MTV's Hottest MCs in the Game
MTV's Hottest MCs in the Game is a list compiled of ten hip hop artists deemed to be the "hottest" of that given year by MTV since 2007. Although MTV has stressed that the list is not meant to represent the greatest rappers of all time but the most interesting and culturally relevant artists of that year, the list is met with much controversy and debate each year. MTV named one rapper the "Hottest Breakthrough MC" of 2011 and that honor went to Machine Gun Kelly. Kanye West currently holds the record for most appearances on the list, being the only rapper to appear on the list every year since its inception.
After a four-year hiatus that began in 2012, MTV announced that they are bringing the list back with a television special that aired on December 11, 2016 on MTV2.
Background
The Hottest MC in the Game List was formed in 2007 and every year a group of Hip-Hop journalists known as "The Brain Trust" debated on who its favorite rapper of that year was. The Brain Trust has been composed of:- Sway Calloway
- Tuma Basa
- Bridget Bland
- Buttahman
- Rahman Dukes
- Andrea Duncan-Mao
- Sean Lee
- Joseph Patel
- Shaheem Reid
- Jayson Rodriguez
- Hillary Crosley
- Steven Roberts
- Sheila Grullon
- Yomi Desalu
- Ahmed Abdulle
- Mike Masic
- Moe Ahmed
- Rebecca Thomas
- Renaud Jean-Baptiste Jr.
- Nadeska Alexis
- Rob Markman
- Charlamagne Tha God
- Karen Civil
- Nick Cannon
- Joe Budden
Hottest MC in the Game recipients
Legend- °: New entry
- ↑: Up / Re-entry
- ↓: Down
- -: Same
2007
Source:- ° Lil Wayne
- ° T.I.
- ° The Game
- ° André 3000
- ° Kanye West
- ° Young Jeezy
- ° Jay Z
- ° 50 Cent
- ° Common
- ° Jim Jones
2008
Sources:- ↑ Kanye West
- ↑ Jay Z
- ↓ Lil Wayne
- ° Rick Ross
- ° Snoop Dogg
- ↑ 50 Cent
- ° Lupe Fiasco
- ↓ Young Jeezy
- ↓ André 3000
- ↓ T.I.
2009
Sources:- ↑ Jay Z
- ↑ Lil Wayne
- ° Drake
- ↓ Kanye West
- ↓ Rick Ross
- ° Gucci Mane
- ↑ Young Jeezy
- ° Fabolous
- ↓ 50 Cent
- ° Raekwon
2010
Sources:- ° Eminem
- ↓ Jay Z
- ↑ Kanye West
- ↓ Drake
- - Rick Ross
- ° Nicki Minaj
- ↓ Lil Wayne
- ° Waka Flocka Flame
- ° B.o.B
- ° Ludacris
2011
Source:- ↑ Rick Ross
- ↑ Drake
- - Kanye West
- ↑ Nicki Minaj
- ↑ Lil Wayne
- ↓ Jay Z
- ° Meek Mill
- ° Big Sean
- ° Wiz Khalifa
- ° Wale
2012
- ° Kendrick Lamar
- ° 2 Chainz
- ↓ Rick Ross
- ° Nas
- ↓ Drake
- ↑ Big Sean
- ↓ Kanye West
- ° ASAP Rocky
- ° Future
- ↓ Meek Mill
2016
Sources:- ↑ Kanye West
- ↑ Drake
- ° Chance the Rapper
- ° Travis Scott
- ° Young Thug
- ↑ Future
- ° YG
- ↓ Kendrick Lamar
- ° Lil Uzi Vert
- ° 21 Savage
Annual Hottest MC chart
| Position | Top MC | Year inducted | Appearances | Peak ranking |
| 1 | Kanye West | 2007 | 7 | 1 |
| 2 | Lil Wayne | 2007 | 5 | 1 |
| 3 | Jay Z | 2007 | 5 | 1 |
| 4 | Rick Ross | 2008 | 5 | 1 |
| 5 | Kendrick Lamar | 2012 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | Eminem | 2010 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Drake | 2009 | 5 | 2 |
| 8 | T.I. | 2007 | 2 | 2 |
| 9 | 2 Chainz | 2012 | 1 | 2 |
| 10 | Game | 2007 | 1 | 3 |
| 11 | Chance the Rapper | 2016 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | André 3000 | 2007 | 2 | 4 |
| 12 | Nicki Minaj | 2010 | 2 | 4 |
| 12 | Nas | 2012 | 1 | 4 |
| 12 | Travis Scott | 2016 | 1 | 4 |
| 16 | Snoop Dogg | 2008 | 1 | 5 |
| 16 | Young Thug | 2016 | 1 | 5 |
| 18 | Young Jeezy | 2007 | 3 | 6 |
| 18 | 50 Cent | 2007 | 3 | 6 |
| 18 | Big Sean | 2011 | 2 | 6 |
| 18 | Future | 2012 | 2 | 6 |
| 18 | Gucci Mane | 2009 | 1 | 6 |
| 23 | Meek Mill | 2011 | 2 | 7 |
| 23 | Lupe Fiasco | 2008 | 1 | 7 |
| 23 | YG | 2016 | 1 | 7 |
| 26 | Fabolous | 2009 | 1 | 8 |
| 26 | Waka Flocka Flame | 2010 | 1 | 8 |
| 26 | ASAP Rocky | 2012 | 1 | 8 |
| 29 | Common | 2007 | 1 | 9 |
| 29 | B.o.B | 2010 | 1 | 9 |
| 29 | Wiz Khalifa | 2011 | 1 | 9 |
| 29 | Lil Uzi Vert | 2016 | 1 | 9 |
| 33 | Jim Jones | 2007 | 1 | 10 |
| 33 | Raekwon | 2009 | 1 | 10 |
| 33 | Ludacris | 2010 | 1 | 10 |
| 33 | Wale | 2011 | 1 | 10 |