rocky^[16]
9. ° Future^[17]
10. ↓ Meek Mill^[18]

Annual Hottest MC chart

Position	Top MC	Year inducted	Appearances	Peak ranking
1	Kanye West	2007	6	1
1	Lil Wayne	2007	5	1
1	Jay-Z	2007	5	1
1	Rick Ross	2008	5	1
1	Eminem	2010	1	1
1	Kendrick Lamar	2012	1	1
7	Drake	2009	4	2
7	T.I.	2007	2	2
7	2 Chainz	2012	1	2
10	Game	2007	1	3
11	André 3000	2007	2	4
11	Nicki Minaj	2010	2	4
11	Nas	2012	1	4
14	Snoop Dogg	2008	1	5
15	Young Jeezy	2007	3	6
15	50 Cent	2007	3	6
15	Gucci Mane	2009	1	6
15	Big Sean	2011	2	6
19	Meek Mill	2011	2	7
19	Lupe Fiasco	2008	1	7
21	Fabolous	2009	1	8
21	Waka Flocka Flame	2010	1	8
21	ASAP Rocky	2012	1	8
24	Common	2007	1	9
24	B.o.B	2010	1	9
24	Wiz Khalifa	2011	1	9
24	Future	2012	1	9
28	Jim Jones	2007	1	10
28	Raekwon	2009	1	10
28	Ludacris	2010	1	10
28	Wale	2011	1	10

Notes

• Kanye West is the only rapper to be on the list every year since its inception.
• Nicki Minaj is the first and only female rapper to be included on the list.
• Lil Wayne, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar are the only rappers to be named the "Hottest MC" the first time they were included on the list.

References

1. MTV News: Hottest MCs In The Game. Mtv.com (2006-03-09). Retrieved on 2012-02-14.
2. Machine Gun Kelly Is 2011’s Hottest Breakthrough MC On ‘RapFix Live’. Rapfix.mtv.com (2011-12-14). Retrieved on 2012-02-14.
3. MTV News: Hottest MCs In The Game. Mtv.com (2006-03-09). Retrieved on 2012-02-14.
4. MTV's Hottest MCs In The Game 2010 Begins October 18 – Music, Celebrity, Artist News. MTV (2010-10-10). Retrieved on 2012-02-14.
5. MTV Specials – Hottest – Mc. Mtv.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-14.
6. Hottest MCs in the Game 2008 | The List. MTV. Retrieved on 2012-02-14.
7. "MTV’s Hottest MCs in the Game (Full List)". 2dopeboyz. 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
8. And The Hottest MC In The Game Is ... | News Video. MTV. Retrieved on 2012-02-14.
9. MTV Specials – Hottest – Mc. Mtv.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-14.
10. "Kendrick Lamar Brings Crown To Compton As 'Hottest MC In The Game'". MTV.com. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
11. "2 Chainz Powers Onto 'Hottest MCs' List At #2 - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
12. "Rick Ross Masterminds A #3 Spot On 'Hottest MCs' List - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
13. "Nas Finally Breaks Through To 'Hottest MCs' At #4 - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
14. "Drake Nabs #5 On 'Hottest MCs' List | News Video". MTV. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
15. "Big Sean Tops Kanye West For #6 On The 'Hottest MCs' List | News Video". MTV. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
16. "A$AP Rocky And Big Sean Battle For #8 And #7 On 'Hottest MCs' List | News Video". MTV. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
17. "Future Debuts At #9 On The 'Hottest MCs' List | News Video". MTV. 2013-03-03. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
18. "Meek Mill Kicks Off The 'Hottest MCs' Countdown At #10 | News Video". MTV. 2013-03-03. Retrieved 2013-03-07.