SMH: MTV’s Hottest MC of 2011 Nominees
February 13, 2012 9 comments
MTV is at it again. Instead of sticking to what they know (tanned douche bags and pregnant teenagers), they have to come and remind us that they occasionally dabble in the music scene. MTV Jams is the only worthy contribution MTV has made to my life outside of JWoww. The annual Hottest MC list has become a piñata for rap fans, and the release of the list inspired me to grab my literary bat and bash it until mini-liquor bottles and condoms fall out (after seeing one of these piñatas at my friend’s birthday party a few years ago, I’m never going back to candy).
The snub of Kendrick Lamar was the most common complaint, but Kendrick was not included due to being a nominee for Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011 (yea, I didn’t know they had this, either). Machine Gun Kelly won that award via popular vote (lolz). Also snubbed was J.Cole, who wasn’t included on either the Breakthrough or main MC list despite having a #1 album. Has the machine already given up on making J.Cole happen? J.Cole not making the list is the first piece of news I’ve heard about him since Cole World was released. He took the snub like an adult…
So here’s the list. You may want to grab some lean for this.
2 Chainz
My god, someone at MTV might actually be paying attention to good rap music! That was usually Buttahman’s role, but he’s moved on to BET. 2011 was exceedingly kind to 2 Chainz – Codeine Cowboy and T.R.U. REALigion were embraced by critics and the streets alike, and the dirty Sprite-sippin’ spitter outclassed Ludacris and Busta Rhymes in the BET cypher. Now he’s a must-have guest verse, scoring two appearances on Rick Ross’ Rich Forever and inking a deal with Def Jam.
Top 10 Chances: Dark horse candidate
50 Cent
Wait, what?! 50 Cent hasn’t released an album since 2009! The Big 10 mixtape came out late last year, but who was checking for it?
Did you ever think our attitudes toward 50 Cent would come to this? Flash back to 2002-2003, when 50 Cent had the rap world eating out his bullet-riddled palms. My friend’s birthday party was the week Get Rich or Die Tryin’ came out, and he burned copies for the crew for party favors (I bought my own copy, too, RIAA snitches following my timeline). Every rap fan knew that album backwards and forwards. At that time, it was unconscionable that I’d ever be indifferent towards 50 Cent, but almost 10 years later, I couldn’t care less.
Top 10 Chances: None, unless MTV implements a Lifetime Achievement clause to get him in.
Big Sean
The man my roommate’s girlfriend calls “the cutest little rapper” had a weird 2011. Big Sean dropped the cheesy Finally Famous album, which got a lot of mainstream love, so good for him. Then there was the diss from Ludacris regarding the origins of the Supa Dupa/hashtag flow, who’s using it properly (not Ludacris), etc. But I’m creeped out by the fact that a rapper who makes music for high school girls caught a sexual harassment charge from a high school girl. Gross.
Top 10 Chances: It’s possible because he appeals to MTV’s target demographic, and apparently MTV’s target demographic appeals to him. Ew.
Common
Common is out here like he’s serious about rap again! The Dreamer/The Believer surpassed my (low) expectations and he’s got rap beef with Drake to boot. I can do without their bickering over sweaters and Serena, but I’m in full favor of Common giving us more songs like “Ghetto Dreams.”
Top 10 Chances: I wouldn’t count him out. Common is everybody’s go-to non-threatening rapper. He’s like instant validation for your hip-hop needs. President Obama wanted to bring some soul to the White House poetry night and had to choose between Common or Trick Daddy, and wisely chose the former.
Drake
We here at MJF love us some Drake. I randomly sing lines from “Shot For Me.” My roommate is on record as a Drake-hater, but he sings Drake in the shower. Somehow all the guests at my Super Bowl party broke into “Marvin’s Room.” I’ve had numerous people tell me they read @DrakeDoinThings for their daily pick-me-up. How does he have this hold on us? Is it because he’s so cuddly? Is it because it’s so adorable when he tries to be tough? I can’t call it.
Top 10 Chances: If MTV leaves him off the list, I’ll tattoo his name on my forehead so he knows that it’s real.
Eminem
The Bad Meets Evil album was hot. His verse from the Shady 2.0 cypher was hotter. The “Posdnuos was caught with a prostitute…” flurry at the end was FLAMES. You know that beaten-to-death phrase “favorite rapper’s favorite rapper” that everybody uses to describe whichever rapper they happen to be writing about? That title belongs to Eminem. Every single interview I’ve seen or read where the interviewee, be it an OG or up-and-comer, is asked his/her favorite rapper, Eminem is invariably mentioned. Shady is undeniable.
Top 10 Chances: MTV would never pass on the chance to feature Eminem. Take it to the bank.
Fabolous
I have no legitimate reason for not having listened to There Is No Competition 3: Death Comes in 3s. I loved the first two installments, gave The S.O.U.L. Tape a lot of love, and will always check for anything by Fabolous. He easily has some of the most entertaining punchlines in hip-hop. He’s like the Lamar Odom of the rap game: cool guy, great sense of humor, and just seems to be genuinely liked. Outside of Ray J, who doesn’t like Fabolous?!
Top 10 Chances: Good. He might sneak in at 9 or 10 off the strength of two mixtapes. Plus his inclusion would give us another excuse to replay Ray J’s phone call to the Breakfast Club.
French Montana
The streets love Frenchie. He’s not flashy, he’s not complicated, he’s just a dude from NY who hustled his way into relevance. He still sounds technically raw and strikes me as a New York version of Waka Flocka. His harmonizing over “Return of the Mack” will bring you to tears, be it tears of boredom, despair, or hilarity. If they’re tears of joy, I will ask the church to pray for you. But he must be doing something right: Diddy and Ross were both vying for his services before French ultimately signed to Bad Boy. French went on to claim that he’s the first Bad Boy artist to own his publishing, prompting all the artists that Diddy screwed to cry and shake uncontrollably. Word is that French almost signed to G.O.O.D. Music, but it fell through due to Kanye West not owning a cell phone. Seriously.
Top 10 Chances: I have no fucking idea.
Jadakiss
The greatest guest-verse artist in the history of the game outside of Eminem, Jadakiss could forgo dropping albums and just give us hot 16s throughout the year and I’ll be totally fine with it. I Love You was just “ehhh,” but Jada and Styles P laid claim to the hottest “Otis” cover, BY FAR.
Top 10 Chances: Slim. Lukewarm mixtape with a couple guest verses don’t scream “Top 10” to me.
Jay-Z
Jay-Z made the cut? MUST BE ILLUMINATI. Or the fact that Watch the Throne was a massive success. His nomination was never in question.
Top 10 Chances: THE ILLUMINATI WILLS IT!
Jim Jones
You must be joking. Jim Jones is a figurehead more than anything else. I like his random ad-libs and the grimy, I-need-a-shower feel he brings with him, but never for a full album. Despite the stylish images that Capo presented, I always imagine Jim Jones going around wearing dirty white tees. Thanks to Love & Hip Hop, I know better. Unfortunately, that show brought his wife Chrissy Lampkin into my life. I had no idea who she was until my roommate, a historian on all things ratchet, informed me of Chrissy’s sordid past. Gross, Jimmy.
Top 10 Chances: Nobody from the Dipset should be winning anything until they’re all back in the studio together. The fact they’re reuniting for Paid Dues gives me hope.
Kanye West
The other half of Watch the Throne, Kanye can do no wrong right now. Besides, he got his “wrong” out of the way with that horrid 808s album. Few people in hip-hop are making music as good as Kanye’s. The upcoming G.O.O.D. Music album is one of the most anticipated projects of the year. He’s a superstar in his prime, let’s enjoy the ride.
Top 10 Chances: That shit cray.
Lil’ Wayne
No. God no. Carter IV sucked massive, elephantitis-afflicted testicles. Ever since he left Rikers, Weezy hasn’t been the same rapper. He’s been unimaginative, predictable, and…boring. How did we get here? Wayne made his name on being the antithesis of those, but he’s a shell of his 2006-2008 “Greatest Rapper Alive”-era self. He’s making me wonder if Gillie the Kid was right.
Top 10 Chances: Of course he’ll make the Top 10. MTV knows that Weezy = ratings.
Lloyd Banks
Lloyd Banks’ The Cold Corner 2 was a G-Unit-less affair and turned out to be one of the better mixtapes of 2011. Banks quietly has the most consistent body of work out of everybody from G-Unit, 50 Cent included. 50 has higher highs, but much lower lows, and Tony Yayo is just a waste of a great rap voice.
Top 10 Chances: He deserves a nod over 50 Cent, but MTV wouldn’t dream of it.
Maino
GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!! WHO IS STILL CHECKING FOR MAINO?!?
Top 10 Chances: I can’t…
Meek Mill
That’s more like it! Meek Mill has one of my favorite voices in rap, and is in a great place to shine with Maybach Music Group. Dreamchasers might be my roommate’s favorite mixtape of 2011, and it definitely deserved consideration for the Top 10 Mixtape lists. If you haven’t listened to it, immediately check “Don’t Panic,” “Tony Story,” “Love Don’t Live Here,” and, aw hell, the whole damn tape! A lot of the production is Lex Luger-ish but it’s worth it. Add that tape to his contributions to Self Made and numerous guest spots, and Meek Mill compiled an impressive 2011 resumé.
Top 10 Chances: Put him in, coach!
Nas
Nas made roughly 6 appearances in 2011, including “Be Right” and “Courthouse” which originally leaked in 2010 but were properly released last year. But “Nasty” was HOT FIRE. Nasty Nas is back, baby! At least I hope so. Being a Nas stan is a tough racket because I have no idea what to expect from him at this point in his career besides his penchant for crappy beat selection. We could get Stillmatic one track and Nastradamus on another, and both would be produced by Chris Webber.
Top 10 Chances: Street’s Disciple – long, not great, but underrated.
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj was everywhere in 2011. She’s a crossover star, everybody’s trying to work with her (except Lil’ Kim and Khia), and she’s even got Taylor Swift rapping “Super Bass.” I actually give her credit for making hip-hop more accessible to females who are more comfortable listening to Lady Gaga than Big L. I highly support more ladies at rap shows.
Top 10 Chances: You bet her sweet ass she’ll be in the Top 10.
Red Café
OH COME ON. I like Red Café but you must be outside your damn mind if you think Red Café is one of the 25 hottest rappers right now. Quick – what’s the name of the Red Café song that has the streets buzzing? Don’t worry, I’ll wait…
Top 10 Chances:
Rick Ross
Let’s see: Self Made Vol. 1 had some heaters, he’s raking in the guest-verse checks, and I wouldn’t be caught dead without at least two Rick Ross projects on me. If you could make the kind of music Ross is making right now, you too can be rich forever. No-brainer nomination.
Top 10 Chances: UNGH!!
T.I.
Another Lifetime Achievement nomination. Tip spent more time in the pen than the studio. 2006 called, it wants its Hottest MCs list back.
Top 10 Chances: Surely you can’t be serious.
Wale
Wale signing to MMG was a great career move, but don’t tell me you were really feeling that Ambition album. However, I will credit him for making three of my favorite songs of the year: “600 Benz,” Barry Sanders,” and “Legendary.” I have a love/hate with Wale because he’ll flash brilliance, then drop something lukewarm, follow with a hot joint, then disappoint. I keep a coin that has a deep scratch across the face of one side to flip in the event someone comes up to me and asks how I feel about Wale.
Top 10 Chances: *flips coin*
*coin rolls out of office and into the ladies’ room*
I’m gonna wait until my homie who uses the ladies room gets nature’s call so he can get that for me.
Wiz Khalifa
Amber Rose crushes Wiz Khalifa during sex.
This is my new friend Wiz, and for just 10 cents a day, you can feed this poor starving child.
Wiz counts as a carry-on when Amber Rose goes on flights (I really hope I didn’t steal this from Big Ghost Chronicles. This sounds like something he’d say about Wiz).
Top 10 Chances: As much as I wanted to make a “slim chance” crack, he’ll likely be on it.
Yelawolf
I personally like Yelawolf. He impressed me in the Shady 2.0 cypher and I dug Trunk Muzik, but Radioactive was a tough listen due to the shackles the label put on Yela. I’m not a big fan of his voice, either, but I think I have the fix: he could be the evolutionary Jadakiss. If I could get Yelawolf in 16-bar doses on other people’s songs, I would be thrilled (see Big Boi’s “You Ain’t No DJ.”)
Top 10 Chances: A definite maybe. I hope he gets on just for the exposure, and then I can use that shine as a launchpad for my campaign to get the A&R responsible for Radioactive fired.
Young Jeezy
Aaaaaayyyy!! Thug Motivation 103 finally saw the light of daaaayyyy! CTE is the movement right now, with TM103 out in addition to the The Real is Back mixtapes. I’ve always marveled at the unbridled love the industry has for Young Jeezy. If you ever ask a rapper not affiliated with MMG about Jeezy, they will immediately start fawning over him. So what if he doesn’t have insane mic skills? His ear for beats, comedic rhymes, and infectious hooks (“Bandana on the choppa! Bandana on the choppa!”) make him indispensable. Plus the whole drug-dealing reputation doesn’t hurt his popularity, either.
Top 10 Chances: Ayyyyyy!!!!!
So there are the 25 Hottest MCs, according to MTV. You all know who’s missing, right? No, not some underground cat that has a 5-mile radius in your podunk town buzzing.
I can’t believe you muthafuckas forgot about me…
PUSHA T! PUSHA TON! PUSH A TON OF THAT SHIT THAT MAKE YOUR NOSE RUN! HOW IN THE HELL DID PUSHA T GET LEFT OFF THIS LIST?!
There are people who are less famous than him on the list. There are people who are more gutter than him on the list. And there are an abundance of people who are worse than him on the list. What gives, MTV? Were the Fear of God tapes too much piff to handle? Does Consequence have dirt on the members of the selection committee? I want answers! And if I don’t get them, I’ll..I’ll…uh…write another strongly-worded piece! That’ll show ‘em!
