You can't be mad at Kanye West. He's talked the most the past few years, but he's backed it up every time. Three albums, three classics. He has everyone's respect -- and recently the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust rewarded his efforts by knighting him the Hottest MC in the Game.

Friday in Chicago, Kanye acknowledge the nod with a announcement during his "Glow in the Dark" tour hometown stop: "I brought them Grammys home for y’all, and now I brought that #1 spot home for y’all!" The crowd went wild!

Bawwwssssse! Rick Ross is one of the coolest dudes you're gonna meet, period.

He swung through HQ for another one of them MTV News exclusive interviews. (While I was talking to Rick, Sway was downstairs chopping it up with the Game. Now that's one heavyweight afternoon at 1515.) On the way out, we showed him the "Hottest MCs In The Game" promos, which he enjoyed. Said he hopes he makes the cut this time.

Big ups to the biggest boss, his manager Gucci Poochie, and super PR man Gabe -- excuse me, "Hollywood Gabe" the homie...

Ever since we posted asking for you to vote on the hottest MCs right now, we've been flooded with comments. And y'all are intense! Every rapper on the list has been picked apart with fire, and you’ve battled it out for a couple not even in our lineup.

Some of you had major issues with our 2007 Hottest MC Lil Wayne, saying the man’s all hype and waiting for the proof of his talent on the much-delayed Tha Carter III. Fresh said Weezy’s just “getting bigger and bigger over hype alone. His a cappella freestyles are horrible, and that for me is letdown…He’ll [be] no.1 next year if his album’s dope.”

There were a lot of shout-outs to the Game, with Chris Hasso writing in, “Once Game’s L.A.X. album drops, it will be right up there with Tha Carter 3.” And Mario said, “Only 3 albums deep, and he’s the best lyrical West Coast rapper ever.”

And plenty of people pushed for Lupe Fiasco and Black Thought as MCs known for lyrics that go beyond girls and game. As Prophet J put it, “Lupe talks about real life s*** and explains it with more passion than anybody I’ve heard.” While Checkitout backed up Black Thought: “This guy has been spitting lyrical prowess under your nose for 20 years now!! Give him his just!!” And Josh got critical about the “hottest” MCs as being “hot for the dollars, not for the cause.”

Even more folks were riled up about Soulja Boy being in the poll. “He doesn’t even rap, just mutters 3 lines in a song,” Taf wrote. And Eye said, “I’m disgusted in the committee even considering Soulja Boy an MC -- that’s like saying MC Brains, Hammer or Luke are MCs just because they make hip-hop music, no! It doesn’t work that way!” But NV stepped in: “The boy is dumb popular with the kids, and we were all there a while ago…We have to consider him because he is fire in the South.”

Whoever you’re rooting for, remember to tune in to see the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust go at it tonight, May 16, at 10 p.m. ET on MTV, when MTV News Presents the second edition of “The Hottest MCs in the Game.”

And if you haven’t voted yet, head to our poll, after the jump. Read more...