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Watch Nicki Minaj On 'RapFix Live' Now!

Posted 10/28/10 6:25 pm EST by in Hottest Mcs in the Game 2010, RapFix Live


Are you ready Barbies? We're streaming "RapFix Live" with Ms. Nicki Minaj right now as Sway fields questions from you, the fans, sent via Twitter to @MTVRapFix and upload your video inquiries to Your.MTV.com. We're looking for the hashtags #hottestmcs and #rapfixlive, so let's get those tweets tweeting (c) Cam'ron!

Nicki Minaj earned the #6 slot on our Hottest MCs in the Game list and we checked in with a few experts about the MC's ranking and her talent for multiple personalities.

"Even if you cringe at her crazy faces or exaggerated voices, you get the sense that Nicki is controlling her own self-parody," said Miss Info, of New York's Hot 97 radio station. "She seems more hustler and ball-breaker, than dress-up doll or trophy artist (even when on the arm of Lil Wayne or Drake). So, yes, sometimes it seems like we're watching an episode of "The United States of Nicki," but one of those multiple personalities is a girl from Queens who can rap her ass off. And clearly, that's no small feat."

Nicki, also known as Roman Zolanski, follows Busta Rhymes, Fabolous, Tony Yayo, Swizz Beatz, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, Fat Joe, Lloyd Banks, Wiz Khalifa, and Rick Ross as guests on “RapFix Live.” And like a true MC, she blessed Sway with a freestyle, featuring at least two of her personalities, Roman and Barbie. Read More...

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Waka Endorses Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane For Hottest MCs

Posted 10/28/10 6:00 pm EST by in Hottest Mcs in the Game 2010

Many were surprised by the Brain Trust's #6 pick for the Hottest MCs in the Game, but Atlanta's Waka Flocka Flame earned his slot his impact and three consecutive hits—"Hard In The Paint," "Ohletsdoit" and "No Hands" featuring Roscoe Dash and Wale—all of which reached the Billboard charts. But why are we telling you this? Here's why Waka himself thought he, along with Gucci and Nicki Minaj, should've nabbed spots on the Hottest MCs list for 2010.

"Why am I one of the Hottest MCs right now? I drop nonstop music," said Waka of his skill. "I stayed in tune with the world. I stayed on the Internet. I stayed in touch with the fans. I stayed direct, with any problems that anybody ever had with me, I replied back on them. I ain't act like a robot, ain't nobody give me no drop script. I talk from the heart. I just kept it real man, and I got three hard songs." Read More...

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MTV Argues Gucci Mane During 2010's Hottest MCs

Posted 10/28/10 5:07 pm EST by in Hottest Mcs in the Game 2010

You think you know, but you have no idea.

Sure, the MTV Brain Trust announced our final 2010 list for the Hottest MCs in the Game last Sunday (October 24), but there are parts you didn't see. For every Kanye West mention, there was another MC that someone felt deserved to a slot on the Hottest list but didn't make it. So this week, we're serving up the bubble list, comprised of MCs some of the Brain Trust thought earned a Hottest slot but didn't garner enough votes.

We began with Lloyd Banks and today Brick Squad's Gucci Mane is the second MC that some thought deserved a slot on Hottest this year, including Kanye.

"How they ain't gone have Gucci on the top 10 list this year???" the Chicago MC-cum-director tweeted.

Sway began the MTV Brain Trust conversation on how Gucci almost made the final list.

"He just dropped his album The Appeal and he's got the "Gucci Time" single out," said Sway. "At this time last year, it's Gucci who was actually #6 and I remember how much controversy came behind that pick."

MTV News' Steven Roberts who voted for Gucci in 2009, explained why he wasn't as impressed with La Fare in 2010.

"Gucci is one of my favorite artists, but I think the thing that hurts him this year is Read More...

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Nicki Minaj Appears On 'RapFix Live' Today at 4pm!

Posted 10/28/10 2:12 pm EST by in Hottest Mcs in the Game 2010, RapFix Live

Attention Barbies!

Your leader Nicki Minaj is the #6 rapper on our Hottest MCs in the Game list for 2010 and the first woman to ever join the esteemed round-up. To celebrate her rank, lyrical talent and penchant for entertaining faces, she's appearing on "RapFix Live" today, Thursday (October 28), at 4pm to chat with Sway via a stream here on RapFix and MTV.com at 4 p.m. ET. The show is pre-taped.

Following Sunday's MTV2 premiere of the "2010 Hottest MCs in the Game," we rounded up questions for Nicki Minaj from you, the fans, via Twitter to @MTVRapFix with the hashtag #hottestmcs and #rapfixlive and your.mtv.com. Tweet us throughout the show for your chance to connect with the Nickster.

As for how she made #6, aside from the fact that Nicki had a radio staple this summer with the Annie Lennox-sampling single "Your Love" — which hit #1 on Billboard's Rap Songs chart — she really set herself apart by outshining other MCs on their own tracks. Counting guest appearances among Kanye West, Rick Ross and Jay-Z ('Yeezy's "Monster") and Ludacris ("My Chick Bad") and her show-stealing appearance on DJ Khaled's star-studded "All I Do Is Win" remix, she killed each feature. She also stood out among her crew on Young Money's "Bedrock" and "Roger That" while arguably out-spitting Drake on his own song, "Up All Night." Read More...

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Big Sean Headlines Def Jam's Cipher Sessions Concert

Posted 10/27/10 6:30 pm EST by in Music News

Last night (October 26) RapFix stopped by Def Jam's Cipher Sessions concert at New York's S.O.B.'s and experienced the star power of G.O.O.D. Music's Big Sean personally. The Detroit rapper was proceeded by rappers Mickey Factz, Cory Gunz, The Kid Daytona, Danny Brown, Curtains and Emilio Rojas who all hit the stage for a chance to win over the crowd of hardened hip-hop fans.

The Def Jam Cipher Sessions is a new monthly event that gathers rappers for an opportunity to spit their talents live and direct, as industry insiders like Hot 97's DJ Enuff, Def Jam's Sha Money and The Source Magazine's Executive Editor Bonsu Thompson look on. If an MC proves his talent, it's not far-fetched to say that he could have a shot at more than self-programed Twitter account.

Here's the set list featuring performance highlights and don't forget to check out our photo gallery:

- Boisterous cipher featuring Mickey Factz, Cory Gunz and others. Mickey announces he and his Bronx brethren Cory will release a mixtape together. Read More...

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Nicki Minaj Channels Queens Hometown In 'Right Thru Me' Video

Posted 10/27/10 5:21 pm EST by in Music News

Like Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in "Coming to America," if you want to find a queen, you go to Queens ... New York that is.

Nicki Minaj premiered her toned-down video for "Right Thru Me" on MTV Wednesday (October 27), and it's nothing like her Korean-inspired "Check It Out" clip that dropped Tuesday. Ditching her clones—along with will.i.am's— our #6 Hottest MC in the Game, sporting pedestrian clothing, looks like she's about to purchase a mixtape on the borough's Jamaica Avenue.

The opening frame of "Right Thru Me" shows Nicki arguing in a kitchen with a man that seems to be her boyfriend. The two argue about whether he's "disrespecting her" by talking behind her back, and he threatens to leave after the MC breaks a glass in frustration. Then Nicki, sporting black wavy hair and pink fingernails, cuddles her gent, apologizes for over-reacting and asks him to stay. "You have to trust me," he whispers to her.

The clip then bounces between shots of the couple talking tenderly and Nicki preventing the gentlemen from driving away by refusing to leave the driver's seat of his car. Read More...

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MTV Argues Lloyd Banks As Hottest MCs' '10 And A Half'

Posted 10/27/10 12:30 pm EST by in Hottest Mcs in the Game 2010

You think you know, but you have no idea.

Sure, the MTV Brain Trust announced our final 2010 list for the Hottest MCs in the Game last Sunday (October 24), but there are parts you didn't see. For every Drake mention, there was another MC that someone felt deserved to a slot on the Hottest list but didn't make it. So this week, we're serving up the bubble list, comprised of MCs some of the Brain Trust thought earned a Hottest slot but didn't garner enough votes.

G-Unit's Lloyd Banks, who several of us thought deserved a chance on the Hottest MCs in the Game, kicks off our list.

The “Beamer, Benz or Bentley” rapper stopped by Charlotte, North Carolina’s Power 98 radio station and shared his thoughts on not making the list.

“Just put me at 10 and a half,” said Banks when asked what he’d change on the list. “What is honorable mention? It’s a lot of different things. Wayne did a terrific job of flooding the market before he went in, B.o.B is a dope artist ... It’s hard, I’m not going to complain, just put me 10 and a half.”

While Lloyd Banks didn’t make our top 10 Hottest MCs list, there was a serious discussion of his candidacy for #10. Read More...

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Kid Cudi Says Kanye West is 'The Greatest At This Moment'

Posted 10/27/10 7:00 am EST by in Hottest Mcs in the Game 2010

By Hillary Crosley with reporting by Steven Roberts

On Sunday (October 24), we announced our full list of 2010's Hottest MCs in the Game and today, we caught up with G.O.O.D. Music MC Kid Cudi for his reaction to Kanye West earning #3.

“That’s reasonable,” said Cudi, with a laugh after RapFix told him the final order. “I just wanted to make sure you guys were right about it man.”

Some of us in the MTV Brain Trust got all of our MCs included on the ultimate round up, others not so much, but we all agree on the final product. So here's 2010's Hottest MCs in the Game list in descending order: #10 Ludacris, #9 B.o.B, #8 Waka Flocka Flame, #7 Lil Wayne, #6 Nicki Minaj, #5 Rick Ross, #4 Drake, #3 Kanye West, #2 Jay-Z and #1 Eminem.

On Monday, Kanye West himself tweeted this to his supporters, "...also thank you for everybody that fought for my position on the top MCs list."

According to Cudi, despite his accomplishments, even West needs positive reinforcement.

“I talked to him the other day, I was at his house, no, we were in the studio and I said ‘Man, do you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and realize how like, you’re the greatest rapper or entertainer right now?’ " Cudi recalled. Read More...

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Does Nicki Minaj's 'Check It Out' Video Signal A Clone Trend?

Posted 10/26/10 3:00 pm EST by in Music News, VMAs

If one Nicki Minaj isn't enough for you, then you'll love her new clip for "Check It Out" featuring will.i.am. Our #6 Hottest MC in the Game dropped the piece last night (October 25) and we admit, it also reminds us of Ciara's latest clip for "Gimme Dat," featuring five CiCi clones dancing a mean streak. All of this begs the question: are multiple personalities — or bodies — in style? We're not sure, but if we see a third video like these, we're calling it a trend.

"Check It Out," which was produced by will.i.am and samples the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star," features the Nickster and will.i.am along with their clones.

"We're doing an ode almost to Japanese anime," Minaj told MTV News last month while on the Los Angeles set of the video. "I'm obviously a big fan, and I've joined forces with the only boy that I know that's able to capture that culture."

With its highly stylized visuals, including Korean words and multiple dancing will.i.ams, Nicki kept her promise. Read More...

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Jay-Z Says 'Decoded' Clues 'Relate To Each Other'

Posted 10/26/10 2:00 pm EST by in Music News

By Hillary Crosley with reporting by Rahman Dukes

Last week, RapFix journeyed to Miami—we know, hard work— to watch rapper and music mogul Jay-Z introduce his partnership with the Microsoft search engine Bing in support of his upcoming memoir "Decoded."

“We just took these pages and we just threw them out to the world, almost like a sampling," said Jay-Z. And just in case anyone thought these were dummy excerpts, the business man clarified by saying "You know, these are the real pages, you’re getting to read some of the book."

The event complimenting the "Decoded" scavenger hunt was held at the plush Delano Hotel and attracted press, a few Miami Dolphins and Jay's wife Beyoncé. Naturally, the hotel housed a clue from the partnership, boasting the lyrics to Hov's hit "Big Pimpin' " featuring U.G.K. laid out across the hotel's back pool area. Read More...

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