If you ask MGK, polling rappers about their picks for "Hottest MCs in the Game VIII" is an exercise in futility -- they'd always just pick themselves. We figured we'd try anyway.

Future might have proven Machine Gun Kelly right, crowning himself the hottest over the past year, but Atlanta rap veteran Ludacris showed that rap stars can objectively take part in the MTV's annual debate, which is based on impact, buzz, sales, lyrics, style and those intangible qualities that make an artist special. "When we're talking about consistency, we're talking about years and years of putting out product, and quality product at that, I would put Nas at #1," Luda said of his fellow Virgo, who earned a gold plaque and a few Grammy nominations for his 2012 album, Life is Good.

It was hard for French Montana to narrow his pick down to just one, so he rattled off a few names: Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, Wale and, of course, Future.

Maybach Music Group singer and former B2K frontman Omarion picked Rick Ross and Jay-Z to contend for the top spot, and Los Angeles Lakers star and one-time rapper Kobe Bryant half-agreed: "I'll never go against Jay, never," he told MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway during NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston earlier this month.

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Veterans like Nas, Rozay and Jay get a lot of love, but rap's new guys also got plenty of support. Joey Bada$$ could've crowned himself hottest, but instead, he nominated Kendrick Lamar; so did G.O.O.D. Music producer Hit-Boy. "I'll say Kendrick Lamar: He's killin' it for not just the West Coast, but for hip-hop in general," he said.

On Sunday, the Hottest rollout will begin as MCs #10 and #9 will be revealed on MTV2's "The Week in Jams" at 11 a.m. ET. On Monday and Tuesday, #8 through #5 will be revealed online at Hottest.MTV.com. The #4 and #3 Hottest MCs will be unveiled during a special "RapFix Live" on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV Jams and MTV.com.

The #2 and #1 MCs will duke it out next Thursday (March 7) during our "Hottest MCs in the Game VIII" special at 10 p.m. ET on MTV Jams. Maybe Mac Miller's pick will hold the crown: "[A$AP] Rocky really came out and had a #1 album," Mac Miller said of the Harlem spitter.

Stay tuned, and don't forget to hit us using the hashtag #HottestMC.

Who are you rooting for? Sound off below!