MTV's Hottest Rappers

MTV recently released their 10 Hottest Rappers List, and its caused quite the stir... lol

1. Lil' Wayne
2. T.I.
3. The Game
4. Andre 3000
5. Kanye West
6. Young Jeezy
7. Jay-Z
8. 50 Cent
9. Common
10. Jim Jones

Not to drag this one out any further, but I heard about the MTV list as well and I honestly wasn't put off by many of the decisions... If your criterion for this list is swagger, sales, "now" factor, and impact on the streets, with a hint of quality... we all know Wayne, T.I., and Jay were a lock for this list. Jay is a brand like never before, and everyone wants a feature from the "King of the South" and the "Best Rapper". As far as the rest, I'll be the first person to vouch for Jim Jones.

[pause]

By all means, Jim is trash... but there is something to be said for having the second most features on O.P.P. this year behind Wayne and Andre3000. Also there is something to be said for coming from Village People status in Hip-Hop fashion, to tricking the streets into wearing wallets chains, biker vests, and sagging Chip & Pepper low-rise jeans in a matter of 12 months. Jim stays.

50 stays, sheerly on track record and endorsements... because the streets are not f---ing with him anymore and no one is looking to him for fashion tips (did y'all see that monkey suit in the Ciara video!?)

Andre3000 is preparing the game for a vicious and much needed Outkast come back.Say what you want about 'Ye, but hip-hop needs him. Average rhymes or not, he maintains fashion icon status and his albums are actually anticipated (even though "Cant Tell Me Nothing" is subpar at best). Plus "Stronger" is DOPE!

I would actually question The Game's NOW factor, and toss him up with Young Joc & Lupe Fiasco... I know its weird, but Game has the numbers and skill minus the respect, Joc is the new millenium Ma$e minus lyrics, and Lupe caught a brick on sales, but maintained crazy exposure, crossover appeal, a shoe with Reebok and is a shining beam of hope for the commercial draw of lyric-driven rap.

Jeezy is the streets lol.

Common is more relevant than he's ever been, and at a time when Hip-Hop needs his diversity the most.

MTV hit it right on the head... with The Game, Lupe, and Joc in a cage match for the last spot.

[pause]

Hip-Hop is no longer about expression, or even b.s. commercial vs. real conflicts, its about survival in a depressed market. Downloads didnt destroy the game, nor did the South, the cross section of complacency and technology did. ANYONE with a laptop, software, a hookup with a hot DJ, and a camera for youtube can make a fire ringtone (seriously).Rappers dont make records, they make singles and ringtones, and the world is catching on. Rappers began treating albums like the Yankees, and forgot how to create something memorable that the people connect with. In the late 90's commercial boom of hip-hop, bigger meant better, but somewhere along the lines the essence was sacrificed. You can buy the most collaborations and expensive beats, but in 2007, that can't cover up the lack of talent or passion for the game.The reason only one album went platinum in the 2006 calendar year, is because only 3 other records had an equal or greater anticipation and they came out in the 4th quarter.

[i'm done]

With that said, my 10

1. Lil' Wayne (one hit away...)
2. Jay-Z ("Hov's a living legend and I'll tell you why/ Everybody wanna be Hov and Hov still alive")
3. T.I. (I'll forgive him for TI vs. TIP, he dropped 06's best album and upped the ante for the South)
4. OutKast (because Andre AND Big Boi are killing the game)
5. Lupe Fiasco (a musical genius developing at a crazy pace... beware his second release)
6. Pusha T (of the Clipse... thank them for cocaine anthems and BAPE)
7. Kanye West (decent lyricist, best hip-hop ARTIST in the game)
8. Nas (Hip Hop Is Dead gave me hope for 2007)
9. Common (Be was a modern classic, Finding Forever is life changing)
10. Ghostface Killah (most visual and entertaining rapper ever)

peace.