Drake, Kendrick Lamar Get Early Celeb Nods In 'Hottest MCs' Debate

Every year during MTV's annual "Hottest MCs in the Game" roundtable discussion, there are varying opinions and spirited arguments on the way to crowning rap's top MC. But coming to a consensus is harder than it seems — just ask celebs like Ne-Yo and NBA star Carmelo Anthony.

"I'm a Nas fan," the New York Knicks top-scorer told' Sway Calloway when he was asked to pick his "Hottest MC in the Game."

God's Son definitely had a standout year thanks to his Grammy-nominated LP Life is Good, but then again so did Kendrick Lamar, who dropped his gold-selling debut good kid, m.A.A.d city in October.

Tony Yayo, platinum producers Da Internz and basketball stars Tyson Chandler and Jrue Holiday all co-signed the Compton, California spitter. "He put out some good records, he worked hard," said Yayo.

Mike Will Made It produced a ton of hits with his partner Future, so of course he voted for his homey, but actor Rick Gonzalez, who also doubles as the rapper Realm Reality, gave it up for another hip-hop rookie, A$AP Rocky. "He came from, a year ago, obscurity, to where he is now with a #1 album," he said, referencing the impressive first-week sales of Long.Live.A$AP.

Ne-Yo could've picked any of the above mentioned MCs, but in his eyes Drake tops them all. "From the stuff that he's doing on his own, to all his features," he told us referencing Drizzy's bars on songs like A$AP's "F---in' Problems" and French Montana's "Pop That." "If you're the kind of person who really goes through and dissects lyrics and the way he puts words together, that dude definitely knows what he's doin."

It all begins Sunday, when MCs #10 and #9 will be revealed on MTV2's "The Week in Jams"at 11 a.m. ET. On Monday and Tuesday, #8 through #5 will be revealed online at . The #4 and #3 Hottest MCs will be unveiled during a special "RapFix Live" on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV Jams and MTV.com. The #2 and #1 MCs will duke it out next Thursday (March 7) during our "Hottest MCs in the Game VIII" special at 10 p.m. ET on MTV Jams.

Who's your pick for Hottest MC in the Game? Sound off!