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January 15, 2007
Top 10 "Hottest" Rappers Of 2006
by B-Easy
10. (Tie) Rick Ross/Clipse
10. Rick Ross
Ross might have not made $10 million in record sales (in XXL he said that’s how much he needed to function), but he still had an exceptional year. Leading Miami back in the Hip-Hop spotlight with the street anthem “Hustlin’”, Ricky Ross and his cocaine flow (don’t already have enough of those?) made fans take notice.
10. Clipse
After years in “label limbo”, Clipse came on the scene with a street banger (“Mr. Me Too”) and later a classic album (I still say the album is weak!).
9. Lupe Fiasco
Pharrell may have sparked it, but Lupe ran with the Hip-Hop/Skateboard movement. With a conscious but excellent flow, this Chi-Town representative rapped his way into national attention (Ex. GQ Man of the Year). Now, if only you jackasses would of bought his albums…
8. Ludacris
Chris Bridges came back from acting this year more serious and with less hair. He tried to show the world he could really go for that “Number One Spot”. Did he get? No, he got number 8.
7. Busta Rhymes
Bussa Bus year started with “The Big Bang”, the release of his first Aftermath album. Even after the death of his bodyguard, shot at his video shoot, Busta still tried to bring back that “New York Shit”. He even told the younb boys to step it up (You know you heard him at the BET Hip-Hop Awards).
6. Jim Jones
Okay, hit song complete with catch phrase and dance move: CHECK. Hip-Hop beef with a rap legend to build up publicity: CHECK. Great album sales and a above average album: …well, two out of three ain’t bad.
5. (Tie) Young Jeezy/The Game
5. Young Jeezy
The Snowman might have come late, but he came when it mattered. Proving that he is possibly one of the best with “Drug Rap” (Raekwon & Ghostface watch out), The Inspiration showed that Jeezy might be taken this rap shit seriously (he does have a mic tattooed on his arm now).
5. The Game
Chuck Taylor delivered a good album without Dr. Dre (Doctor’s Advocate), got a hundred niggas together to do one song (“It’s Okay (One Blood) (remix)”), and proved to 50 that he just might be okay without G-Unit after all. Now, about sellin’ five million albums…
4. Nas
When Nas declared Hip Hop Is Dead, the world took notice (You know you heard Jeezy, T.I., & Ludacris). But if anybody noticed, he was also on he grind, coming out from under his rock and doing a bunch of cameos (He did songs with Diddy, The Game, DJ Clue, Hi-Tek, & Busta Rhymes). Oh yea, he dropped his best album since God’s Son too.
3. Lil’ Wayne
Where can I start with Wayne, he was all over the fucking place this year. He put out the best mixtape (Dedication 2), was on a hell of a lot of songs (just ask Fat Joe, Jim Jones, Rick Ross, & Cam’ron), and got the stamp of approval from Andre 3000 in the Vibe July issue (Wow!). Plus he dropped Like Father, Like Son with his Daddy/kissing partner.
2. T.I.
The “King of the South” still did exceptionally well with this year, even during a drought. While everyone complained about the internet, sales, and Hip-Hop being dead, T.I. put out King in March (over one million sold), put out an artist and a compilation (Young Dro & In Da Streets Vol. 4), and starred in his first major movie (ATL). He cleaned up at the BET Hip-Hop Awards and he got a good chance to do at the Grammy’s.
1. Jay-Z
When word leaked out that Jay-Z would be releasing an album and coming out of retirement this year, the Hip-Hop world went into frenzy. Either you hated Hov coming back or you praised him for it. You couldn’t help seeing this man on TV (Budweiser & NBA Live commercials), you heard about his concerts (seven cities in one day!), and Barbara Walters wanted to talk to him (Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006). All this while dropping a 4.5 mic album (okay, it’s The Source, I know), and betting out T.I. for the top selling Rap album of ’06. Jay-Z shows Hip-Hop that you don’t have to be under 30 to be the best in Hip-Hop.
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