NOTE: The 2009 Hottest MCs in the Game has been rescheduled for October — so that you, the fans, can have a seat at the table! The readers' poll now closes on September 21 — [article id="1618897"]head here for more info and voting information.[/article]The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

Please forgive us — no main pick on Monday, and now an abbreviated version of Don't Sleep.

Don't fret! We're going to be coming back so hard next week with Slaughterhouse. The four-man crew ([artist id="1234809"]Joe Budden[/artist], Joell Ortiz, Crooked I and Royce Da 5'9") came through, and not only talked about their debut group LP in stores right now, but also weighed in our [article id="1617923"]2009 Hottest MCs in the Game list[/article].

All four need to be included in the conversation, because of their ferocious lyricism and loyal following. But who do the fellas think should make the list besides themselves?

"I can't front — the young boy [artist id="2545682"]Drake[/artist] is spitting," Joell Ortiz said. "I'm interested in seeing where he goes with his career. Just aside from singing, the dude can rap. I wanna see what he does too. Bun B too. Shout-out to Bun B."

Joe Budden was less forthcoming when talking about who he thought was superior on the mic.

"These n---as that's dope, they don't need the sh-- to be confirmed," he said. "They don't need my confirmation. They know they're dope. Stay in your lane. ... I ain't shouting nobody out. It's dope n---as out there. We're dope. It's other dope n---as out there. I ain't shouting n---as out though."

Joe eventually changed his mind, picking the same two guys Crooked I had mentioned just a few minutes before him: [artist id="502642"]Eminem[/artist] and [artist id="1269"]Jay-Z[/artist].

"Jay and Em is still at the top, and that's it. Everybody else is trying to reach out. I love Blu. Blu, and I still love [Kool] G Rap. It's a million n---as to name. Jay right now, at his age, is still better than n---as. But when you write that hottest list, you're not gonna put Jay and Em at 1 and 2. You're not. Don't lie to me and say you are. Don't insult my intelligence. In 2009, you're not gonna put Jay and Em 1 and 2 on your list. You can bet me money.

"I like T.I., Fabolous, I just like dudes who can spit," Joe added. "I didn't look for too much else."

Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables

Mixtape: The Network

Headliner: Young Chris

Co-Starring: DJ Don Cannon

Key Collaborations: "Free Peedi" with Beanie Sigel and Tu Phace; "Last 2" with Beanie Sigel and Freeway; and "Hot Sh--" with Peedi Crakk, Black Thought, Tu Phace and Wale

Essential Info: "The labels are calling. We done created some bidding wars," Young Chris said last week, strolling in Times Square.

Chris is still down with Jay-Z. He wears his Roc-A-Fella chain faithfully, while awaiting a new deal to distribute his records.

"I ain't drop a mixtape since 30 Days, 30 Verses," Chris explained of his much-talked-about street release last year. "I ain't put out a tape all year. I needed to put something out. The 30 Days, 30 Verses held me over for a few months."

Chris' The Network just came out with DJ Don Cannon hosting.

"It stuck with me because of the Internet, and that's just me. I work with everybody," he said of the tape's title. "I'm a networking person. I started working on it immediately. The [artist id="3123015"]Asher Roth[/artist] beat [for] 'Class of My Own,' shot a video to it. I did the Drake 'Successful' beat. Cool, put it out. Then I came, and I said, 'I want to do all originals.' I reached out to 9th Wonder. He sent me a few records. [So did] Chad West and Green Lantern."

Green produced "Superflyness." "I went to the studio with him, he liked my work ethic," Chris recalled. "I told him, 'Don't be biased. If you don't like it, I'll start from scratch.' Then I have 'Last 2,' one of my favorites on The Network. Freeway came through. We did a live stream in the studio. The whole world watched us do it — no pen, no pad. Two days later, I ran into Beanie Sigel. I told him, 'I need you to anchor it.' "

Other Heat This Week

» Yung Joc - Grind Flu (independent album)

» Nipsey Hussle - Bullets Ain't Got No Name, Vol. 3

» Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y - How Fly

» Various Artists - It's Always Gully in Philadelphia

» White Owl - White Owl Drop That 79

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

Steve Rifkind must've been ... giving. The tenured record exec is making some well-known underground MCs earn a contract with his company SRC/Universal by letting the streets decide. Loud.com has been running a Streets Don't Lie record deal contest and voting ends at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday (August 12). Rifkin and company gave $500 to artists Mysonne, Big Lou, Fashawn, Snyp Life and The Jacka to shoot music videos. The videos were blasted on Loud.com as well as other hip-hop Web sites, with the final decision being left up to the fans — and it's still not too late to let get in on the action on Loud.com. And while you're in the voting mood, don't forget to [article id="1617923"]head over to our poll[/article] and tell us who you think is the Hottest MC in the Game right now.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.