Hottest MCs 2009

Photo: MTV News

“Hov’s the audio equivalent of braille.” “The game needs change and I’m the muthaf—in’ cashier.” “I’m Hannibal Lecter so just in case you’re thinking of saving face/ You ain’t gonna have no face to save by the time I’m through with this place.”

So many MCs have their bars up these days — not just Jay-Z, Drake and Eminem (quoted above). The flows are precise and people are taking notice. Impact has resonated, the buzz is strong, so it’s time to go!

For the 2009 Hottest MCs in the Game, the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust took everything that’s going on right now into account, sat down and fought it out — and the list is done! This year’s may have been the toughest list to discuss and decide. For more than three hours, moderator Sway and the other nine members of the Brain Trust (Sway doesn’t have a vote at the table; he guides the conversation) talked about music, impact, buzz, sales, personal experiences — everything was out there on the table. Please note that the list is based on what’s going on right now, not an artist’s entire careers. (Head here for a full rundown of the criteria.) We laughed, shouted, angered each other and dropped jewels.

We also, for the first time, brought fan comments to the discussion — more than 1.2 million people voted, and the results of the readers’ poll got a seat and a vote, represented at the table by Sway. Your voices were heard!

Ultimately though, remember that this is the Brain Trust’s list: There can never be a definitive list of the Hottest MCs, because music isn’t a measurable science. We can say for certain that people will be shocked not just by some of the names who made it into the top 10 — but also those who didn’t. As always, please let us know what you think — we love your comments, whether you agree or disagree.

The 2009 Hottest MCs in the Game countdown begins on Monday, with one MC per day being revealed Monday through Friday — and the full list will be unveiled on Sunday, October 4, during “P. Diddy’s Starmaker”!

MTV News will be unveiling the Hottest MCs in the Game next week! We’ll be announcing an MC’s rank every day, with the full list revealed on Sunday at 10 p.m. during “P. Diddy’s Starmaker”!

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Related Artists

• Lil Wayne
• Drake
• Jay-Z
• 50 Cent
• Eminem