Eminem is currently topping the list with 38%. Vote here until 9/21.

I was just bumpin Hollywood Divorce the other day, I can’t believe its 3 years old…

No question Andre has just about all of the credentials to reign on the Hottest MCs list — except one. To say we caught him between cycles is an understatement. The ATLien hasn’t dropped an LP since 2003′s The Love Below (OK, the “Idlewild” soundtrack if you want to get technical — but even that was three years ago). But making the list has never been about putting out albums — the roundtable talk is always about how he makes his guest appearances an event. Dre certainly lit up the airwaves late last year on John Legend’s “Green Light,” but his verses since then have been tougher to find. Stacks hasn’t been too prolific, so will the handful of gems be enough to get a ranking this year?

In a rare interview, Andre talked to us about the past Hottest MCs lists, the concept of them and where he’d like to see himself stacking up against the competition.

“The thing about these hip-hop lists… it’s like, ‘How can you make a list because it’s so many people you leave off that a lot of people may disagree with?’ If you have 10 guys in a room [debating], that’s their list. It can’t be a world list, ’cause it’s a lot of people… I’m surprised Ludacris is never on there — he’s one of the dopest. Black Thought ain’t on there — he’s killin’ a lot of people. Then you got too many opinions. You have people that come up to me in the streets and say certain things. I’m like, ‘Well, that’s their opinion.’

I just say, ‘Man, everybody do your thing.’ I’d rather be #2 and everybody know I should be #1, than to be #1. Then I have somewhere to go.”

via MTV Mixtape Daily:

“Hollywood” isn’t just the name of a Jay-Z song — Hov still wants to get into the movie biz. Before he retired for the first time about six years ago, Jay said one of the things he wanted to focus on after rapping was making movies. Well, obviously even when he was in “retirement,” Jay never stopped rapping — it’s in the man’s DNA. Still, the Jiggaman told us he hasn’t given up laying down a blueprint for success in Tinseltown.

“I do. I do,” Jay insisted about whether he still wants to make movies in the future. “I’m taking my time. It may seem like it’s taking forever, but when I do, it’s gonna be something added to the genre. I just don’t wanna do a couple movies and be gone. I want it to be something that’s really important, so I’m taking my time with it. Hopefully when I arrive [in Hollywood], I can leave a footprint.”

After the jump, The 1515 Boys debate over the best verse on “Forever.”

Continue reading this post…

Vote until 9/21.

Young recently told us he has his own ideas for the Hottest MCs list, saying that we should make a “Hood’s Hottest MCs” of the realest street cats in the game. He would even like to sit down with some of his rap friends and make up a list.

“Even with me, when y’all first put in the bracket, some people think different,” he explained. “Some people wanna be a lyricist. Me, I wanna be real. It’s gotta be different categories.”

Jeezy does agree you could be real and not be hot. “You can,” Young noted. “There’s a lot of cats that do. You gotta get that list though. There’s a lot of cats underground you might not even know about that everybody listens to.”

Jeezy also notes that when the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust makes their Hottest list, they shouldn’t include legends against some of the younger artists.

“You shouldn’t put a Nas on there. Or a KRS-One. That’s crazy to put those cats in the same category. They think differently. That’s why we should do mine. … It’s gonna cause more controversy than you think. People gonna be calling being like, ‘He ain’t really like that.’ ”

Voting ends 9/21.

For the criteria, we factor in the following: How the MC’s words penetrate on the mic: Can their lyrics stab hearts, does their flow enthrall you? Obviously we look at how they implement their talent with the quality of music as well. The music is always primary, but not the only aspect of a Hot MC. We look at their success, both musical and entrepreneurial: Do they sell albums, singles and ringtones? Do they top the charts? Are their records heavily spun on the airwaves? Do they have businesses that flourish? Have they put other MCs in the game? Do companies clamor to get them to endorse products? And finally, there’s the intangible, impact: Of course you can look at metrics such Google hits, Twitter followers and YouTube views — which we do — but do these MCs move the needle on the culture? Can the mere mention of their names start conversations? Continue reading this post…

via MTV:

Marshall Mathers has an army of supporters, and thanks to them, Eminem has risen to the top of the fan voting in our Hottest MC poll. With 40 percent of the votes thus far, he’s pulled ahead of Joe Budden and 50 Cent, who had been the leading vote getters in the weeks since we opened the poll. Now that those votes are being factored into this year’s official list, it seems fans are aware that the stakes are higher.

Due to the whopping 420 percent increase in voting, we decided to delay revealing the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust’s list and let you guys weigh in. We’re encouraging everyone to continue to be engaged in this conversation and cast your vote for the Hottest MCs in the Game until September 21.

When the poll closes, we’ll tally up your votes for the top 10 along with the votes from the Hip-Hop Brain Trust. The official list of the Hottest MCs in the Game will be unveiled this October.

Vote here.

Related: Hottest MCs Poll Voting Extended To September 21

via MTV:

Since we published our poll asking fans their picks for 2009′s Hottest MC in the Game, over 100,000 people have taken notice, voted and chimed in. (Editor’s note: The poll is meant to spark conversation, and it has no bearing on the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust’s list of the 10 Hottest MCs.) One of the names that fans continue to bring up is Drake’s. The young Canadian’s fans say he squashes the competition — but Drizzy still feels he has a long way to go.

“What a lot of people don’t understand … people may be like, I may be one of the best MCs — not yet,” he told us recently. “I’m 22. I got a lot of growth.”

Which brings up an interesting point: Drake hasn’t even dropped an album. Yes, he’s building up a string of stellar guest spots — like on Young Money’s “Every Girl” and Fabolous’ “Throw It in the Bag” remix — and his mixtape, So Far Gone, is a certified classic on the underground circuit, spawning radio hits “Successful” and “Best I Ever Had.” But with only 10 slots on the Hip-Hop Brain Trust’s list, should a person with no LP under his belt make the cut over somebody who has not only had singles in rotation but put product out in stores?

Even if Drake doesn’t make the Hottest MCs list, he said even being considered is “an honor.”

#10 – #6 will be revealed from August 17 – 21.
#5 – #1 will be revealed during Diddy’s Making His Band on August 24th.

Vote now @ MTV

1515 Boys’ Off The Dome series continues with a look at the “Hottest MCs” voting results so far.

#10 – #6 will be revealed from August 17 – 21.
#5 – #1 will be revealed during Diddy’s Making His Band on August 24th.

Vote now @ MTV

Previously: Video: Should 50 Cent Make The Hottest MCs List? | Video: Slaughterhouse Talks MCs & Hottest MCs In The Game List

The G-Unit General doesn’t flood the guest appearances and he hasn’t put out a solo LP since 2007′s Curtis, but Fif has been very active on the mixtape circuit. This summer alone he’s put out the War Angel LP and Forever King — but will that be enough to earn a place on the list? You’ll find out shortly. Fif himself told Mixtape Daily that he wouldn’t mind getting some accolades — but he doesn’t expect them.

“I made a mistake,” Fif said recently in New York City. “Early on [in my career], I said, ‘They’ll get the trophy, I’ll get the checks.’ That’s because I wasn’t receiving the acknowledgement based on the aggressive content I was putting out. I’ve been nominated for 16 Grammy awards and still ain’t got no trophies. Largest debut in hip-hop to date — they just ignored it when it was time to give the trophies out. So I just started saying, ‘They can have the trophies and I’ll have the checks.’ That didn’t mean that I didn’t have love for the actual art form. But to give a basic answer that people would understand, I would be secure with my life, I’ll continue make music, but I won’t be in front of them and get recognized. I’ll get a lifetime-achievement award after based on my full body of work. At that point, it’ll be too much for them to ignore.”

He’s saying it on purpose now. I’m sure of it.

#10 – #6 will be revealed from August 17 – 21.
#5 – #1 will be revealed during Diddy’s Making His Band on August 24th.

Vote now @ MTV

I don’t think anybody could make a valid argument for 50 being higher than Ross… Forever King is my shit but that ain’t putting him over the top.

The draft starts August 17th. #1 MC to be announced August 24th during Diddy’s Making His Band.

Spotted @ RR via MTV

via Sha & Rahman:

It looks like Shyne is coming home. After many false release dates swirled around over the past few years, a judge has set October for Shyne’s release from prison after serving eight years.
…
So what happens next for Shyne’s career? Rahman Dukes and I contemplated Shyne’s next move. Rahman feels that aligning with Jay-Z and Roc Nation is a can’t-miss. Rah says the Brooklyn connection could be unbeatable, seeing that Jay’s reach and influence is so vast.

I see it a little differently. While you cannot argue that anything associated with Young Hov will be successful, I’m thinking of Shyne partnering up with another heavyweight: Kanye West. Yes, Kanye.

Kanye is arguably the best producer in the game today. Shyne will have a helluva story to tell, he has the credibility and hopefully his flow will still be intact. Lyrically, he told me five years ago that he’s written 10 albums in prison. All he needs are some beats. There’s no producer in the game right now whose track will make a more beautiful marriage with Shyne’s vocals. Me and Rahman also look forward to Just Blaze, Swizz Beatz and Cool & Dre working with Shyne if we had our wish — check out the video for the full conversation.