Cash Money Records co-founder Baby has spoken out against Jay-Z being named the No. 1 "Hottest In The Game" emcee and said Lil Wayne should have secured the top spot.
According to Birdman, a number one "hot" artist should be based on selling abilitiy.
"I don't think he a number one emcee in no kinda way," Baby said in an interview. "Wayne the best he do the most and he make the most money. I dont think no n*gga in the business make more money than us. How could you be the best if you don't make the best money, the most money and you don't do the most. Lyrically, come on man be for real man can't nobody f*ck with Wayne. And to me, if you number one and you aint getting no money it don't mean nothing. Who's making the most money. That's number one to me. F*ck all that rap sh*t. Sh*t, y'all got cold rappers you never even heard and then you got n*ggas who really can't rap and making money. It's about who's making the most money to me. I don't give a f*ck about the rest of that sh*t." (TropicalTV)
Gucci Mane also took a slight jab during a skit on his The BurrPrint (The Movie 3-D) mixtape.
As the mixtape begins to circulate, the streets are beginning to ask if Mr. Laflare is dissing the man who authored The Blueprint? During an interlude called "Gucci Speaks 2," Mane questions Jiggaman's status. "Brick Squad survey," Gucci begins. "First question, Jay-Z is the greatest rapper alive? Survey says that's a lie." Later in the interlude, LaFlare turns his attention to himself. "Gucci Mane is not the hottest rapper in Atlanta? Survey says that's a lie," he continues. Asked by MTV News, Gucci declined to comment further on the interlude. (MTV News)
Jay recently released a public thank-you statement to MTV for making the No. 1 spot.
"MTV, Thanx for this nod of appreciation," he wrote in a statement. "Although I don't strive to be 'hot' for any particular year, I thank you for the acknowledgment. My whole goal is to be recognized as the best ever. I created the term 'best rapper alive' as a sign of respect to my fallen comrades (Biggie and Tupac). I believe I've allowed a significant grace period, and I believe I would not be respecting myself if being the absolute best was not my goal, and that's why I continue to push myself until exhaustion ... salute." (Rap Radar)
50 Cent expressed his discontent with the annual list in an interview around 2007
"I didn't see [the list] but they asked me about it," Fif said in an interview with DJ Clue. "Well you know, these c*ck suckers -- it's terrible man, it's almost impossible for you to maintain a position without just being a total idiot. God made all of us, so he knows to give me special attention -- [MTV personality] Sway should just jump in front of a bus on his way up here man for doing that -- he's a meathead. They're not using their brains anymore, man. There's a difference between a guy that has eight records and a guy whose built consistency." (Power 105)