Hip-Hop's 20 Hottest: Tha Guys
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Rocafella
His Kingdom of Hip-Hop
Jigga. Hova. Shawn Carter. No matter what name he goes by, Jay-Z owns the mic -- and the industry. From his many solo albums to his collaborations with the best artists out there, Jay's a powerful force in hip-hop because he understands, embraces and lives by the music, constantly innovating. His mogul-dom as the president of Def Jam has only solidified the 'Kingdom Come' he's created.
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NEED CREDIT
Summer Love
Oh, Justin Timberlake. Once, you were just a simple boy-band cutie. But now you are redefining the pop hip-hop hit with ingenious producers, hot beats and a sexy bod to boot. You are the master of witty rhymes that mix well with danceable melodies, and you have a way of uniting rap, pop and R&B that's unrivaled. Justin, we 'can't wait to fall in love' ... oh, wait, we already have.
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Pieter Van Hattem, Vistalux for AOL Music
Beat Maker
Behind the glamour of the Black Eyed Peas are the brains of beat-master will.i.am. While underground rap fans lost a lot of love for the Peas upon the arrival of Fergie, will.i.am is quietly becoming one of hip-hop's most influential producers. His credits include hits for Justin Timberlake & The Pussycat Dolls. We may be seeing less of his rapping lately, but we're hearing more of his brawny beat work from behind the scenes.
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Peter Kramer, Getty Images
King Kanye
Kanye West, we love you. We hate you. And we love to hate you. Despite your poor taste in haircuts and all-consuming arrogance, your music really is visionary. 'College Dropout' changed the face of hip-hop and stretched the genre beyond imagination, plus the tracks you produce are insta-hits. Please keep it up -- just keep your mouth shut unless you're dropping rhymes.
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Universal
Roots Music
Hip-hop crooner Akon has had a multi-faceted life before he arrived in the music mainstream -- but all of his experiences are evident in his work. He's lived in Senegal and the U.S., and did some time in jail. That probably sucked, but it resulted in one of his first hits, 'Locked Up.' We'd never approve of breaking the law, but we do give you a high five, A, for making the most out of your experiences.
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Bad Boy
Mega Mogul
Sean Combs -- we mean Diddy -- may not be taken too seriously as a talented rapper. But having worked his way up from intern to mega-mogul, the Didd-ster has a business savvy and understanding of the architecture of a pop hit to rival even the stars he collaborates with. His knack for the right collabo -- Diddy and Xtina, Diddy and Nicole Scherzinger, etc. -- not to mention speaking the third person a lot of time -- has been part of his secret formula to last in an industry that often tosses its stars to the wayside.
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Atlantic
Kickflip to Fame
Already having been signed and dropped by a label before age 20, Chicago artist Lupe Fiasco caught the eye of industry moguls from Jay-Z to Kanye West, who included Lupe on 'Touch the Sky.' Apart from great lyricism, beats and cadence, Lupe's got it going on in hip-hop now because he eschews the played-out money/sex/cars triumvirate. Instead, he throws his arms out to his skateboard in his amazing debut video, 'Kick, Push.' Thanks, Lupe, for reminding us what it's all for.
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Epitaph
Underground Fave
Vegetarian, politically engaged and white, Sage Francis is a rarity in the hip-hop arena. With a look and belief system more like Moby's than Mobb Deep, he's not a major-label type of artist, but his work has been changing hands on mix tapes, burned CDs and MP3s for years on the underground scene. Like his forebear KRS-One, Sage Francis is one of the mainstays of the conscience of hip-hop.
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Atlantic
Brooklyn, Georgia
There's a reason why Southern hip-hop -- that booty-shakin' crunk -- has permeated the genre, slipping into every crevice of every hip-hop beat in recent years: His name is T.I. Known as the 'Jay-Z of the South,' T.I.'s helped transform hip-hop and redefine what it means. His influence is evident across the industry, but most recently, he appeared in Justin Timberlake's video for 'My Love.'
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Virgin
The Crunk Crew
We're not saying that Southern crunksters Dem Franchize Boyz offer the best lyricism that hip-hop has to offer, or the most innovative musicality, or even impressive genre-busting. But they are leaders in what's known as the "snap music" movement (think 'Laffy Taffy,' or the Ying Yang Twins' 'Wait'). We dare you to listen and NOT snap along -- and that should pretty much confirm DFB's spot on this list.
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Universal
L-u-d-a
Ludacris, who cares if you, like many in your industry, don't give a crap about things like spelling? With a artistic range that encompasses everything from danceable party tracks to hits like 'Runaway Love,' --not to mention your acting skills -- you're a strong presence on the scene. You've risen from regional to international stardom with a unique ability to bring warmth & wittiness to a genre that often takes itself too seriously.
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Getty Images / Geffen / Smallz and Raskind for AOL
Genius Walks
Oh, Timbaland. He may as well be one of the greatest gifts to hip-hop -- wait, no, to modern pop music -- in our lifetime. Inventing beats that texturize hip-hop with the best of every genre, he's a pillar of the profession. Tracks like 'Give It to Me' with fellow giants Justin Timberlake's and Nelly Furtado off his new album, 'Shock Value,' show off some of his best work. We just hope he keeps it up.
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The O.C.
Roots Music
You may have heard of The Roots long before their music was featured on 'The OC.' Or maybe their recent hit, 'The Seed,' may have been your first taste -- but it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that you know them now. The Roots are innovative, dynamic and successful -- all without bowing to pressures to become a rap-lite band (cough, cough, Black Eyed Peas).
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