1. Rick Ross
Most hip-hop heads have been questioning Rick Ross’ potential for longevity in the game for a while, since:
A. He is not a great rapper and
B. he epitomizes the reformed drug dealer cliché.
Ross’ cover was completely blown when the The Smoking Gun exposed him as a corrections officer. He first denied the claim, but later retracted after mounting evidence, including an identifying social security number surfaced. Ross then admitted to his earlier career, but insists he never “snitched,” “locked up” or “prosecuted a n****.” He should have come clean in the beginning.
2. Soulja Boy
Since his debut, Souljaboytellem.com, the ATL-based rapper has been accused of wielding the death knell for an already weakening genre. The catchy hooks and shallow production of his cring-worthy ringtone singles have rhyme revelers of all ages (I’m looking at you, Iceberg) raging against the teen marketing machine.
3. R. Kelly
Your feelings about the R&B thug depend on where you stand with this year’s episodes in his never-ending saga. His June acquittal on child pornography charges and Ne-Yo dis track (after the younger crooner’s lawsuit upon dismissal from the Double Up tour), aren’t exactly winning back the hearts of hip-hop fans right now. All this, a few more “Trapped in the Closet” chapters, and it might just be a wrap for the R.
4. Suge Knight
In a culture loaded with balls and bravado, Suge Knight still manages to be one of hip-hop’s biggest bullies. With a plethora of legal issues from the dissolution of Death Row Records, reports of girlfriend abuse and murky details of that fateful night of September 7, 1996 in Las Vegas, Knight remains one of the most reviled and feared figures in 2008.
5. 50 Cent
50 has watched G-Unit go from top crew to most hated in the last 2 or 3 years. He lost even more credibility when, in an effort to manufacture publicity for T.O.S., he released a taped conversation with a teary-voiced Young Buck discussing financial difficulties, recorded without Buck’s knowledge. That single move turned 50 into 5-0.
6. T-Pain
T-Pain falls in the same “Please just go away for a little while” category as Lil’ Wayne. The too-frequent producer and vocal collaborator, needs to give it a rest, especially when his real voice isn’t as interesting as the fake one. Funny or Die.com got a piece of the action with a video spoof of T-Pain’s vocoder demanding shine for his contributions to the hitmaker’s success.
7. Lil Wayne
Weezy is everywhere. From his guitar strumming on SNL to a guest appearance on nearly every major hip-hop release this year, the Lil’ one is simply ubiquitous. And you know what they say about too much of everything. Besides, his constant proclamation of himself as the “Greatest Rapper Alive” is grating on everyone affiliated with hip-hop.
8. Tony Yayo
Yayo was arrested this Spring for allegedly assaulting a 14-year-old boy who wore a T-shirt bearing the logo of Game’s management company. Apparently that’s not a problem for MTV who recently signed him on to be a part of their “Busted” series where he accompanies police on arrests. And let’s not get started on his infamous interviews, where he often spouts off insults at rappers who are significantly better than him (e.g. Ghostface).
9. Karrine “Superhead” Steffans
Aside from the tell-all books, radio, web and TV appearances, the “brainy” media magnet is now rumored to be secretly married to Bow Wow and pregnant with his child. Frankly, her antics are just too much for anyone to swallow. Let’s hope her retirement from “hoochery” is for real this time.
10. DMX
Rappers and jail records are nothing new, but DMX’s rap sheet is will soon surpass his list of recordings. He has been arrested more than four times this year alone: for speeding and animal cruelty in Arizona, attempting to purchase drugs in Miami and failure to appear in court for previous drug charges. He has also pleaded not guilty on charges of identity theft to avoid payment for treatment at a rehabilitation clinic. Not to mention that his less than coherent attack on Obama raised eyebrows in the hip-hop community. Anymore on X would take up the rest of this list.
Linear Mode
