Have you ever heard of The Streisand Effect? It’s definitely a First World Problem, of course, and it’s about a phenomenon in the celebrity world. “The Streisand Effect” is when a celebrity pitches a fit (legally or just in the media) about a barely-publicized story or photograph and because of the massive celebrity fit, the original photograph, story or event gets WAY more attention. Celebrities do this inadvertently all the time when they go out of their way to deny a specific tabloid story that barely got any play. The phrase “the Streisand Effect” began when Barbra Streisand pitched a fit about photos of her Malibu estate taken from a helicopter – she sued the photographer and made it into such a big deal that photos of her property got even wider play.
Anyway, Kanye West is Streisand Effectin’ all over the place. MTV released a completely inconsequential list of “the Hottest MCs” of all time. Sway is hosting some kind of special about it, so I guess if you’re not tuned in to MTV all the time, you would have had no idea. MTV and VH1 do these lists and “specials” of the “Best of” whatever all the time. So Sway has the list, and Kanye is on it. But ‘Ye is only listed at #7!!!! Don’t you know that Kanye is THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME?!?!? So Kanye called into Hot 97 to complain:
Kanye West is riled up about his ranking in the rap community. The hip-hop superstar and first-time father-to-be called in to New York City’s Hot 97 radio station on Tuesday, March 5, to dispute being named named the No. 7 “Hottest MC” by MTV.
“I feel like for them to put me at No. 7, they had to bring up things they didn’t like, like they didn’t like Cruel Summer album,” he said of his poorly-received effort. “And I’m, like, ‘That’s a compilation. It’s not all rappers on [it].” He then listed several of the album’s songs, like “Mercy” and “Clique,” as examples of underrated tracks. “You can’t name five records like that on an album,” he argued.
West claimed the list’s creators were biased in other rap artists’ favor. “What happens with these type of things and the people that review it, when I come in and I have the pink polo and the backpack, I’m checking all the boxes of that A Tribe Called Quest era and all that, so they want to champion it,” the musician said. “They don’t like Givenchy Kanye. They don’t like Kanye in a kilt, they don’t like Kanye in a relationship.”
The outspoken star added that his verse in “Cold,” which was reportedly aimed at girlfriend Kim Kardashian’s estranged husband, Kris Humphries, was superior to anything his peers did in the last year. “Ain’t no bar of the past 12 months that’s hotter than that bar,” he said.
West said Lil Wayne deserved the the title of “Hottest MC” and added that Jay-Z and Eminem “are the greatest rappers of all time. He also praised his “Mercy” collaborator Big Sean, who edged him out for the No. 6 spot.
“I’m happy for Sean,” West told DJ Enuff during The Angie Martinez Show. “But I feel like he should be on top 5. He’s bodying records, like the way he started off that ‘Mercy.'” The top four MCs have yet to be revealed.
Thus far, the list is: #3. Rick Ross, #4. Nas #5. Drake, #6. Big Sean, #7. Kanye West, #8. A$AP Rocky, #9. Future, #10. Meek Mill. I have honestly NEVER heard of 8 through 10, so I guess I’m out of touch with MCs. But seriously, do people really get upset about this? Maybe Kanye does have a point – I think he’s more talented than Drake and Big Sean, for sure, although I’d probably put ‘Ye about even with Nas. But was Kanye the right person to make a big stink about it? Does anyone really care this much about a random list? Now I want to know who gets #1. It’s Jay-Z, right? Also: sorry ‘Ye, but Cruel Summer sucked. You’ve made incredible albums in the past, but Givenchy Kanye and Cruel Summer are made of dumb.
Photos courtesy of WENN and Fame/Flynet.
That’s a crap list, they left some folks off, no way is Jay-Z #1. he’s good but I don’t think he’s the best.
and just my opinion but I favor Nas over Kanye every day of the week.
Why would JayZ be #1? JayZ did not put out any music in 2012. The list is annual and it is for the “hottest MC now.” Kanye has been number 1 on the annual list before. The number #1 and #2 spot would go to 2Chainz and Kendrick Lamar.
ok, so it’s for now-as in last year? I thought “all time”.. seems like it’s just a popularity contest as with everything that’s on MTV..
Or Macklemore.
I’m going with Kendrick Lamar, he is so nice right now, I can’t even explain why im going into obsession with him. Nas shouldve been higher than Rick Ross with Life Is Good, but the wholle MMG family has been putting in work this year. Speaking of…where is Wale? He dropped Folarin a couple months ago? It wasnt great but I think if Future is on the list Wale should be on there.
Before I say anything else, can I just say: CB, BEST POST EVER!!! NOTHING on CB has ever gotten me so excited or worked up. (Spending my childhood with a brother who treated rap like his oxygen supply and is an encyclopaedia of hip-hop has rubbed off on me more than I realised.)
Anyways, moving swiftly on,@BB
The reason that Jay will probably end up in the top is because MTV is a primarily puppet-pop machine that applies their pop formula of picking solidly record label endorsed artists and rating them in the hierarchy that the media suggests. And they have tried (and failed) to apply this to rap, which is a completely different genre that *is* audience driven. Record labels have majorly lost their control over the rap genre.
Since the emergence of social platforms such as YouTube and SbTV, in which rappers release their work directly to audiences with no middleman, the landscape has changed dramatically. Record labels are no longer required to aid or help a rappers career, and in many cases, record labels are becoming detrimental and destructive to rappers careers as they attempt to ‘shape’ a rappers direction/brand.
I don’t want to blow up Kanye’s head any further, but he has made an extremely valid criticism. Whilst he may sound like a scorned, egotistical maniac (nobody’s doubting that he is), he is making a bigger point here: that MTV has made an extremely unreliable and inaccurate list that has based their ratings on image and media-endorsement rather than quality and content.
The joke is a list. Kanye preaches truth, but he should not even have got involved with this joke list that nobody pays attention to. The fact they have placed Rick Ross ahead of Kanye West proves his point entirely. I don’t want to boost Kanye’s ego any further, so instead I will say this: within the audience driven rap genre, Rick Ross is widely regarded as a cartoon rapper, a transparent puppet of the carefully controlled YMCMB/Maybach hybrid. He has no credibility or respect within rap, his bars are extremely weak and there are amateur rappers I can tick off in my head that are more talented than him and his animal grunts, but he has made it there because mainstream, white media has given him a place in their hierarchical assessment of rap. Kanye’s ridiculous kilt has more talent than ‘Rickey Rozay’.
This list is disgusting, I am genuinely sickened. MTV has no idea how the rap world works, I am outraged that they even dared to apply their ‘pop’ formula to rap. I have finally found something I loath more than Leanne Rimes.
@ Salms… Wow, that was an awsome post!
@marie – no, this list is annual, not all-time. JayZ will not be on the list at all this year. Kanye’s complaint was that he had put out some hot music last year and should’ve been listed higher than #7.
Tupac would be #1. If not, this list is shit. It should be Pac, Dre or Em and Jay.
Also, pharoh monch should be on this list, considering em stole his style or rapping ages ago and pharoh is so talented. This isn’t the top mc’s, it’s just the ones who’ve had the most radio play in the last few years.
It’s about the hottest MC’s of the past year – they look at album releases & sales, mixtapes, critical success and exposure – stuff like that. it’s not an all time list because of course Tupac Dre and Em would be on the list.
I read where he felt like it was his relationship with Kim that caused such a low rating. You know the old saying…..you lay with dogs, your gonna get fleas.
@dorothy – Did you read that version on RadarOnline or from a blog that took the story from RadarOnline? If so, RadarOnline did not print the story correctly. No where in the interview with HOT97 was Kim’s name mentioned. Kanye did state the people complain about him wearing a kilt, dressing in Givenchy and being in a relationship. Tabloids like ROL will always twist a story or leave out details of story.
When he said “being in a relationship”, he’s talking about Kim whether he mentions her name or not.
I think the famewhore girlfriend is having the “Bosworth Effect” on him. I want nothing to do with ANYTHING associated with her.
LOL!
but you’re right, i cant take anyone associated with them seriously
Yes we heard of the Streisand effect, and most famous effect lately would be the Beyonce superbowl pics that her publicist asked privately to be removed but it had the opposite effect.
Well to be fair even if I don’t watch that channel anymore, MTV isn’t just any random thing, MTV is among the most watched music channels in the world and it has massive yet boring awards shows (MTV Video, MTV Movies etc…) and such, so you can’t say that whoever has been ranked #1 on a MTV list won’t be honoured (after all MTV plays their music), so they do these “Best” lists because it matters to some people in that sense.
But here Kanye isn’t Streisand-ing, he is simply Diva-ing and throwing a fist to be *noticed* to the contrary, Kanye isn’t exactly known for humility, he has a tremendous ego, because he wants people to *know* that he *deserves* a higher rank. So it’s not a Streisand Effect, it’s rather a God Complex he has.
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuvvvvvvvvvvv course he did. Too much attention being paid to lard-and-filler-based (supposed) mother-to-be of his child.
eta: Cue the “sympathy band” – ROL’s got a story about a “miscarriage scare.” Well, dumbass, stop jet-setting all over the globe. DUH.
Another Kanye hissy fit. What else is new?
motherfawkin’ gay fish, gay fish! gotta love those southpark dudes. i wish that was a real kanye song i would download it & listen to it when i go running.
So what? Dude needs to grow up thats all. If he had an ounce of class he would be pleased just to make the list and move on to doing nothing with that fame ho baby nmamma of his and having their picture taken as they are doing it. Boy oh boy pee on me Kim is going to take this guy way doooown when she kicks him to the curb. And she will kick him to the curb in the near future.
He’s such a child. It’s a stupid little countdown list for ratings. Chill out.
If they ever have a ranking for being ugly, acting inappropriately, and dressing like a pimp, don’t worry, Kanye, you’ll come in #1 on the list.
He dresses like a pimp? Wow.
MTV is still around?
Still mad at Kayne for throwing that fit over Swifty. I agree Swifty shouldn’t have won, but had Kayne thought before he opened his mouth, Swifty’s relevancy might be winding down about now w/ her unicorn act. But no…he made her seem like poor lil innocent virginal gumdrops & unicorn girl that sings just got bullied by the big ole mean rapper that always comes off as mad at the world. So much so that people who didn’t like Swifty or listen to her before did. The fact that she forgave him publicly got her even more fans & attention. So thanks Kayne… Please just take care of your Baby’s mama & pick your battles more wisely.
Q Tip.
Slick Rick.
The Roots.
Mos Def
Those be some MCs. Forever!!!!!!
Hissy fits give you a headline.
His new music does suck and I personally don’t like kilt wearing Kardashian Ye! He sucks! I hate when celebs get so big that they get weird. Like they wear kilts and ugly clothes cuz they think they are too big to be ugly…you can wear fashion forward stuff and not wear a kilt or a gas mask or a frickin Canadian suit for God sakes!!!
Amen.
Can you believe Kanye used to work with Jay Z? Then he went all fashion wannabe and now he’s a Kardashian.
He still does work with him lol. Jay Z isn’t as hood as he likes to project. He’s pretty high fashion himself.
I am not a Kanye Stan, but I am sad to say I have turned into a Kanye apologist.
One thing that I have noticed about Kanye is that despite his huge ego, immaturity and childish antics, he speaks a lot of truth. He does expose valid criticisms of the music industry he is part of.
I do not like the way he puts it, it is vile and childish and his deliverance of the message takes away from what he is saying, but he knows what he is saying.
Hate me if you will, (this is the one place we can indulge our hatred freely and enjoy it haha) but he was right about Taylor Swift/Bey. How Swifty’s won over Bey’s single ladies video astounds me to this day.
He is right about the list also.
He is right in his criticisms of government.
He was right about New Orleans and a bunch of other stuff.
His problem is that unlike the other perfectly polished, pre-packaged, carefully controlled, record-label puppets, he is not PC and nobody forces him to think before he speaks/acts.
We only get snippets of his life when he says something controversial, or does something stupid, and therefore we get only one image of him. And he does not help himself. If you look at his wider life, background, personal life from sources other than gossip sites, you will realise he is a good guy at heart and there is a lot of innocence in him, which is what makes him so stupid frankly. Somebody needs to force him into a public speaking lessons.
Word.
He is a brat but I agree.
I agree with Salms.
Is MTV even relevant for music anymore? I thought it was all teen pregnancy, Jersey shore type characters and getting kicked in the balls on video now.
Aside from that, He’s an a$$hole so I’m not surprised he threw a diva fit over his spot on a list no one gives a real shit about.
Wah wah hes such a whiney crybaby. Hes such a poor sport. I think atmosohere should be number one on that list. But I havent watched mtv since I was in high school cus its crap now.
You know, if you are that upset, Kanye, then go make some GREAT music to prove them wrong. How about that, instead of throwing a temper tantrum?
He is immature and whines a lot, but he does make really good points when you put aside the fact that he’s whining. In this particular situation, I can see why he doesn’t like the rating (Drake before him? Come on!) but at the same time Kanye sometimes disregards context and the source of the commentary. It’s MTV. It hasn’t been musically relevant since about 2002. Take it with a grain of salt, Ye, and keep walking. My Dark Beautiful Twisted Fantasy was great. You know you can do better and you will, if you just chilled out.
He has no sense of humor or self-effacement. Seems too self-important (like Kim)
That list is comical. I liked Nas’ album a lot. The last Jay Z song I heard was using sound bytes from a Will Ferrell movie and Kanye, ironically, is IMO the Taylor Swift of hip hop with his self importance and constant bitching and moaning. The last time hip hop mattered was the 90’s.
A few things:
– “They don’t like Kanye in a kilt” Ahem, you had your publicist scrub the kilt pics from the internet… http://jezebel.com/kanye-kilt/
– no need to brag about how good you think that “Lucky I didn’t have Jay drop him from the team” lyric is, because it’s retarded. Jay-Z owns less than one-fifteenth of one percent of that team. He’s the PR face, no more. He doesn’t have the influence to get anyone hired or fired from the Nets. Prokhorov must have found that line really cute.
I’m sorry, I know this is a shame-free zone, but can we please refrain from the r-word? I’ll spare my usual soapbox, but suffice it to say it’s a very derogatory, hurtful and oppressive word. My family, friends and clients thank you kindly – and I truly mean that with 0 sarcasm 🙂
I can’t edit it anymore now, but I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be offensive to anyone. English isn’t my first language and I casually use that word around native speaker friends when I’m looking for an equivalent to “stupid” (as in #3 on this page http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/retarded) and so do they; I do know its original meaning though. I actually looked it up after reading your comment and there’s a heated but quite interesting argument going on on this page http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retarded
I’ll be more careful next time. From now on I shall only refer to Kanye West as “stupid” or “dumb” 🙂
I sincerely appreciate that you bothered to look that up…most people would not have bothered! I understand language barriers and slang, unfortunately this word has become very acceptable in our culture, and language, largely due to lack of education about the history of people with disabilities, and how unjust conditions continue to be (among all people, it’s frightening)I do work with the intellectually/developmentally disabled population,, and this word is as offensive and oppressive and the worst racial slurs. Clinically, docs are slow to make progress, but the term is being corrected. The dictionary is not incorrect, per se, because the term does still have some clinical standing amongst less progressive providers. Truly, I do appreciate your open mind- spread the “new” word!
Ugh, Kanye is not even close to being on Nas’ level! Nas>>>>>>
I’m tired of this man-bitch whining all the time.
There’s just nothing likeable about this man. I can’t think what on earth he and Kim would have in common. What would they talk about? I wouldn’t want to talk to him about anything. Over-rated and untalented.