The moment is here. For the seventh edition of MTV’s “Hottest MC’s List,” the panel have crowned Rick Ross the top spot of their annual list. Rounding out the top five are Drake, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, and Lil’ Wayne. Pretty remarkable for The Bawse considering he had no solo album last year. Congrats to Maybach Music Group who along with Meek Mill and Wale made the top ten.

“Rick Ross, I think, provides hope to that MC, to that kid growing up who just wants to rap and make street music and say, ‘You know what? In this world where hip-hop has become pop, you can still just rap,’ ” Markman said.

A lot of times artists are faced with a sophomore slump. I think Drake surpassed it and probably had one of the best hip-hop albums of the year,” said Steven Roberts, MTV News producer/writer, about the chart-topping Take Care.

via MTV

Watch the panel round out the list after the jump….

“Kanye came off of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010, and just the hype from that album rolled over into 2011, as he started prepping us for WTT,” said Nadeska Alexis, MTV News’ RapFix blog editor. “Kanye was the only thing people could talk about for the first few months of the year.”

Kanye West

“Nicki Minaj doesn’t have to be Meek Mill, but at the same time she’s not Britney Spears,” said Steven Roberts, a segment producer/writer at MTV News. “I think Nicki Minaj is something special where she can be in the middle and she can be pop and hip-hop because I think hip-hop at this point is pop.”

Nicki Minaj

“I think that’s an understatement, that he remained relevant. I think that he maintained his dominance,” said Rob Markman, MTV News’ senior hip-hop writer. When we talk about Wayne, nobody [has] sold a million in a week — since Lil Wayne. Quite frankly, I think #4 is too low.”

Lil’ Wayne

MTV’s Hottest MC’s In The Game VII:

1. Rick Ross
2. Drake
3. Kanye West
4. Lil’ Wayne
5. Nicki Minaj
6. Jay-Z
7. Meek Mill
8. Big Sean
9. Wiz Khalifa
10. Wale

Previously:
J. Cole Reacts To ‘Hottest MCs List’; Drake And Fat Joe Give Their Choices (Video)
MTV Reveals ‘2011 Hottest MC List’ Nominees + Pharell Williams Gives His Pick