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MTV has compiled their list of the top ten, “Hottest MC’s in the Game,” and they’re releasing each name one by one.
The criteria for the top 10 list are: lyrics, flow, impact, buzz, sales and intangibles. MTV has put together an expert panel of their most educated hip hop critics to rate the current talent and success of today’s top hip hop artists.
Number 10 on the list is Wu-tang Clan member Raekwon (aka Raekwon the chef). While Raekwon’s public exposure has never been particularly high, he is one of the most talented artists in the music industry. His album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.. Part II, released September 8, 2009, was critically acclaimed by all major music and hip hop outlets; debuting at number four on the Billboard 200. This was his fourth solo album along with the numerous Wu Tang albums to which he was an integral asset. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Part II reaches back to those Wu tang roots with raw hip hop verses and classic beats (produced by hip-hop giants RZA, Dr Dre, The Alchemist and Eric Sermon and many others).

Number 9 on the list was hip-hop heavyweight 50 cent. While he hasn’t released an official album since Curtis in 2007, 50 released one of the most impressive mix-tapes of the year, War Angel. The mix-tape showed fans that 50 is still first and foremost dedicated to his musical craft. Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson is in the process right now of completing his fourth studio album, “Before I Self Destruct”. The album was scheduled to be released in late 2008, but instead was re-worked and improved for the new release date of November 17. Like Raekwon, Jackson has the top producers in the music industry working on his album including Dr Dre, Timbaland and Eminem, to name a few.If the recently released track Flight 187 is any indicator of the style of this new album, Jackson’s fans will be pleased. The song has a classic 50 cent flow with a relaxed yet cold-blooded tone.

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If you’re a fan of plastic instruments but can’t get into wearing spiked bracelets and headbanging to Children of Bodom perhaps the forthcoming DJ Hero will be more akin to your tastes. DJ Hero which is released in October 2009 for PlayStation 3, PS2, Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii will finally tap into the giant market of people that don’t enjoy Guitar Driven music such as  hip-hop, R&B, pop, rock and electronica.

DJ Hero delivers them all with over 100 individual songs, highlighted in over 80 unique never-before-released mixes.

Now chances are if you are interested in DJ Hero you are most likely a fan of two of the biggest names in hip-hop, Eminem and Dr. Dre, well boy does DJ Hero have something for you!

Presenting the DJ Hero Renegade Edition!

DJ Hero Renegade Edition includes:

*    DJ Hero game
*    Renegade turntable controller featuring premium metal controls
and finish
*    Hardshell turntable carrying case that converts to
performance-ready DJ stand
*    Exclusive JAY-Z and EMINEM 2-CD pack featuring unreleased tracks
and collectible case designed by artist Shepard Fairey

Unfortunately no “Chronic” is included though- maybe DJ Hero 2 featuring Snoop Dogg- hizzle.

http://djhero.com

Dr. Dre will give fans a sneak peek at “Detox,” his first album in 10 years, in a new Dr. Pepper commercial that is set to debut Monday.

The rapper-producer makes his way through a party in the soft-drink ad, saying “Scientific tests prove when you drink Dr. Pepper slow, the 23 flavours taste even better. For me, slow always produces a hit.” He then uses his pop can to slow down the beat at a DJ stand, to the delight of the partygoers.

As Nah Right reports, the beat featured in the commercial is from “Shit Popped Off,” a track that is expected to appear on Dr. Dre’s new album.

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Eminem delved into detail about his forthcoming album, Relapse, (due May 19) during an interview with Shade 45’s Angela Yee on “The Morning After” Sirius satellite radio show on Thursday, explaining why the album will only feature Dr. Dre and 50 Cent as collaborators.

According to mtvnews.com, Dre produced the majority of the album, save for one track Eminem did himself. The rapper said Dre’s handling the bulk of the production allowed him to experiment even more with his flow on this project, compared with his previous efforts.

“I really got a chance to step away from the boards,” Eminem said. “I tried to pick the [Dre beats] that challenged me, rhythm-wise. I ended up experimenting with a bunch of different flows. I try to do that every album, but this time I had a chance to go all out with it. Make every flow different and pick unique beats.”

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After being MIA in the studio scene for the last few years, Eminem has finally entered the field again, as he told Billboard about his new and up coming album “Relapse”, which is due in spring. Slim Shady, who had not been in the production mood since 2004’s “Encore”, says the album will bring back good times with mentor Dr. Dre.

“Me and Dre are back in the lab like the old days, man,” Eminem reportedly said in an e-mail to Billboard. “Just him banging away on tracks and me getting that little spark that makes me write to it. I don’t have chemistry like that with anyone else as far as producers go — not even close. Dre will end up producing the majority of the tracks on Relapse. We are up to our old mischievous ways. … Let’s just leave it at that.”

While there’s still no release date for the LP, Em was disappointed by the recent “Bottle” leaks- of songs being somehow released to the public.

“It wasn’t close to finished, and it even has me doing guide vocals for Dre as a suggestion of how he could lay his verses down,” he told Billboard. “It’s like someone catches you peeping in your window before you got the Spider Man costume all zipped up! Nobody is supposed to see that. We are gonna finish it up, though, and get it out there how it’s supposed to be.”