MTV's Missing Hottest MC: The Case For Game

Hip-Hop fans everywhere have been grumbling for the past week about the ranking for MTV’s latest list of Hottest MCs. The show is dubbed, the most controversial list, and the goal is onviously nothing more than a ploy to spark interest in the network’s below standard programing. Still, I believe if you’re taking time to do anything, you should do it right. I can pinpoint any one of the many believed errors of the list, but the most disturbing to me and one least mentioned is the absence of Game from 2011’s most honorable mentions.

While I don’t want to offend my counterparts in the world of journalism and entertainment who made up the “brain trust,” my thoughts while watching pieces of the televised list was, “I’m not even sure they believe this shit.” Even Sway had moments when he looked flabbergasted enough to take off his kuffi and question the validity of what makes a hot MC to begin with. Right around the time Jay-Z was ranked 5th, I knew Game wouldn’t make the list. And with all their facts for each artist, there was no way Game, who last year out hustled most artists in the industry should have been another artist on the back of the milk carton for MTV.

First, Game partnered with DJ Skee to release Purp & Patron, a two-disc mixtape featuring over 30 unreleased

quality tracks. He quickly followed that up with his Purp & Patron: The Hangover mixtape, also assisted by Skee, but featuring Funk master Flex for added East Coast support. Well over 50 tracks so far, Game wasn’t done. He released Hoodmorning (notypo): Candy Coronas another DJ Skee mixtape the same month he released his highly anticipated The R.E.D. Album. Count ’em, that’s three mixtapes, while the ‘Hottest MC’ had just one mixtape and a compilation album!

As far as The R.E.D. Album goes, it debuted #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 charts, replacing Watch The Throne, which had debuted #1 the week prior. The album sold more in it’s first week than the compilation that featured 3 of the “Hottest MCs” (Self Made Vol. 1). Additionally, Game released 2 successful singles and 3 videos. The album was easily one of the Top 10 Rap albums of the year. Some argue, in the words of Game, “shorten your list, probably Top 5.” Many have even said its the best work of his career.

And since MTV’s list takes stock of artists’ other ventures, Game also had the #5 Book On Amazon.coms Digital Music Book Chart with his first book project The Making Of Game’s The R.E.D. Album.

Hip-Hop fans everywhere have been grumbling for the past week about the ranking for MTV’s latest list of Hottest MCs. The show is dubbed, the most controversial list, and the goal is obviously nothing more than a ploy to spark interest in the network’s below standard programing. Still, I believe if you’re taking time to do anything, you should do it right. One can pinpoint any one of the many believed errors of the list, but the most disturbing to me and one least mentioned is the absence of Game from 2011’s most honorable MCs.

While I don’t intend to offend any of my counterparts in the world of journalism and entertainment who made up the “brain trust,” my thoughts while watching pieces of the televised list was, “I’m not even sure they believe this shit.” Even Sway had moments when he looked flabbergasted enough to take off his kufi and question the validity of what makes a ‘Hot MC’ to begin with.

Right around the time Jay-Z was ranked 5th, I knew Game wouldn’t make the list. But with all their facts for each artist, there was no way Game–who last year out hustled most artists in the industry–should have been another artist on the back of the milk carton for MTV.

First, Game partnered with DJ Skee & Funk Master Flex to release Purp & Patron, a two-disc mixtape featuring over 29 unreleased, quality tracks. He quickly followed that up with his Purp & Patron: The Hangover mixtape, also assisted by Skee. Well over 50 tracks already, Game wasn’t done. He released Hoodmorning (notypo): Candy Coronas another DJ Skee mixtape less than four weeks before he released his highly anticipated The R.E.D. Album.

Count ’em, that’s three mixtapes and one album, while the ‘Hottest MC’ had just one mixtape and a compilation album!

As far as The R.E.D. Album goes, the album made its debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 charts, replacing Watch The Throne, which made its debut at #1 the week prior. The R.E.D. Album sold more in it’s first week than the compilation that featured 3 of the “Hottest MCs” (Self Made Vol. 1). Additionally, Game released 2 successful singles and 3 videos. The album was easily one of the Top 10 Rap albums of the year. Some argue, in the words of Game, “shorten your list, probably Top 5.” While others have even said that its the best work of his career.

And since MTV’s list takes stock of artists’ other ventures, Game also had the #5 Book On Amazon.coms Digital Music Book Chart with his first book project The Making Of Game’s The R.E.D. Album.

All things considered, I guess none of that matters for the folks at MTV and their brain trust. And if Game can’t make the list then I wont even try to make the argument for J Cole…

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