MTV's Hottest MCs in the Game explained

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.

After a four-year hiatus that began in 2012, MTV announced that they are bringing the list back with a television special that aired on December 11, 2016 on MTV2.^[3]

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" debated on who its favorite rapper of that year was. The Brain Trust has been composed of:^{[4] [5] [6]}

• 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 the list an artist must have actively released music that year.^[5]

Hottest MC in the Game recipients

Legend

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

2007^[1]

1. ° Eminem
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^{[7] [8]}

1. ↑ Eminem
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^[9]

1. ↑ Eminem
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^[10]

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^[6]

1. ↑ Eminem
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. ° eminem^[11]
2. ° 2 Chainz^[12]
3. ↓ Rick Ross^[13]
4. ° Nas^[14]
5. ↓ Drake^[15]
6. ↑ Big Sean^[16]
7. ↓ Kanye West^[16]
8. ° ASAP Rocky^[17]
9. ° Future^[18]
10. ↓ Meek Mill^[19]

2016^[20]

1. ↑ Eminem
2. ↑ Drake
3. ° Chance the Rapper
4. ° Travis Scott
5. ° Young Thug
6. ↑ Future
7. ° YG
8. ↓ Kendrick Lamar
9. ° Lil Uzi Vert
10. ° 21 Savage

Annual Hottest MC chart

Position	Top MC	Year inducted	Appearances	Peak ranking
1		2007	7	1
2		2007	5	1
3		2007	5	1
4		2008	5	1
5		2012	2	1
6		2010	1	1
7		2009	5	2
8		2007	2	2
9		2012	1	2
10		2007	1	3
11		2016	1	3
12		2007	2	4
12		2010	2	4
12		2012	1	4
12		2016	1	4
16		2008	1	5
16		2016	1	5
18		2007	3	6
18		2007	3	6
18		2011	2	6
18		2012	2	6
18		2009	1	6
23		2011	2	7
23		2008	1	7
23		2016	1	7
26		2009	1	8
26		2010	1	8
26		2012	1	8
29		2007	1	9
29		2010	1	9
29		2011	1	9
29		2016	1	9
33		2007	1	10
33		2009	1	10
33		2010	1	10
33		2011	1	10

Notes

• Kanye West is the only rapper to be on the list every year since its inception. Coincidentally, he is also the only person to be named "Hottest MC" twice (for both 2008 and 2016)
• Nicki Minaj is the only female rapper to be included in 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.

Notes and References

1. http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2007/hottest/ MTV News: Hottest MCs In The Game
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20120110021409/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/12/14/machine-gun-kelly-is-2011-hottest-breakthrough-mc/ Machine Gun Kelly Is 2011’s Hottest Breakthrough MC On ‘RapFix Live’
3. Web site: MTV2 Is Bringing Back Hottest MCs In The Game. https://web.archive.org/web/20161201143409/http://www.mtv.com/news/2958950/mtv2-hottest-mcs-in-the-game-returns/. dead. December 1, 2016. MTV.
4. http://www.mtv.com/bands/h/hip_hop_week/2007/hottest/index13.jhtml MTV News: Hottest MCs In The Game
5. https://web.archive.org/web/20101012053927/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649641/20101008/story.jhtml MTV's Hottest MCs In The Game 2010 Begins October 18 – Music, Celebrity, Artist News
6. http://www.mtv.com/specials/hottest/mc/ MTV Specials – Hottest – Mc
7. http://www.mtv.com/specials/hottest/mcs/list.jhtml Hottest MCs in the Game 2008 | The List
8. Web site: MTV's Hottest MCs in the Game (Full List) . 2dopeboyz . 2008-05-17 . 2012-08-31.
9. https://web.archive.org/web/20091008001729/http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/442686/and-the-hottest-mc-in-the-game-is.jhtml#id=1622421 And The Hottest MC In The Game Is ... | News Video
10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090813101153/http://www.mtv.com/specials/hottest/mc/index.jhtml MTV Specials – Hottest – Mc
11. Web site: Kendrick Lamar Brings Crown To Compton As 'Hottest MC In The Game' . https://web.archive.org/web/20130310060651/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703255/hottest-mcs-2013-kendrick-lamar.jhtml . dead . March 10, 2013 . MTV.com . 2013-03-08.
12. Web site: 2 Chainz Powers Onto 'Hottest MCs' List At #2 - Music, Celebrity, Artist News . https://web.archive.org/web/20130310060856/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703254/hottest-mcs-2013-2-chainz.jhtml . dead . March 10, 2013 . MTV.com . 2013-03-08.
13. Web site: Rick Ross Masterminds A #3 Spot On 'Hottest MCs' List - Music, Celebrity, Artist News . https://web.archive.org/web/20130308121335/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703136/hottest-mcs-2013-rick-ross.jhtml . dead . March 8, 2013 . MTV.com . 2013-03-07.
14. Web site: Nas Finally Breaks Through To 'Hottest MCs' At #4 - Music, Celebrity, Artist News . https://web.archive.org/web/20130308122657/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703129/hottest-mcs-2013-nas.jhtml . dead . March 8, 2013 . MTV.com . 2013-03-07.
15. Web site: Drake Nabs #5 On 'Hottest MCs' List | News Video . https://web.archive.org/web/20130306135229/http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/885371/drake-nabs-5-on-hottest-mcs-list.jhtml#id=1702689 . dead . March 6, 2013 . MTV . 2013-03-07.
16. Web site: Big Sean Tops Kanye West For #6 On The 'Hottest MCs' List | News Video . https://web.archive.org/web/20130307013954/http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/884701/big-sean-tops-kanye-west-for-6-on-the-hottest-mcs-list.jhtml . dead . March 7, 2013 . MTV . 2013-03-07.
17. Web site: A$AP Rocky And Big Sean Battle For #8 And #7 On 'Hottest MCs' List | News Video . https://web.archive.org/web/20130306150910/http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/884700/aap-rocky-and-big-sean-battle-for-8-and-7-on-hottest-mcs-list.jhtml . dead . March 6, 2013 . MTV . 2013-03-07.
18. Web site: Future Debuts At #9 On The 'Hottest MCs' List | News Video . https://web.archive.org/web/20130305231844/http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/884663/future-debuts-at-9-on-the-hottest-mcs-list.jhtml . dead . March 5, 2013 . MTV . 2013-03-03 . 2013-03-07.
19. Web site: Meek Mill Kicks Off The 'Hottest MCs' Countdown At #10 | News Video . https://web.archive.org/web/20130307010134/http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/884662/meek-mill-kicks-off-the-hottest-mcs-countdown-at-10.jhtml . dead . March 7, 2013 . MTV . 2013-03-03 . 2013-03-07.
20. Web site: Kanye West, Drake & Chance the Rapper Top MTV's 2016 Hottest MCS List. HNHH. 17 December 2016.