Eminem
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage

Eminem has said that the forthcoming Relapse 2 will be more "emotionally driven," and pointed out that he's working with some new collaborators.

"[The album] is gonna be a lot different than people expect," Eminem said in an interview on his Shade 45 satellite-radio station last week. "As far as the contrast from the last album to this one, I got a couple of tracks with [D12's] Mr. Porter, two tracks with him so far. Four, possibly five with Just Blaze. The overall basis of this record, I went back to songs that are more emotionally driven. The last record I made, I think I was concentrating more on spitting. On this album, I feel like there's some of that, but I went back to songs with [feelings] to them as opposed to just rap records."

Blaze — who has worked in the past with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Usher, Mariah Carey, and many others — talked about working with Eminem during an interview with Distortion to Static that was posted on Monday.

"Now that he's put it out there, I am working with Eminem on his new album," Blaze said. "We are working on Relapse 2 pretty heavily. As of yesterday, we've done about six or seven records. I go back in with him in a couple of weeks and do three or four more maybe. I've been quietly goin' back forth from New York to Detroit the past two months, just gettin' a feel for it and gettin' a feel for working with each other. He hasn't worked with too many people outside his camp. I haven't worked with him before. We got a good working relationship now, a good friendship now, so the records is comin' out good."

While Eminem has kept a fairly low profile in the weeks since the first Relapse was released, he told Shady 45 that he'll decide whether to go on tour after the second album is released.

"During the process of me getting sober and starting to record again like I used to, I got so excited about making music again that I wanted to concentrate [just] on that," he said. "I started recording so many records that we thought about putting out two albums. Then that became my motivation. I wanted to stay grinding and keep making music. But the time I got engulfed in [Relapse 2], it just kind of worked out this way, where I wanted to fall back from live performances for right now and concentrate on making the best music I could make. After this record comes out, we'll see what happens from there."

• Eminem
• Just Blaze

Eminem
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Eminem had a doctor on hand for the making of Relapse, but for the upcoming sequel it looks like Slim is turning elsewhere for help.

Dr. Dre produced Eminem's comeback album, save for "Beautiful," which Em produced himself, but the rapper announced in an interview with DJ Whoo Kid over the weekend that Just Blaze will likely land five beats on Relapse 2. Mr. Porter, a member of Eminem's crew, D12, is expected to helm two tracks on the project, Em said.

"I definitely feel like I'm in a little different space right now," Em said about the album during the Shade 45 radio interview. "With the last record, it had a lot to do with me getting sober and just my eyes being open again and my brain went into overdrive. With Relapse 1, I was just trying to prove to myself that I could do it again. It was a [reintroduction] and what made me in the first place with the zany, loony, ridiculous sh--. I felt like a lot of that album, I kind of wanted to [spit] rapid fire and [do] punch lines." The combination of Eminem and Just Blaze, best known for his work with Jay-Z, should make for some interesting music. The New Jersey producer has brought out the best from some of hip-hop's most talented lyricists, from Hova ("P.S.A.") to Fabolous ("Breathe"). Throughout his career, Eminem has worked predominantly with Dre for production, with the rapper taking on a larger role himself behind the boards with each subsequent release.

50 Cent will again share the mic with Eminem. The two recorded tracks for each other's albums in Las Vegas, Eminem revealed. Em didn't offer many details, but he said one of the songs will feature the two stars going back and forth trading lines with each other.

Relapse 2 is tentatively set to be released by the end of the year; in April Em said the album was almost completed. The sequel project comes close on the heels of Relapse, which was released in May after the rapper's five-year hiatus. That album was dark and deeply personal as Eminem at times vividly portrayed how he became dependent on drugs.

From the sound of it, the follow-up will see Eminem return to his lyrical dominance. "I been so in the zone with this next album" he said.

• Eminem
• 50 Cent
• Just Blaze
• Dr. Dre

DJ AM
Photo: Chris Weeks/ WireImage

DJ AM was one of the biggest marquee names when it came to the turntables for a reason: talent. He could hold down the duties for Jay-Z at a concert or play records to keep clubgoers dancing all night.

"I saw DJ AM play in a mansion in Miami, and he amazed me with his skills and the music he picked to make the crowd move," DJ Khaled told MTV News following DJ AM's sudden death Friday. "He made sure everyone — I mean everyone — had a good time!"

"AM was really dope," DJ Green Lantern told MTV News. "He was dope on another level. He innovated the live DJ experience a bunch of ways. His transitions from song to song were clever to the point you might be like, 'Damn, why didn't I think of that?' He did that while rocking the crowd."

Lantern said one of AM's strong points was that he didn't get lost in his mix while rocking those crowds. "It only got crazier when he linked with Travis Barker and had that extra element to add to the mix: a world-class drummer! You can watch clips of them online to see the routines they created. DJs definitely started pairing up with musicians for live shows after that. He was an innovator and inspiration to a whole generation of DJs that saw the success you could achieve if you stepped your game up and thought outside the box. With AM, It wasn't a party; it was an experience."

"AM just brought a crazy energy to his parties," Just Blaze agreed. "The way he'd put together the perfect blends of hip-hop, rock, dance and so many other genres is what gave him such a mass appeal. He was one of the few DJs that knew how to cross genres and boundaries without losing the crowd. That's one of the hardest things to do as a DJ. You please one part of the crowd, and then end up losing another. He knew how to keep the energy at 10 for the entire night. And while his team-ups with Travis weren't the first time a DJ teamed up with a musician for live sets, it was their common understanding of knowing how to blend genres that made their combination so great and easy to appeal to the masses. You've got to play for the people but separate yourself from the thousand other DJs out there. And he'd mastered that."

DJ Rich Medina, who is from Philly like AM, said the late DJ was a huge inspiration, not just because of his skill, but because of his business acumen. "His popularity in celebrity circles often overshadowed the fact that he was an absolute animal on the turntables and at the negotiations table," Medina said. "The charmed life of getting paid well to do what you love to do is something that we all strive for as entertainers, regardless of discipline. He nailed that consistently and always with truly individual style and grace. No one who has ever seen him DJ can deny his place among the very best to ever put the needle to the groove. He wasn't a coddled Hollywood tabloid dude. He was a beast of a DJ who really made it because of his skills, rather than nepotism or luck. People need to understand that fact."

	DJ AM: A Life In Photos

Even DJ Drama, who's one of the top three biggest names when it comes to spinners in the hip-hop genre, was amped to see AM do his thing when they spun together a few years back. "I was so excited to meet him, him being who he is," Dram said. "I heard so much about him. I was a fan. I remember when I got to the party, he was so hype. He told me he was excited to meet me. He called me 'the man,' and I'm looking at him like, 'Nah, you're the man.' He was down to earth and very humble. I was opening for him, he had top billing. He didn't come in on no Hollywood sh-- or nothing like that. He told me he'll get on when I finish. I appreciated that, coming from somebody that accomplished what he accomplished and was doing what he was doing."

DJ Stretch Armstrong said AM's success won't soon be duplicated. "There won't be anyone that can step into his shoes for the foreseeable future," he told MTV News. "I mean, maybe never, in terms of his skill level, his cleverness, his dexterity, the way his mind works, his depth of music knowledge and his ability to take ... his extremely high level of turntablism, battling ability and put that together into a package that's entertaining for not just DJs that really understand what he's doing, but anyone that's going out. Across the board, he could entertain and transfix anybody."

While an initial autopsy proved inconclusive, police say AM was found in his apartment with drug paraphernalia.

"Some people say he was given a second chance at life with surviving that plane crash [last year]," Medina said of his friend's passing. "Who knows what he was going through after that really, aside from him. I just wonder if his demons decided to disrespect his second chance, or if he was suffering so badly that he needed to escape."

Regardless of the way he died, AM will be remembered primarily for his skill and humility.

"I will always remember AM for his prodigious talents, his positive and respectful demeanor and for his template for success as a fellow DJ," Medina said. "We lost one of the best in the game. I am proud to say that I knew him and that I learned a great deal from him, despite his never giving me a formal lesson. Rest in Peace, Adam. We will miss you."

• Remembering DJ AM
• DJ AM's Last Interview With MTV News

• DJ AM: A Life In Photos

• DJ AM
• DJ Green Lantern
• Travis Barker
• Just Blaze
• DJ Drama

Lil Wayne
Photo: MTV News

The curtain is just about ready to be raised on Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III LP. Weezy was in Miami on Monday with legendary photographer Jonathan Manion, shooting artwork for the album, and pretty soon he'll be going back in front of the camera to film the first video for the effort. The song is called "Showtime."

"The Carter III is coming in 2008. I don't want to give no months, no date," he said. "I got a gang of singles [on Carter III]. [It's] produced by my homeboy Diesel. He's also a Young Money affiliate. He's down with us. He's a producer/singer/engineer. He does it all. I have my artist featured on the song. Her name is Chanell. We already have a remix featuring Brisco and Lil' Boosie."

He added that for the "Showtime" video, "We're gonna get Gil Green or Benny [Boom] to direct. I really don't know. They're all my brothers. The concept is really 'Showtime,' just performance. Me and my artist Chanell gonna play a lot with the video. It's gonna be very animated but straight to the point. Colorful. Y'all [should be looking] to be entertained."

Wayne says he's recorded so many songs for the album besides "Showtime" that he's not sure which ones will make the cut. Just about every hip-hop producer you can name contributed to Tha Carter III, including Timbaland, David Banner, Jay Bezel from the Diplomat camp, T-Mix, Mannie Fresh, Cool & Dre, Just Blaze and even Wayne himself.

"Me and my homeboy Diesel, we got a Kanye West track and added some drums to it," he said. "I don't know what songs [the record company] picked. I just know the intros and the single."

Weezy says his side work as the most-sought-after cameo man in the business isn't slowing down. He just finished a remix of Rick Ross' "Speedin' " with Fat Joe — don't miss Wayne's use of the same voice enhancement T-Pain employs — and has been writing for Dr. Dre.

"Call me by a new name: 'Featuring Lil Wayne,' " he joked about all his guest appearances. But while he has more names on his résumé than you can count, he did say there's one MC he hasn't worked with but with whom he really wants to. Actually, that's "M.C.," not "MC."

"I have never done nothing with Mariah Carey, and I would like to, because I love older women," the 25-year-old said. "I'm attracted to older women. It's my thing. Mariah Carey, she might need a dude like me. I do my thing."

• Lil Wayne
• Dr. Dre
• Mariah Carey
• Timbaland
• David Banner

DJ Drama
Photo: MTV News

Ah, life on the hot seat. Since the MTV hip-hop brain trust's list of the top 10 Hottest MCs in the Game came out, we've had to defend and debate our collective choices. Seemingly, everybody has had a bone to pick with us, from 50 Cent to the person in row five at Beyoncé's recent Madison Square Garden concert in New York to a fellow straphanger on the NYC subway to security guards at the Viacom building to our cousins, aunts and nieces to ... the list goes on and on.

No, for real: The list goes on. Since the reaction has been so prolific, we opened up the floor and asked some of the hottest producers and DJs in the game to tell us who they have on their lists right now. Remember, it's all opinion and — in the case of the brain trust — it's a democratic process. Please don't think we want to hurt your feelings.

Sink your teeth into the spankin'-new "Hottest MCs in the Game" feature right here.

DJ Drama
Top 10

1. T.I.: "It feels good to see him come so far and to really say truly that he's the hottest dude out. All around, he's the one. At the end of the day, Andre and Kanye ain't drop albums yet. Tip has his album out [T.I. vs. T.I.P.]. When it comes to being relevant with hit songs, every song he's done has been a part of a movement, from [R. Kelly's] 'I'm a Flirt' to the Justin record 'My Love.' Then his swagger, the respect he has across the board, [and] you gotta give it to him for the movies [too]. He's all-around. Tip really has graduated from the Jay-Z school of hip-hop."

2. Lil Wayne: "Yeah, this is what the streets tell me — just as many people ride to The Dedication as they do to Wayne's album. He dissed me in an interview he did with MTV News. He should have been one of the first people to come stand up for me just because of [what] The Dedication meant to the streets. But I can't take away what he's accomplished in the booth. Nobody can take that from him. You haven't heard his album yet. I think that hurts him though, because at the end of the day, that's the edge I give Tip. Tip is relevant, he's spitting, and at the end of the day, when he drops, he sells. Wayne has yet to drop his [next] album, but he's had such a passion for the game, he's on everything, and it's all quality. ... I like Da Drought, and I like all his verses, but when I put [the] Dedication [mixtape] together, it sounded like an album."

3. Andre 3000: "When it's all said and done, he might wind up second on my list of greatest of all time. Two years ago, [people were asking] if Andre will rap again. Every time he comes, he murders it. Everything he's on, he crushes. His verse on Devin the Dude's 'What a Job' is one of the best verses of the year for me."

4. Kanye West: "His sh-- is crazy. The first two songs he came out with, 'Stronger' and 'Can't Tell Me Nothing,' were strong. Looking at this list and thinking about all the MCs, hip-hop is on fire right now ... Kanye's remix game has also been phenomenal. I love the remix of 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' when he says, 'After all the drama, K slayed 'em.' Kanye is that guy."

5. Jay-Z: "Hov, in my book, is the greatest of all-time. I personally believe when people look back on Kingdom Come, it's gonna be [considered] a classic album. His remix game is incredible, and the songs he's choosing to get on with guest appearances are incredible. Like Andre, the song selection is phenomenal. And you know Hov. Every time I hear him spit, I get excited. He still has been able to stay relevant and on top of his game in the position he's in. I don't know if it's out of contention because of the time frame, but [Nas'] 'Black Republican' [featuring Jay-Z] was so overlooked. If they would have shot a video for it, it would have gotten timeless club play. You can't really bang that in the club everywhere nationally because it didn't have a movement behind it, but that song was phenomenal. He's a prime example that at every level of the game, we are fans and have passion."

6. Common: "He's another person that has been consistent time and time again, except for that little drop-off period we all know about. 'The People' is one of my favorite records right now. Common ... may not [have] the biggest singles, but his albums are always so anticipated. He always comes with a banger. It feels like he does it to please the people. The OGs f--- with him, the girls f--- with him, people who love true hip-hop love him. Everybody respects Common."

7. Young Jeezy: "Jeezy dropped the USDA album; it got a really good response. He was on my song, 'Takin' Pictures,' and Khaled's remix to 'We Takin' Over.' ... He keeps making the streets happy. He's also [keeping] himself current. Jeezy always has the streets in the palms of his hands, and he's to the point now where you're starting to see his swagger in other [rappers]. Some people are redoing his style. He's a fan favorite among other MCs even if his lyrics aren't the most super-complicated."

8. 50 Cent: "50 is just 50. Even at a time when people speak on 50, 'Can he do it? Will he do it? He's not as hot,' he's still on [the tip] of everybody's tongue. His first two singles were good songs, but people were just used to 50 dominating when he comes out. Just when people were concerned about him, especially after the BET Awards performance, he drops a bomb like 'I Get Money,' which is classic 50. With all the other [business ventures] he has his hands in, you can't deny 50 with his power and presence."

9. Cassidy: "His freestyles have been crazy. 'My Drink N My 2 Step' is just starting to heat up. But as far as consistency as a MC, Fab is a problem when he's spitting. I think he's in a good setup position. Out of everybody on my list, he probably has the least new material out, but his anticipation and potential level is great."

10. Fabolous: "Fab has been quite consistent in the last couple of years. The 'Diamonds' song, it was a good street record, and then he killed it straight Fab-style with 'You Make Me Better.' Recently, he's been heating up the remix side of things, poppin' up with Swizz and Eve and [elsewhere]. Fab also has the swagger. When people say New York is suffering, he proves when you make a banger, it's a banger everywhere. The 'Brooklyn' record was crazy too. He was the middleman between an OG, Jay-Z and a new n---a, Uncle Murda."

Just Blaze
Top 10

1. Kanye West
2. Jay-Z
3. T.I.
4. Lil Wayne
5. 50 Cent
6. Nas
7. Game
8. Lupe Fiasco
9. Saigon
10. Jay Electronica

Jermaine Dupri
Top 10

1. Andre 3000
2. Lil Wayne
3. T.I.
4. Jay-Z
5. Bun B
6. Fabolous
7. 50 Cent
8. Kanye West
9. Young Jeezy
10. Jadakiss

Dre of Cool & Dre
Top Five

1. Jay-Z: "He embodies all of what it means to be a rapper. Only two names should be mentioned in the same breath as him. He stayed on top longer than any rapper has done in the history of this rap sh--, pushin' the boundaries of what young black men can accomplish, 'From Marcy to Madison Square!' "

2. Game: "He makes records with a purpose, and his charisma is crazy. You don't want to end up beefing with this guy — he's a hell of a chess player when it comes to that. And he makes great music."

3. Lil Wayne: "What else can you say that no one else [has]? 'We are not the same, I am a Martian!' This dude is ahead of his time."

4. Rick Ross: "This dude is Ice Cube mixed in with Biggie, throw in some Pac, Scarface and Jigga, and there you have it: Rick Ross. My favorite rapper right now. 'Trilla.' One day the world will see what I been seein' in this dude — greatness."

5. Young Jeezy: "He took an artistic and creative approach to his already-signature style on [The Inspiration]. I appreciate when artists push the envelope. He's inspired many, many rappers in a short two years with his unique flow, and he makes street music."

Honorable Mention:

2Pac: "I have to list him because his music is still relevant to this day, more so than many current artists. All Eyez on Me, [The Don Killuminati] and Me Against the World are in constant rotation in every one of my cars. If he's not alive, prove it to me."

DJ Skee
Top 10

1. Lil Wayne: "No one is more anticipated or in more [guest] spots than Wayne."

2. Andre 3000: "This dude would be #1 if he was on more stuff or his album was out! No one is spittin' like him right now — he's killing the few remixes that he's been on."

3. Game: "Dude can straight-out spit. People get too caught up in the outside drama sometimes to give him a fair shot. Game just straight merks records, hate him or love him."

4. Kanye West: "I feel he should be higher (and that any of the top four artists on my list could rotate between #1). The buzz when he drops a snippet alone is crazy, and I just heard a couple joints off his album, like 'Good Life,' which is outta here. 'Can't Tell Me Nothin' and 'Stronger' are [crazy]."

5. T.I.: "Although I personally was a little disappointed in [T.I. vs. T.I.P.], he still sells and is everywhere — and always comes with smasssh singles, so he deserves to be #5."

6. Jay-Z: "Although in the twilight of his career, anytime he jumps on something, people notice, even though it isn't as exciting hearing Jay as it used to be."

7. Common: "He has the best album to come out this year so far [Finding Forever], in my eyes. Common is just amazing and so consistent throughout his career. He still is slept-on, which is why I had to put him at only #7. I personally think he is up there with the best."

8. Young Jeezy: "The impact Jeezy had two years ago still is around (although faded a little), but his charisma (ad-libs only on Kanye's single ['Can't Tell Me Nothing'] prove this) and overall street music keep him in the top 10."

9. Jim Jones: " 'Ballin!' alone says it all."

10. Chamillionaire: "Just listen to the last Mixtape Messiah CDs he's put out in the last year ... [That] solidifies his spot on its own."

Danjahandz
Top Five

1. Jay-Z
2. Kanye West
3. Lil Wayne
4. T.I.
5. 50 Cent

The RZA
Top 10

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

"Right now, I ain't even gonna front: I don't remember nobody's lyrics. That's when it gets bad. Hip-hop, when you remember somebody's lyrics, that's when a n---a got some sh-- on you. I can't quote nobody's rhymes right now. I couldn't tell you who it is."

DJ Green Lantern
Top 10

1. Andre 3000: "I literally have been talking about Andre 3000's lyrics all day. I had a straight conversation today about 3000's verse on 'Int'l Players Anthem.' Lyrically, he's two or three levels above probably anybody right now. ... Not [his] following in the streets, I'm talking lyrically — how he paints a picture. I really enjoy listening to Andre from the UGK joint to [DJ Unk's] 'Walk It Out' to Lloyd's 'You.' "

2. Lil Wayne: "How do you explain that Wayne has been around for a good seven years and he's just now reaching this iconic status? I'm not gonna say the whole 'best rapper alive' thing, but put together the swag, the image, the lyrics — he's coming close to the complete package. The hunger. He's rappin' his ass off. It's a lot of people that rap their ass off, but it feels like he's having so much fun with it. I'm a fan. I'm not a super-duper die-hard fan, but I appreciate what's coming from Weezy."

3. Kanye West: "Kanyeeezeee! Did you hear his freestyle over the 'I Get Money' beat? It's effortless. You could tell it was off the top [of the dome]. As a rapper, he got so nice. His flow is fluid, it's nothing forced about it. It's a whole lot of swag with Yeezee. And he's saying sh--, 'I had a dream I could buy my way to heaven.' I'll say this: You can't tell me when you heard 'Throw Some D's' you wasn't pleasantly surprised he flipped it on a whole 'nother joint. He's clever."

4. Uncle Murda: "The streets ... let me tell you something: I'm on satellite radio taking callers and people will just call up saying, 'I wanna hear some Murda. I'm coming from Tampa, Florida.' It's not even any bias. The fact I got involved with his project to begin with is that I saw the streets was gonna eat it up. They love it. He taps a certain chord in you."

5. Jay-Z: "Hovie is perennial. If you listen to Freeway's 'Big Spender,' and just when you think the dude has cashed out with $200 million from this, doing all this extra curricular sh--, he's still slaying you lyrically. Trust me: That #5 is because he's been killing it effortlessly. He could easily go to #1."

6. Swizz Beatz: "Swizz has New York on his back, and he's a producer! I DJ all across the country and there's only a few current New York records that get played across the country, and 85 percent of them happen to be a Swizz record or produced by Swizz or featuring Swizz. He's entertaining. It is what it is. It's the new era of hip-hop, and he's entertaining. If you set the criteria for your list with swagger and entertaining, Swizz should be on your list."

7. Young Jeezy: "For the mere fact that the USDA album, as a crew album, people were expecting it to be some throwaway sh-- was haaarrrd bod-deee! Jeezy is a movement. Understand? The streets live and die by Jeezy. Jeezy for the influential factor alone. You got people from the North and South trying to make Jeezy records. That's undeniable. The USDA album was crack on a stick. Beautiful."

8. Cassidy: "He has a certain way he puts his words I don't think anybody else can mess with. He was probably one hit away and the car crash and jail happened. Probably put a hindrance on his momentum. But I like Cassidy; that's why he's there. ... 'My Drink N My 2 Step' is crazy though."

9. T.I.: " T.I. vs. T.I.P. was dope. T.I. is taking the whole T.I. vs. T.I.P. to the next level — he's taking it to where it needs to go. I love his joint with Jay, I love ['We Do This'], 'You know we be ridin' fly.' For him to have the biggest first-week sales of everybody is a [crazy] accomplishment ... 456,000 for the record is the new 856,000. The game is crazy. The game is on its head."

10. Styles P: "He's perennial too. He laid the groundwork for being hard for this generation. He set the precedent for the Uncle Murdas and Hell Rells. Can't nobody deny S.P., the Ghost."

Timbaland
Top Five

1. Kanye West
2. Lil Wayne
3. T.I.
4. Common
5. Andre 3000

"I didn't say Jay-Z because I consider Jay [to be one of the greatest MCs]. He would be #1. Kanye is #1 now, because that dude be busting, man. He don't say the average stuff. He says everyday real-life situations."

DJ Khaled
Top Ten

1. Lil Wayne
2. Rick Ross
3. Young Jeezy
4. T.I.
5. Kanye West
6. Fat Joe
7. Jay-Z
8. Juelz Santana
9. Bun B
10. Trick Daddy

Seen a great show? MTV News wants your photos, videos and reports from all the latest concerts for our new You R Here community. Check out the site to read, rate and comment on reviews from around the globe. We'll put the best stuff on our You R Here blog, and even in on-air news!

• DJ Drama
• Jermaine Dupri
• Timbaland
• Just Blaze

DJ Drama
Photo: MTV News

Ah, life on the hot seat. Since the MTV hip-hop brain trust's list of the top 10 Hottest MCs in the Game came out, we've had to defend and debate our collective choices. Seemingly, everybody has had a bone to pick with us, from 50 Cent to the person in row five at Beyoncé's recent Madison Square Garden concert in New York to a fellow straphanger on the NYC subway to security guards at the Viacom building to our cousins, aunts and nieces to ... the list goes on and on.

No, for real: The list goes on. Since the reaction has been so prolific, we opened up the floor and asked some of the hottest producers and DJs in the game to tell us who they have on their lists right now. Remember, it's all opinion and — in the case of the brain trust — it's a democratic process. Please don't think we want to hurt your feelings.

Sink your teeth into the spankin'-new "Hottest MCs in the Game" feature right here.

DJ Drama
Top 10

1. T.I.: "It feels good to see him come so far and to really say truly that he's the hottest dude out. All around, he's the one. At the end of the day, Andre and Kanye ain't drop albums yet. Tip has his album out [T.I. vs. T.I.P.]. When it comes to being relevant with hit songs, every song he's done has been a part of a movement, from [R. Kelly's] 'I'm a Flirt' to the Justin record 'My Love.' Then his swagger, the respect he has across the board, [and] you gotta give it to him for the movies [too]. He's all-around. Tip really has graduated from the Jay-Z school of hip-hop."

2. Lil Wayne: "Yeah, this is what the streets tell me — just as many people ride to The Dedication as they do to Wayne's album. He dissed me in an interview he did with MTV News. He should have been one of the first people to come stand up for me just because of [what] The Dedication meant to the streets. But I can't take away what he's accomplished in the booth. Nobody can take that from him. You haven't heard his album yet. I think that hurts him though, because at the end of the day, that's the edge I give Tip. Tip is relevant, he's spitting, and at the end of the day, when he drops, he sells. Wayne has yet to drop his [next] album, but he's had such a passion for the game, he's on everything, and it's all quality. ... I like Da Drought, and I like all his verses, but when I put [the] Dedication [mixtape] together, it sounded like an album."

3. Andre 3000: "When it's all said and done, he might wind up second on my list of greatest of all time. Two years ago, [people were asking] if Andre will rap again. Every time he comes, he murders it. Everything he's on, he crushes. His verse on Devin the Dude's 'What a Job' is one of the best verses of the year for me."

4. Kanye West: "His sh-- is crazy. The first two songs he came out with, 'Stronger' and 'Can't Tell Me Nothing,' were strong. Looking at this list and thinking about all the MCs, hip-hop is on fire right now ... Kanye's remix game has also been phenomenal. I love the remix of 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' when he says, 'After all the drama, K slayed 'em.' Kanye is that guy."

5. Jay-Z: "Hov, in my book, is the greatest of all-time. I personally believe when people look back on Kingdom Come, it's gonna be [considered] a classic album. His remix game is incredible, and the songs he's choosing to get on with guest appearances are incredible. Like Andre, the song selection is phenomenal. And you know Hov. Every time I hear him spit, I get excited. He still has been able to stay relevant and on top of his game in the position he's in. I don't know if it's out of contention because of the time frame, but [Nas'] 'Black Republican' [featuring Jay-Z] was so overlooked. If they would have shot a video for it, it would have gotten timeless club play. You can't really bang that in the club everywhere nationally because it didn't have a movement behind it, but that song was phenomenal. He's a prime example that at every level of the game, we are fans and have passion."

6. Common: "He's another person that has been consistent time and time again, except for that little drop-off period we all know about. 'The People' is one of my favorite records right now. Common ... may not [have] the biggest singles, but his albums are always so anticipated. He always comes with a banger. It feels like he does it to please the people. The OGs f--- with him, the girls f--- with him, people who love true hip-hop love him. Everybody respects Common."

7. Young Jeezy: "Jeezy dropped the USDA album; it got a really good response. He was on my song, 'Takin' Pictures,' and Khaled's remix to 'We Takin' Over.' ... He keeps making the streets happy. He's also [keeping] himself current. Jeezy always has the streets in the palms of his hands, and he's to the point now where you're starting to see his swagger in other [rappers]. Some people are redoing his style. He's a fan favorite among other MCs even if his lyrics aren't the most super-complicated."

8. 50 Cent: "50 is just 50. Even at a time when people speak on 50, 'Can he do it? Will he do it? He's not as hot,' he's still on [the tip] of everybody's tongue. His first two singles were good songs, but people were just used to 50 dominating when he comes out. Just when people were concerned about him, especially after the BET Awards performance, he drops a bomb like 'I Get Money,' which is classic 50. With all the other [business ventures] he has his hands in, you can't deny 50 with his power and presence."

9. Cassidy: "His freestyles have been crazy. 'My Drink N My 2 Step' is just starting to heat up. But as far as consistency as a MC, Fab is a problem when he's spitting. I think he's in a good setup position. Out of everybody on my list, he probably has the least new material out, but his anticipation and potential level is great."

10. Fabolous: "Fab has been quite consistent in the last couple of years. The 'Diamonds' song, it was a good street record, and then he killed it straight Fab-style with 'You Make Me Better.' Recently, he's been heating up the remix side of things, poppin' up with Swizz and Eve and [elsewhere]. Fab also has the swagger. When people say New York is suffering, he proves when you make a banger, it's a banger everywhere. The 'Brooklyn' record was crazy too. He was the middleman between an OG, Jay-Z and a new n---a, Uncle Murda."

Just Blaze
Top 10

1. Kanye West
2. Jay-Z
3. T.I.
4. Lil Wayne
5. 50 Cent
6. Nas
7. Game
8. Lupe Fiasco
9. Saigon
10. Jay Electronica

Jermaine Dupri
Top 10

1. Andre 3000
2. Lil Wayne
3. T.I.
4. Jay-Z
5. Bun B
6. Fabolous
7. 50 Cent
8. Kanye West
9. Young Jeezy
10. Jadakiss

Dre of Cool & Dre
Top Five

1. Jay-Z: "He embodies all of what it means to be a rapper. Only two names should be mentioned in the same breath as him. He stayed on top longer than any rapper has done in the history of this rap sh--, pushin' the boundaries of what young black men can accomplish, 'From Marcy to Madison Square!' "

2. Game: "He makes records with a purpose, and his charisma is crazy. You don't want to end up beefing with this guy — he's a hell of a chess player when it comes to that. And he makes great music."

3. Lil Wayne: "What else can you say that no one else [has]? 'We are not the same, I am a Martian!' This dude is ahead of his time."

4. Rick Ross: "This dude is Ice Cube mixed in with Biggie, throw in some Pac, Scarface and Jigga, and there you have it: Rick Ross. My favorite rapper right now. 'Trilla.' One day the world will see what I been seein' in this dude — greatness."

5. Young Jeezy: "He took an artistic and creative approach to his already-signature style on [The Inspiration]. I appreciate when artists push the envelope. He's inspired many, many rappers in a short two years with his unique flow, and he makes street music."

Honorable Mention:

2Pac: "I have to list him because his music is still relevant to this day, more so than many current artists. All Eyez on Me, [The Don Killuminati] and Me Against the World are in constant rotation in every one of my cars. If he's not alive, prove it to me."

DJ Skee
Top 10

1. Lil Wayne: "No one is more anticipated or in more [guest] spots than Wayne."

2. Andre 3000: "This dude would be #1 if he was on more stuff or his album was out! No one is spittin' like him right now — he's killing the few remixes that he's been on."

3. Game: "Dude can straight-out spit. People get too caught up in the outside drama sometimes to give him a fair shot. Game just straight merks records, hate him or love him."

4. Kanye West: "I feel he should be higher (and that any of the top four artists on my list could rotate between #1). The buzz when he drops a snippet alone is crazy, and I just heard a couple joints off his album, like 'Good Life,' which is outta here. 'Can't Tell Me Nothin' and 'Stronger' are [crazy]."

5. T.I.: "Although I personally was a little disappointed in [T.I. vs. T.I.P.], he still sells and is everywhere — and always comes with smasssh singles, so he deserves to be #5."

6. Jay-Z: "Although in the twilight of his career, anytime he jumps on something, people notice, even though it isn't as exciting hearing Jay as it used to be."

7. Common: "He has the best album to come out this year so far [Finding Forever], in my eyes. Common is just amazing and so consistent throughout his career. He still is slept-on, which is why I had to put him at only #7. I personally think he is up there with the best."

8. Young Jeezy: "The impact Jeezy had two years ago still is around (although faded a little), but his charisma (ad-libs only on Kanye's single ['Can't Tell Me Nothing'] prove this) and overall street music keep him in the top 10."

9. Jim Jones: " 'Ballin!' alone says it all."

10. Chamillionaire: "Just listen to the last Mixtape Messiah CDs he's put out in the last year ... [That] solidifies his spot on its own."

Danjahandz
Top Five

1. Jay-Z
2. Kanye West
3. Lil Wayne
4. T.I.
5. 50 Cent

The RZA
Top 10

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

"Right now, I ain't even gonna front: I don't remember nobody's lyrics. That's when it gets bad. Hip-hop, when you remember somebody's lyrics, that's when a n---a got some sh-- on you. I can't quote nobody's rhymes right now. I couldn't tell you who it is."

DJ Green Lantern
Top 10

1. Andre 3000: "I literally have been talking about Andre 3000's lyrics all day. I had a straight conversation today about 3000's verse on 'Int'l Players Anthem.' Lyrically, he's two or three levels above probably anybody right now. ... Not [his] following in the streets, I'm talking lyrically — how he paints a picture. I really enjoy listening to Andre from the UGK joint to [DJ Unk's] 'Walk It Out' to Lloyd's 'You.' "

2. Lil Wayne: "How do you explain that Wayne has been around for a good seven years and he's just now reaching this iconic status? I'm not gonna say the whole 'best rapper alive' thing, but put together the swag, the image, the lyrics — he's coming close to the complete package. The hunger. He's rappin' his ass off. It's a lot of people that rap their ass off, but it feels like he's having so much fun with it. I'm a fan. I'm not a super-duper die-hard fan, but I appreciate what's coming from Weezy."

3. Kanye West: "Kanyeeezeee! Did you hear his freestyle over the 'I Get Money' beat? It's effortless. You could tell it was off the top [of the dome]. As a rapper, he got so nice. His flow is fluid, it's nothing forced about it. It's a whole lot of swag with Yeezee. And he's saying sh--, 'I had a dream I could buy my way to heaven.' I'll say this: You can't tell me when you heard 'Throw Some D's' you wasn't pleasantly surprised he flipped it on a whole 'nother joint. He's clever."

4. Uncle Murda: "The streets ... let me tell you something: I'm on satellite radio taking callers and people will just call up saying, 'I wanna hear some Murda. I'm coming from Tampa, Florida.' It's not even any bias. The fact I got involved with his project to begin with is that I saw the streets was gonna eat it up. They love it. He taps a certain chord in you."

5. Jay-Z: "Hovie is perennial. If you listen to Freeway's 'Big Spender,' and just when you think the dude has cashed out with $200 million from this, doing all this extra curricular sh--, he's still slaying you lyrically. Trust me: That #5 is because he's been killing it effortlessly. He could easily go to #1."

6. Swizz Beatz: "Swizz has New York on his back, and he's a producer! I DJ all across the country and there's only a few current New York records that get played across the country, and 85 percent of them happen to be a Swizz record or produced by Swizz or featuring Swizz. He's entertaining. It is what it is. It's the new era of hip-hop, and he's entertaining. If you set the criteria for your list with swagger and entertaining, Swizz should be on your list."

7. Young Jeezy: "For the mere fact that the USDA album, as a crew album, people were expecting it to be some throwaway sh-- was haaarrrd bod-deee! Jeezy is a movement. Understand? The streets live and die by Jeezy. Jeezy for the influential factor alone. You got people from the North and South trying to make Jeezy records. That's undeniable. The USDA album was crack on a stick. Beautiful."

8. Cassidy: "He has a certain way he puts his words I don't think anybody else can mess with. He was probably one hit away and the car crash and jail happened. Probably put a hindrance on his momentum. But I like Cassidy; that's why he's there. ... 'My Drink N My 2 Step' is crazy though."

9. T.I.: " T.I. vs. T.I.P. was dope. T.I. is taking the whole T.I. vs. T.I.P. to the next level — he's taking it to where it needs to go. I love his joint with Jay, I love ['We Do This'], 'You know we be ridin' fly.' For him to have the biggest first-week sales of everybody is a [crazy] accomplishment ... 456,000 for the record is the new 856,000. The game is crazy. The game is on its head."

10. Styles P: "He's perennial too. He laid the groundwork for being hard for this generation. He set the precedent for the Uncle Murdas and Hell Rells. Can't nobody deny S.P., the Ghost."

Timbaland
Top Five

1. Kanye West
2. Lil Wayne
3. T.I.
4. Common
5. Andre 3000

"I didn't say Jay-Z because I consider Jay [to be one of the greatest MCs]. He would be #1. Kanye is #1 now, because that dude be busting, man. He don't say the average stuff. He says everyday real-life situations."

DJ Khaled
Top Ten

1. Lil Wayne
2. Rick Ross
3. Young Jeezy
4. T.I.
5. Kanye West
6. Fat Joe
7. Jay-Z
8. Juelz Santana
9. Bun B
10. Trick Daddy

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Jay-Z
Photo: ShowBizIreland/ Getty Images

How does Jay-Z feel about his official coming-out-of-retirement album? Initially, Hov said he felt like it might not happen.

"I spent about a week, maybe two weeks in the studio. I wouldn't do anything," he said recently in Africa about the initial sessions for his Kingdom Come LP, due November 21 (see "Jay-Z's 'Retirement' Is Finally Over: New Album Due In November"). "I was just feeling it out. Then I said, 'Well maybe I'm not gonna do this.' One week later, I had about six songs. I was like, 'OK, it's on now.' Nothing felt rushed, nothing felt forced. [Each song] was all coming out more amazing than the last song. It was so easy. I just had a flood of ideas. I'm used to putting out albums every eight months, and I had a flood of material. I was like, 'It's time.' "

Jay got beats from the best of the best for the new album. Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Just Blaze and Coldplay's Chris Martin all contributed — but Hov said he didn't actually have any of the esteemed producers in the studio with him.

"With this one, I didn't record with anyone. I didn't record with one producer," he said. "I went in with Timbaland, but we wound up using the stuff he sent me. With Dre ... our phone conversations were the studio session. Same with Chris Martin. He sent me these wonderful chords one day, and he said he knew they were good because he almost didn't tell me about them. He was gonna keep them for himself. For one second, he said, 'I'm not sending this to him.' With Kanye, same thing, he dropped the track off.

"Swizz, Just Blaze — Just always comes late. 'Show Me What You Got' was pretty much the next to last record made," Jay noted (see "Start The 'Show': Jay-Z's Trumpet-Filled Comeback Single Leaks Online" and "Jay-Z Rides With Dale Earnhardt Jr., Races Danica Patrick In Comeback Clip").

Jay is still on his Global Express World Tour, which is headed for Bangkok. He just spent several days in Africa, and he said it definitely opened his eyes.

"Incredible experience," he said. "One I'll never forget."

He also had some advice for black Americans.

"The first thing I would say is you have to go home [to Africa], you have to go and understand what's going on and embrace your people," he said. "The second thing I would tell people is: You're not from the 'hood. Just stop saying that altogether. You have a wonderful life. You turn on the water, the water is there. You got AC, and you have AC in your car. You're good. You're not from the 'hood. It's mind-blowing. It just puts things in perspective when people say, 'I had it rough coming up.' "

Click here to follow Jay-Z on his Water for Life Tour, as he travels the world and addresses the global water crisis.

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Common, KRS-One, More At Smirnoff Signature Mix Series Launch

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