MTV’s Hottest MCs In The Game: #7 Kanye West
Mr. West comes in at #7. He should have definitely been docked a few spots for this.
Kanye West has proven time and time again that as a soloist, he can single-handedly shift rap’s sonic focus, but over the past year Yeezy made sure that there wasn’t anybody messin’ with his clique. So even during a period when he put out G.O.O.D. Music’s Cruel Summer compilation, ‘Ye was enough of a force to land him at #7 on the “Hottest MCs in the Game VIII,” MTV’s hip-hop power ranking.
In 2012, Yeezy hit the stage to embark on the European leg of his Watch the Throne Tour with partner Jay-Z. He also showed off his in-studio expertise with tracks like G.O.O.D’s double-platinum, #1 rap hit “Mercy,” the venomous “Cold” and the top-five hit “Clique,” proving he could deliver on our criteria for sales.
Previous: #8 ASAP Rocky | #9 Future | #10 Meek Mill
00MTV’s Hottest MCs In The Game: #8 ASAP Rocky
I would have guessed Rocky would be a lot higher than #8 this year. Oh well.
From the Rick Owens leathers to the Balenciaga finery, there’s no denying A$AP Rocky is a certified fashion killa (you can check his influence in other rapper’s closets). But the Harlem upstart spits more than designer labels from that gold-plated mouth. He followed his lean-drenched mixtape, Live.Love.A$AP, with a chart-topping debut that shows off his versatility and a penchant for crossing state lines when it comes to flow.
And while that helped Rocky to earn the title of #8 Hottest MC in the Game, Pretty Flacko’s buzz and his grasp on the intangibles also put him in contention for our list. RapFix Blog Editor Nadeksa Alexis laughed, “I don’t even know if we’re still using the word ‘swag,’ but that’s all him, and everyone sees that.”
Previous: #9 Future | #10 Meek Mill
00MTV’s Hottest MCs In The Game: #9 Future
Next up on the list is Future Vandross.
What began as a strictly underground run began to take off in 2011 with Future’s “Tony Montana” single and its Drake-assisted remix. During 2012, however, Future sky-rocketed to new heights with high-powered pop hooks, while still keeping his hold on the streets. His mix of melodic arrangements and raspy rap bars were a sure-shot formula for some of the year’s biggest hits.
Whether it was the gold-selling, chart-topping syrupy ballad “Turn on the Lights,” the T.I.-backed “Magic” or the infectious “Same Damn Time,” Future seemed to have club staples on lock. But it was his guest spots on songs like Rihanna’s “Loveeeeeee Song” and Lil Wayne’s “Love Me” that helped create a sense that the Atlanta rapper/songwriter was omnipresent. “Love Me” is a top 10 Billboard hit, and if the Rihanna record ever gets released as a single, it has the potential to do the same.
Previous: #10 Meek Mill
00MTV’s Hottest MCs In The Game: #10 Meek Mill
MTV is back with their annual list of the hottest and most popular artists out. Don’t confuse “hottest” with “best”, or else you might get disappointed. Meek Mill is up first at #10.
While he prepped his debut album, Dreams and Nightmares, the MMG rapper kept busy early in the year with features on Rick Ross’ Rich Forever mixtape, in addition to appearances on remixes of tracks like Wale’s “Slight Work” and Tyga’s “Rack City.”
By the spring, he delivered a brand-new body of work on his Dreamchasers 2 mixtape, which included the smash “Amen” (featuring Drake) and other notables like “Racked Up Shawty” with Fabolous. Even Jay-Z took notice, signing Meek to a Roc Nation management deal while his tape was still in heavy rotation.
00Rihanna Covers Elle UK Magazine
Kanye West & Kim Kardashian Cover L’Officiel Hommes
All the blogs today have been titling this as the couple being “naked”, but although that is technically true, it seems to be a cry for more views. No doubt the cover is pretty racy, it isn’t as revealing as you would have originally thought. The power couple have also announced they will be welcoming a baby girl into the world later this year.
00Rihanna & Kate Moss Cover V Magazine
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