Drake Says 'Excitement Factor' Put Nicki Minaj On Hottest MCs List

Nicki, Nicki, Nicki. That's what all the talk seems to be about this year in hip-hop, according to Drake.

The Thank Me Later star said Nicki Minaj is a worthy candidate for the 2010 MTV News' Hottest MCs in the Game list, on which she landed at #6, despite not dropping an album yet. Last year, Drake scored the #3 position off the strength of his So Far Gone mixtape.

"I think Nicki should make it based off of excitement," Drake told. "She's one of, if not the most exciting rapper this year. Feature-wise, she's on tracks with heavyweights killing; not holding her own, but killing. She's controlling the radio. I think that's grounds enough to make it. This year, who really? [Rick] Ross, Nicki. Everyone else hasn't dropped yet. The excitement factor is there. I'm going off of excitement and buzz, 'cause I feel like that's why I made it [last year]. A lot of it was off of the excitement I created for people. But Nicki has a lot to prove too. That album is a hump to get over, man. That's a whole different monster — no pun intended."

The Queens lyricist has made it a habit to outshine superstars on tracks from Trey Songz's "Bottoms Up" to Kanye West and Jay-Z's "Monster." Minaj has also fared well on the charts with her material, landing a #1 Billboard hit with "Your Love."

On Sunday, Nicki will appear on "RapFix Live" with MTV News correspondent Sway on MTV.com to answer fans' questions about her ranking on the Hottest MCs list, her forthcoming debut album Pink Friday and anything else viewers want to ask.

The 2010 Hottest MCs in the Game rollout is now under way! As in 2008 and 2009, the criteria is based on a combination of rhyme skill, flow, buzz, commercial success, business ventures, Web presence and cultural influence. Upload your comments, reactions, arguments and/or your own list to Your.MTV.com or send tweets with the hashtag #hottestmcs — the best responses could be on TV or our hip-hop blog, RapFix!

Tune in to MTV2 for the entire one-hour "Hottest MCs in the Game" special on Sunday, October 24, at 1:30 p.m. ET, where we'll reveal who will be crowned 2010's Hottest MC. Then log on to MTVNews.com following the show to see Nicki Minaj on "RapFix Live" at 2:30 p.m.