HOTTEST ARTISTS OF THE MOMENT (CLEVELAND EDITION)

IN LIGHT OF ALL THESE "BEST MCS" LISTS BEING RELEASED (AND THE SUBSEQUENT BACKLASH PROCEEDING THEM), I GOT THE IDEA TO DO A FEW LISTS OF MY OWN. THE DIFFERENCE WITH MINE THOUGH ARE THAT I'M SOLELY FOCUSED ON CLEVELAND HIP HOP. OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, I HAVE HEARD A PLETHORA OF SONGS, MIXTAPES AND ALBUMS. SEVERAL ARTISTS HAVE STARTED TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AS VOICE TO BE HEARD. THEREFORE, OVER THE NEXT THREE SUNDAYS I WILL BE RELEASING THREE LISTS. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: TOP TEN MIXTAPES/ALBUMS; HOTTEST MCS OF THE MOMENT; AND TOP 25 SONGS OF 2010. THERE IS NO PANEL HERE, NO BRAINTRUST FOLKS. THIS IS SOLELY MY OWN OPINIONS, THOUGHTS AND VIEWS. I'M SURE SEVERAL PEOPLE WON'T AGREE, BUT THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT HIP HOP IS THAT HEALTHY DEBATE IS PLENTIFUL.

FIRST UP IS HOTTEST ARTISTS OF THE MOMENT....

10. DRASTIC

WHY: BY FAR ONE OF THE TOP ARTISTS CLEVELAND HAS TO OFFER; ALBUM "BACK TO THE ESSENCE" IS RIDICULOUSLY GREAT; LYRICALLY SHOULD BE IN ANYONE'S TOP 10 OUT OF THE LAND

SONG TO PEEP: "STILL HOOKED" FT. PROPH THE PROBLEM AND KAYO ALCATRAZ; TWITTER: @DRASTIC216

9. B-LO

WHY: DROPPED TWO SOLID PROJECTS THIS YEAR, HIS GROUP EFFORT WITH GAM AS F^UP-"UNORTHODOX" AND ALSO IS OWN SOLO PROJECT "3RD PERSON RAP"; VASTLY LYRICALLY UNDERRATED,THE SELF TITLED FIRST SINGLE TO HIS FORTHCOMING ALBUM "SEX AND AGGRESSION" IS ONE OF THE BEST SONGS OF THE YEAR

SONG TO PEEP: "SEX AND AGGRESSION" FEAT. MISS TIARRAH; TWITTER: @B_LOFROMTHEFUP

8. IZZRAEL

WHY: ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A TOP NOTCH LYRICIST; HAS A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM BEING RELEASED SHORTLY WITH "SOULARMUSIK"; CONSTANTLY BEING COMPARED TO THE LUPE'S OF THE WORLD MUST MEAN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT; PART OF THE SUPERGROUP COLLECTIVE "THE TITANS" WITH SOUL KRYZIZ, PROPH THE PROBLEM AND KAYO ALCATRAZ

SONG TO PEEP: "THE HIP/THE HYPE"; TWITTER: @IZZRAEL_LIGHT

7. PROPH THE PROBLEM

WHY: HAD ONE OF THE HOTTEST CLEVELAND SINGLES OF THE YEAR WITH THE AWARD WINNING "WHAT ARE YOOOU DOING"; HIS MIXTAPE "MIDWEST FRESSSHHH" AND TRACKS WITH THE TITANS JUST FURTHERED HIS STATUS AS ONE OF CLEVELAND'S TOP ARTISTS

SONG TO PEEP: "100 BARS"; TWITTER: @PROPHTHEPROBLEM

6. YUNG MOOK

WHY: AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE SOUFSIDE MOVEMENT; OHHA NOMINEE AND PERFORMER; HIS SINGLE "WHAT NIGGA YOU KNOW" ALONG WITH THE SUBSEQUENT REMIX, IS EASILY ONE OF THE TOP SONGS OF THE PAST YEAR, ADD ON A PLETHORA OF GUEST APPEARANCES RANGING FROM TRACKS WITH PROPH THE PROBLEM, YP, SOUL KRYZIZ AND FLEXINGTWON AND HIS PLACE IS JUSTIFIED; DISTINCT STYLE; KNOWS HOW TO CREATE A HIT RECORD

SONG TO PEEP: "DO IT BIG REMIX" W/ YP; TWITTER: @MOOKIEMOTONIO

5. Mz. Crazy Tee

WHY: Finally dropped her highly anticipated mixtape "The Package" to much critical success; easily has the most personality and charisma of any Cleveland artist; consistent Rebel Army Award winner, highly respected MC, magazine features; distinct style

SONG TO PEEP: "NO PLACE LIKE HOME"; TWITTER: @MZCRAZYTEE

4. Soul Kryziz

WHY: Is called the top lyricist out of Cleveland in many circles right now; also a multiple OHHA and Rebel Army nominee and winner, album "The Wake Up Show" one of the top albums of the year by far; part of The Titans; featured on Yung Mook's OHHA nominated track "What Nigga You Know Remix"

SONG TO PEEP: "BLOOD ON MY HANDS"; TWITTER: @SOULKRYZIZ

3. Bravo

WHY: Album "The Grey Area" easily one of the finest albums by any artist, let alone a Cleveland artist released this year; OHHA nominee for best album, consistently throws one of the best shows out; verse on Young Miz's "Lost" is one of the best features of the year

SONG TO PEEP: "BREAKFAST CLUB" FEAT. DARREN ANTHONY; TWITTER: @MYNAMEISBRAVO

2. Nina Nicole

WHY: Produced some of the best verses by an MC this year female or male, equally loved and hated but talent is talent, mixtape Hurricane Katrina Vol. 1 was one of the most anticipated projects of the year, received multiple OHHA nominations, Rebel Army Award winner, several standout features, key member of the all female collective LOL

SONG TO PEEP: "BULLETS"; TWITTER: @MZNINA216

1. Caine

WHY: Provided more consistent quality music than any other artist, mixtape "No Handz" was one of the top releases this year and garnered much critical praise, OHHA nominee, was more sought out for features than anyone, toured with BNTH, just has a knack for creating a hot song

SONG TO PEEP: "KING JAMES"; TWITTER: @CAINE2

"NEXT TO LISTEN OUT FOR"

FLYY

CRAZY8THEGREAT

RAY GRIZZEL

DARREN ANTHONY

YOUNG MIZ

CLEVELAND CHRIS

MICROWAVE RED

PHEENS

JCURSE

BIG O