In summer 2007, the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust sat down and had another controversial roundtable debate. Unlike previous discussions, the trustees devised a list of not the greatest ever, but the Hottest MCs in the Game right then. The rankings were based on lyrics, flow, impact on the game, success and swagger. The roundtable recently reconvened and came up with a brand-new list of Hottest MCs. Our experts used the same criteria, but only judged on the past year of hip-hop.

Check out the full "Hottest MCs in the Game" list, and the full show!Flame Thrower: Lil WayneWhy He's Hot

Simply a master of brayed bars and audacious approach, Lil Wayne's boundaryless microphone-bogarting has made him hip-hop's most exciting man to listen to. How many times have you felt like Weezy was just going to jump right out of your iPod and fall on your shoulders? How many times have you tried to figure out how he can use so many different patterns, tirelessly bulldozing through any track? Cruel! Just cruel, we tell ya. He works the hardest and has legions (yes, legions) of fans — the same ones who treat the leaked tracks that have flooded mixtapes like precious collectibles — who will tell you he's the most naturally gifted spitter in the universe right now.

[article id="1586492"]Tha Carter III[/article] is unanimously the most anticipated album of 2008, but then again, it was also the most anticipated of 2007. The project's delay and lack of benefits that come with releasing an album — like headlining an arena tour — were the only thing that prohibited the roundtable members from crowning him the Hottest once again. Brain Trust member Tuma Basa wasn't exaggerating when he said Wayne's hold on his fans is approaching messianic stature. All he needs is to deliver the Grail, which is known as Tha Carter III.

Co-Signer: Jay-Z

"I've seen all the greats. You're not going to shock me. I pretty much look for star quality, and I think after the star quality, you can pretty much work on everything else to see if a person develops. And that's another thing people are not given time to develop anymore. They are expected to be great from the first record: 'You better be great.' You can't be great; you're new, you have to develop. In the case of Lil Wayne, he had years and years and time to develop. He started so young. He had years to develop to who he is now. So I pretty much look for star quality. You're a star if you're a star. On any stage, in any room, if you're a star, you're a star. We'll work on the rest. You can work on songwriting. You can work on finding great songs. You can work on being a better lyricist. Although, if you're great, you're great."

Blistering Ballistics

"Unf---ingbelievable, Lil Wayne's the president/ F--- 'em, f--- 'em, f--- 'em, even if they celibate/ I know the game is crazy, it's more crazy than it's ever been/ I'm married to that crazy b----, call me Kevin Federline/ It's obvious that he'll be Cash Money till the death of him/ The ground shall break when they bury him." — From "I'm Me"

Hot Streak

Albums

The Leak (street CD)

Selected Mixtapes

Da Drought Is Over (unauthorized series)

Singles

"Lollipop" (featuring Static Major)

Street Bangers

"A Millie," "I'm Me," "Gossip," "Outstanding," "Dying," "Lollipop" remix (featuring Kanye West)

Key Guest Appearances

Fat Joe's "The Crack House," Shawty Lo's "Dey Know" remix (also featuring Ludacris, Young Jeezy and more), Wyclef Jean's "Sweetest Girl" (also featuring Akon and Raekwon), Mario's "Crying Out for Me" remix, Lloyd's "Girls Around the World," DJ Khaled's "Brown Paper Bag" (also featuring Fat Joe, Rick Ross and more) and "I'm So Hood" remix (also featuring Ludacris, Busta Rhymes and more), Gym Class Heroes' "Viva La White Girl" remix, Usher's "Love in This Club, Part II" (also featuring Beyoncé), Rick Ross' "Luxury Tax" (also featuring Young Jeezy and Trick Daddy), Playaz Circle's "Duffle Bag Boy," Birdman's "Pop Bottles" and "100 Million" (also featuring Rick Ross, Dre and more), Jay-Z's "Hello Brooklyn 2.0"

Business Ventures

Launched new liquor, cultivating Young Money Entertainment label with artists including Tyga, Nikki Menaj and Lil' Chuckie

Tours

Headlined his own mini-tour 2007-2008, domestically and internationally

[article id="1587657"]NEXT: Nas says of our #4 MC, "He lives a lifestyle that's about the party, the glamour." ...[/article]

Now that you've checked out our "Hottest MCs in the Game" show, we want to know what MCs you're feeling! Keep the debate rolling by submitting your own top-10 list below or heading to YouRHere.MTV.com to upload your video reaction. And the hotness continues: You can check in on last year's top 10 and see this year's complete list on our "Hottest MCs" page.