The full list goes: #10 – Raekwon, #9 – 50 Cent, #8 – Fabolous, #7 – Young Jeezy, #6 – Gucci Mane, #5 – Rick Ross, #4 – Kanye West, #3 – Drake, #2 – Lil Wayne, #1 – Jay-Z.
A big congratulations to Weezy F Baby.
You can read why MTV choose Lil Wayne for number 2 after the jump:
2007’s Hottest MC in the Game, Lil Wayne, has been in the top three of the Hottest MCs list three years running on account of his consistently powerful skills on the mic and perennially enormous impact.
Even without an album release in 2009, Weezy’s rep and influence continued to grow, owing to his status as rap’s most active and lucrative touring act, the rise of his Young Money crew of newcomers, and his armor-piercing punchlines on guest appearances.
Just one example of his lyrical marksmanship can be found in Jadakiss’ “Death Wish”: “I’m from the mecca of the reckless/ With a record-breaking debt list/ The wreckers and neglectors think the election won’t affect us,” Wayne raps about his hometown of New Orleans. “I’m knockin’ niggas down this year, I’m on my timber shit/ Big lion growl at you niggas/ On that Simba shit.”
Over the past year, the big lion tore up the road for nearly 80 dates on his “I Am Music” and “Young Money Presents: America’s Most Wanted Music Festival” tours, which banked slightly over $42 million — a record for a hip-hop act, according to Pollstar. Wayne’s show was must-see as he exploded onstage with spectacles such as a live band whose members were suspended in the air, sexy dancers, his guitar (heh heh!) and his most important weapon, his charisma. With his swinging dreads, tattooed body and insurgent attitude, Weezy’s stage command was practically a religious experience for fans as he infused rock, pop and all his hip-hop blockbusters into his live set.
As boundless as his raps and live performances were, so was Wayne’s media omnipresence. The New Orleans native’s appeal proved universal as he snagged the cover of Rolling Stone magazine for his still-unreleased new Rebirth LP, analyzed sports for ESPN and wooed CBS News’ Katie Couric and the ladies of “The View.”
Weezy’s other big move in 2009 was ushering in others. Wayne may not look like the traditional buttoned-up CEO, but his business acumen proved potent as he helped introduce music’s rookie of the year, Drake. Drizzy’s So Far Gone mixtape (released in February) became so popular that virtually every major label tried to sign him. It was Wayne and his Young Money label that won out, and for good reason: Weezy’s star-powered co-sign has served as a major catalyst for Drake-mania, with the newcomer already being tapped by fans and media to be a rap phenom before he’s dropped a full album.
While other members of Young Money, such as female standout Nicki Minaj, have shown tremendous personality and presence on the mic, the Drake/ Wayne tag team on freestyles and singles such as “Ignant Shit” “Every Girl,” “Successful” and the all-star team-up of “Forever” (also featuring Kanye West and Eminem) has been lyrically exhilarating, carpeted with ferocious quotables. The prolific duo has planted the flag for Young Money’s takeover.
Wayne’s trusted stamp of quality has even given his career-long recording home, Cash Money Records (of which Young Money is an offshoot), an added rejuvenation. Veteran the Birdman has featured his stepson Weezy on two concrete hits: “Always Strapped” and the current “Money To Blow.” Meanwhile, newcomers Jay Sean and Kevin Rudolf have been able to ride the Wayne bandwagon to the top of the charts with the Weezy-guested hits “Down” and “Let It Rock,” respectively.
Wayne’s ballyhooed guest spots didn’t slow or stay contained to his musical family. He terrorized rough hip-hop tracks for the likes of Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Jadakiss and Fabolous — not to mention his spot in T.I.’s all-star track “Swagga Like Us,” also featuring Kanye West and Jay-Z — while even Madonna placed a call to Wayne to add some New Orleans spice to her greatest-hits LP.
Wayne is still music’s number-one go-to guy because his versatile flow, coarse voice and swagger blend with a surprisingly diverse range of musical styles — and when it comes to wordplay, Wayne’s abstract thinking remains on another planet, keeping his innovative bars above his peer group. (Who else in rap would compare the seats of a car to a human posterior, as he did on Ross’ “Maybach Music 2″?)
Although Weezy F. is currently spreading the love to others, we can’t forget that his most major singular accomplishment from last year added to his heat inn ‘09. Tha Carter III was the biggest-selling album of 2008 and obviously was a huge reason why so many fans came to Wayne concerts in 2009. The album also took home a Grammy for Best Rap Album in February.
While the long-promised Rebirth LP remains on ice, Weezy’s high volume of high-quality work with the entire music industry keeps him on top — album cycles just don’t apply to the Fireman anymore. The Kobe Bryant of rap is not just a marquee artist; Wayne’s a leader. You see people like Gucci Mane following his dogged work ethic, living in the studio and churning out song after song. Street MCs such as Young Jeezy have incorporated live bands in their stage repertoire after seeing how seamlessly it worked for Wayne — and maybe the biggest nod to Weezy is that record company execs are paying close attention to Young Money’s moves in a hope to emulate their success.
Co-Signer: Diddy”I nod my head to Wayne, I tip my hat to him. I told him at the BET Awards. I said, ‘You doing the new generation of Bad Boy. You’re doing what we did back in ‘94, that’s really creating a movement. I tip my hat to him, but now I gotta watch him because he’s competition. But he’s doing his thing. He’s gone from artist to label mogul, so you have to give him his respect.”
Ignitable Incitement: “These people all have the drive that I have, and that’s ‘never stop working,’ ” Wayne told MTV News about his Young Money artists. “We never get tired. Soon as I meet somebody that never gets tired: ‘Let’s do it, and when you ready, let’s go!’ Let’s go, [then] you Young Money. These people right here are that.”
Hot Streak:
Selected Mixtape: Dedication 3
Singles: “Lollipop,” “A Milli,” “Mrs. Officer” (featuring Bobby Valentino), “Got Money” (featuring T-Pain), “Prom Queen,” “Every Girl” (with Young Money crew), “Bedrock” (with Young Money crew), “Comfortable” (featuring Babyface)
Street Bangers: “Mr. Carter,” “You Ain’t Got Nuthin’ ” (featuring Fabolous and Juelz Santana), “Let the Beat Build,” “Phone Home”
Key Guest Appearances: Drake’s “Successful” (also featuring Trey Songz), “Uptown” (also featuring Bun B) and “Forever” (also featuring Eminem and Kanye West), Kanye West’s “See You in My Nightmares,” Birdman’s “Money To Blow” (also featuring Drake), Birdman’s “Always Strapped,” Fabolous’ “Salute,” Jadakiss’ “Death Wish,” Keri Hilson’s “Turnin’ Me On,” Rick Ross’ “Maybach Music 2″ (also featuring Kanye West and T-Pain), T-Pain’s “Can’t Believe It,” Madonna’s “Revolver,” Chris Brown’s “I Can Transform Ya,” Mack 10’s “So Sharp,” T.I. and Jay-Z’s “Swagga Like Us” (also featuring Kanye West)
Meteoric Metrics (as of October 2):
$42 million: the combined earnings of Wayne’s “I Am Music” and “Young Money Presents: America’s Most Wanted Music Festival” tours
1 million-plus: First-week sales of Tha Carter IIIMySpace Friends: 1,618,594 Facebook Fans: 2,168,793
Business Ventures: Young Money Entertainment label (featuring Drake, Nicki Minaj, Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, Mack Maine, Tyga, T-Streets, Lil Twist and Lil’ Chuckee)
Tours: I Am Music Tour (2008 and 2009), Young Money Presents: America’s Most Wanted Music Festival (2009)
Monumental Moment: Showing that the “Best Rapper Alive” may soon be the best label CEO alive by helping to launch Drake’s career and establishing the Young Money camp.
Forecast: Too easy! Wayne’s poised to close out this year with a humungous bang. He has a mixtape soon and the Young Money and Rebirth albums both slated to drop in December. In 2010, he’ll once again be a major contender for the #1 position on this list.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:24 am
haha so where’s 50 cent now?
October 5th, 2009 at 11:34 am
jay-z should be # 1 and then kanye west at 2
October 5th, 2009 at 11:44 am
daaamn, he should be #1 hands down, wtf were they thinking? jay z is weak dat bitch passed away long time ago
October 5th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Why is Eminem not on the list, but 50 Cent is
October 5th, 2009 at 11:52 am
smh at drake being numba 3… mtv bum this guy
October 5th, 2009 at 11:54 am
I agree Ooohhh – Eminem has released an album this year
50 Cent, Drake, Lil Wayne and Kanye West haven’t
Is this a racist thing?
October 5th, 2009 at 11:56 am
What’s a Gucci Mane?
October 5th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
ok they got some of it right i guess. the only problem for me is that em isn’t even on the list! and wayne isn’t number one!
October 5th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
IN YOUR FUCKIN FACE 50 !!
WEEZY NUMBER 1 FOR ME THO. !
October 5th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Fresh King Says:
October 5th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Eminem has released an album this year
50 Cent, Drake, Lil Wayne and Kanye West haven’t
Is this a racist thing?
drake-so far gone?
October 5th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
@Mrs Carter, 50 cent is #9. Learn to read.
October 5th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
they’re just sucking jay’s dick.. cuz honestly he aint that hot anymore.. but he’s definitely one of the greatest.. but his album is fucking trash..
but its cool… congrats weezy
btw if no ceilings was out weezy number 1 no doubt
October 5th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Congratulations Lil Wayne ^^ Is The Best Rapper Alive…..
But What’s The Music Has 1:46Min…Give Me Name Song Please ^^ Lil Wayne Rock Beautiful… , Lollipop Remix ? Or Other….Thanks
October 5th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
em?¿?¿?¿?¿ Fu*ck Mtv
October 5th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
y aint lil wayne number 1
October 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
ha
I have nothing to say about it
Jay-Z is absolutely the hottest MC in the game this year!
BUT!!
Weezy WILL BE BACK TO THE hottest MC NEXT YEAR!
October 5th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I say the same thing i said last year: Weezy shoulda been fuckin #1. But i’m really surprised Em wasn’t on the list. I don’t actually care for him though.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Jay definitely deserves the top spot BP3 is hot. Weezy at number 2 I have no problem with he still releases mad songs discovered Drake and Young Money only gets better with time. Em should have made the list but anyone who says hes number one is ignorant. Relapse was not good
October 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
@ WeezyF09
YEah that’s Lollipop;)
Weezy should be #1!
October 5th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
congrats Weezy! but he’s #1 in my eyes…
October 5th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
wat the FUCK 50 cent doing on the list…. FUCK DAT NIGGA100 times…. my nigga Eminem should take his place, and i dont think jay z should be number 1 cuz he aint sold a lot of records like my nigga weezy did, i dnt feel his album…
October 5th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Jay-Z is number one cause of his album u know
but after carter VI there won’t be even a discussion
everybody will know wayne alone on #1
50 should be on #90 he is so fuckin’ weak !
October 5th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Weezy should share that spot with Jay but you have to know that jay with the blueprint he is back, Plus he is now representing Hip hop Around the world so that have to be considered, however Wayne should be the hottest no matter what!
Shout out to my nigga WFB YMCM B
October 5th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
congrats to weezy love him
but where the fuck is t.i?
to jay-z he doesnt deserve it to be number one he was good back in the days but now come on
this run this town record was just ridicilous the only good thing on it was kanye west
October 5th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
What a fuck !
What is the fuckin’ remix of wayne’s lollipop single at 01:50 ???
THAT IS SO SICK!!
October 5th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
@ WeezyC
You Have One Link For This Song? Thx
October 5th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
nice that’s tight. yeah and in 2010 weezy should be number #1
October 5th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Wayne not number 1? wtf this must be cause he aint put out a CD or Official Mixtape this year
but Gucci one Spot Over Jeezy.! lol Its bout tobe more drama in those to camps now
October 5th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Weezy should be 1 !!!!!!!!! Hes the f*cking BESTTT!!! luvvvvvv uuuuu
October 5th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
the list is guud i guess but i think it should have been like this
#10-Rick Ross
#9- Gucci Mane
#8- Fabolous
#7- Young Jeezy
#6- Eminem
#5- Jay-Z
#4- KiD CuDi
#3- Drake
#2- Kanye West
#1- Lil Wayne
October 5th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
His shit never gets old. Weezy F Is The Best! WhyMe All Day!!!
October 5th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
oh but if T.I wasnt in jail right now, and he would have been top 5, he’s deff better than jay-z
October 5th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
bullshit weezy number i thik the man himself (JAy-z) gotta be saying right now neh weezy at #1 there aint no ceiling for weezy man
October 5th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Weezy should have been #1 but I need some good new shit from him like for real. I seriously hope no ceilings has NO auto and he actully spits and the Carter 4 is better then the Carter 3 and I hope D4 is better then D3, Weezy just needs to try and get back to his 07 shit
October 5th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Weezy is number 1!!! And number two is Rick Ross))
October 5th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
wayne is the fuckin best he sould of been number one hands down…
October 5th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
congrats to weezy! top 3 three years goin!
October 5th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
eminemm shoulda beeesn on theree instead of rick rosssss. && wtff, wayne should be numberrrr onee.
October 5th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
no dought weezy should of been num.1
October 5th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
you guyz fkn crazy!! weezy number 1, jay 2
October 5th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Why do the continue to put the apostrophe after lil’? its Lil Wayne. Not Lil’ Wayne
October 5th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
#1 Jay-z
#2 Lil Wayne
#3 Drake
#4 Kanye West
#5 Fabolous
#6 Eminem
#7 Young Jeezy
#8 T.I.
#9Raekwon
#10 Ludacris
in my opinion that’s how the list shudve went its all good though MTV will get it riiight sooner or later
October 5th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
how is eminem not on the real list like fooreallls though!!!!! EVERYbody who is anybody wants to do a track with em! if thats not hott MC then i dont know what is
October 6th, 2009 at 12:26 am
missin eminem..
October 6th, 2009 at 12:54 am
This list is a little wack to me…cmon Drizzy Drake dope, but he ain’t got nothin on KanYe yet, I mean Ye been settin this rap game on fire waayyy longer.
Rick Ross should definately not be up that high. He’s pretty good but he plenty of other emcees would kill Ross.
Eminem should’ve definately been in here, so should have newcomer Kid Cudi he is ILL. You’re forgetting legendary emcees like Nas, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Ice Cube, KRS-One, and all them too who should be on that list…
October 6th, 2009 at 12:58 am
and 50 Cent is WACK now. Move up Raekwon and add Rakim to the list, take off Gucci and Fab they are okay but more like top 30.
October 6th, 2009 at 12:59 am
but i agree T.i. should also make the cut.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Lil Wayne is my favorite new school rapper, but get real…he ain’t got nothin on the old school legends that still in the game but if you talkin about new school then he the best rapper. But not alive.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:22 am
something had to go wrong because wayne is THE BEST THE #1 rapper, then the rest is behind him so fix that
October 6th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Upup WeezyC please !
A link for this fuckin remix!
October 6th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
OoMdZ… y is Jay Z even on ddat list? & da worse part of it is dat he is number 1! how does he do it doe? he shud jus get out of here man but reali & truely hu listens 2 Jay Z doe? he is shit! i dnt even no ani of his songs cuz dey r so f**kin borin! & yea by da way jus cuz eminem aint dey dnt mean dat its sum rascist ting cuz T.I aint der either & he’s been going on HARD 2. AND GOD PLZ TELL ME WHY LIL WAYNE AINT NUMBER 1! seriously cum on now lets be real:
(1)LIL WAYNE (one gudd Stuff>”potentially the best”)
(2)Kanye West
(3)Drake> yea its true. Drake is going on HARD.
(4)T.I >
(5)Eminem>only cuz he started to fade into the background
(6)Gucci Mane> jheeze. i love Gucci Mane.
(7)Fabolous
(8)Young Jeezy
Rick Ross is such a loser man. he shudn’t even be on da list. Boooooo.
yea dats all i ave 2 say soooo SAY NAYYY.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Antoine Wayne Says:
October 6th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Upup WeezyC please !
A link for this fuckin remix!
+10000000000000000000
Up Up Lollipop Remix ! Thx
October 7th, 2009 at 2:42 am
i say jay-z,wayne ,and gucci mane
October 7th, 2009 at 3:10 am
that list goes pretty good except for rick ross ugh i hate him lil wayne was in a good place at number 2 only because jay z was number 1 but i wish they could have put tech n9ne on that… hes number 1 then jay the weezy etc
October 7th, 2009 at 3:54 am
aye i know alot of people like gucci i like the trap shit 2 but if this is a list bout mc’s then he aint got no reason be on the list he cnt rap sorry gucci fans and jay-z should not be number 1 but to each is on it should be wayne drizzy and put whoever else man im sorry but bp3 aint what a mafucka wanna hear is it just me but jay is loosin it ymob all day everyday young mula baby !!!!!
October 7th, 2009 at 4:14 am
man on some real nigga shit wayne should of been #1 no questions ask, point blank. Look of what he has accomplish, da game speaks 4 its self.
But no pressure though, Lil’ Wayne – Weezy F. Baby – Mr. Carter –
Young Money – Young Moula – Birdamn Jr. – Iz Stll Da Best Rapper Alive!!!!!!
“Like it Or Love It” – “Hate Me Or Love”
Forver: Lil’ Wayne —-
“Why should I scream for dis iz my theme park”
“Lil’ Wayne dats wat they gotta say or mention”
“I’m like navada in the middle of da summer, I’m restin in da lead, I need a pillow and cover”
“Shhh…. my foot sleepin on da gas, no breakpass, no such thing as last”
come on man, fuck wat ya’ll haterz say, man Weezy “The BEST”
—– yea ….. yea ——
Dats wat it iz
I aint gonn lie though Drake iz extremely good and got high quality sklllz too.
He also killed it on
October 7th, 2009 at 5:54 am
Kanye should be #1
October 9th, 2009 at 2:03 am
Fuck MTV! They don’t know music! I mean when was the last time you say a video on MTV! Have a top 10 reality show countdown you fucking losers! No eminem! Are you fucking stupid! Most anticipated! Number one selling! Beautiful was the most anticipated video! Best hip hop video! He’s all over blogs and web comments! The warning! He should write a warning to MTV! I mean WTF! Relapse 2! 2 CDs one year! Both most anticipated! BOYCOTT MTV! BOYCOTT MTV! BOYCOTT MTV!
October 10th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
pffff
I´ll tell you why there s no eminem
there are only black people in the judge
and when did black people start giving love to white artist ?
of course a group of black people
aint gonna pick a white mc to be the best or even on the list
and what the hell is drake doing at 3 ?
this guy is so fcking overrated its ridiculous get of his dick
‘hes just new and all of sudden in everyones top 5 ?
yall tasteless as fuck