Under normal circumstances, rappers like Chi Ali, John Forte and Mystikal wouldn’t be mentioned in the same sentence as T.I., Lil Kim and Foxy Brown. Aside from their chosen profession, all these artists have one thing in common—jail.

Over the course of hip-hop’s history, we’ve seen various artists get locked up—from Tony Yayo and DMX to Pimp C and Beanie Sigel to Slick Rick and ODB to Mac Dre to 2Pac. As much as rappers try to wear their time behind bars as a badge of honor (Styles P and Akon even made a song about it), no one really wants to be locked up—especially at the height of their popularity.

In recent months, though, we’ve seen the penal system play checkers with some of the rap game’s biggest names. For every Shyne, Mystikal or T.I. that gets a surprised early release date, there’s another MC getting tossed in the slammer. It’s not just run of the mill rappers either, but some of our biggest stars, like Gucci Mane, who went in last November, and the self-proclaimed best rapper alive, Lil Wayne, who turned himself in for a yearlong bid earlier today (March 8).

With so much talent now on the inside, XXLMag.com came up with a list of the Hottest Rappers in the Bing. These are artists that are currently incarcerated and have a possible shot at reclaiming past glory upon release if they can keep their noses clean and play their cards right. Jail makes for a good story, but at the end of the day it all comes down to the music and remembering it’s all just a matter of spittin’ bars and not sitting behind them.

Without further ado, here’s XXL’s Hottest Rappers in the Bing.

After you run through the list go to the last page to cast your own vote and judge for yourself…

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NO. 9

RAP SHEET
Name: Corey “C-Murder” Miller
Age: 38
Crime: Convicted of second-degree murder for the death of 16-year-old Steve Thomas at the Platinum Nightclub in Harvey, LA in January 2002. In August 2009, he was sentenced to a mandatory life sentence.
Began Sentence: August 14, 2009
Expected Release: None, but currently fighting for appeal.

THIS IS WHY HE’S HOT…

Cred: C-Murder came into the game under the wing his enterprising older brother, Master P, the founder and president of Louisiana’s No Limit Records. His introduction to the general rap populous came in 1995 as a member of TRU, which included brothers Silkk the Shocker and Master P. The group’s underground success paved the way for Murder to make his solo debut with 1998’s Life or Death. A vital cog in the No Limit machine, Murder is best remembered for his appearance on the 504 Boyz’s 2000 hit “Wobble Wobble” and his own Snoop Dogg and Magic collaboration “Down For My N’s.”

Pre-Jail Buzz: In preparation for the worst, C-Murder began recording music at a rapid pace to hold fans down while he was away. In the months following his incarceration, the head of TRU Records dropped a mixtape, Community Service, and a new album, Calliope Click, Vol. 1. Neither project made much noise, but Murder always stays TRU.

Release Therapy: Despite the life sentence, the Miller family is fighting hard to appeal Murder’s case. If that happens, C could reunite with former No Limit soldier and recent parolee Mystikal for a track and they could party like it’s 1999. Or he could get Silkk and P to come out of retirement for a TRU reunion tour and reignite Miller time. Even if the music doesn’t pop, Murder definitely got a story to tell.

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NO. 8

RAP SHEET
Name: Tab “Turk” Virgil, Jr.
Age: 29
Crime: Attempted murder in the second degree. Turk allegedly shot a SWAT officer during a 2004 police raid on an apartment complex in Memphis, Tennessee. As a result, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and hit with a $200,000 fine.
Began Sentence: October 2005
Expected Release: 2015

THIS IS WHY HE’S HOT…

Cred: Best known for being a member of Cash Money Records’ Hot Boys (with Lil Wayne, Juvenile and B.G.), Turk rode a wave of underground success into the mainstream, as the New Orleans quartet exploded onto the scene in 1997. After three successful releases with the group, Turk dropped his 2001 solo debut Young & Thuggin’, which easily went gold.

Pre-Jail Buzz: Although his individual success never equaled that of his fellow Hot Boys, Turk continued to work on his music career. In fact, following his first disc, he dropped four albums in four years—including 2003’s Raw & Uncut, 2004’s Penitentiary Chances, 2005’s Still a Hot Boy and 2006’s Convicted Felons.

Release Therapy: Over the course of the past few years there have been various reports of a Hot Boys reunion, but that can’t truly happen without Turk. Upon his release, the New Orleans rapper could find himself realigned with his Cash Money brothers and give diehard Cash Money fans what they’ve been craving. Not to mention the built in fan base Lil Wayne has amassed over the years as a Grammy-winning mega star. The block would be hot and so would Turk. Well, as soon as Wayne comes home.

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NO. 7

RAP SHEET
Name: Shawntae “Da Brat” Harris
Age: 35
Crime: Convicted of felony aggravated assault against waitress Shayla Stevens during a 2007 Halloween party at Jermaine Dupri’s Atlanta club, Studio 72. Stevens was struck on the head with a bottle of rum, resulting in multiple lacerations and bruises, as well as permanent scars on her face. Brat was sentenced to three years in jail, in addition to seven years probation and 200 hours of community service.
Began Sentence: August 22, 2008
Expected Release: August 2011

THIS IS WHY SHE’S HOT…

Cred: Signed to Dupri’s So So Def label, Brat released her debut disc, Funkdafied, in 1994. Spearheaded by hits like “Fa All Y’all” and the title track, the album shot to No. 1 on the R&B/hip-hop album charts and marked the first time a female rapper would sell over a million copies. A hardcore alternative to the sex kitten female MC standard, Da Brat could rhyme with the best of them and looked prime to be sitting on top of the world before she threw anuthatantrum.

Pre-Jail Buzz: Quiet on the musical front since 2003’s Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz, Da Brat had a jaw pants-droppin’ cameo on Dem Franchize Boyz’s “I Think They Like Me (Remix)” in 2006. The following year, she made her reality TV debut on the fifth season of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club.

Release Therapy: Based on her Franchize Boyz verse it’s clear that Da Brat’s still got it. She’s scheduled to be home next summer and could easily hop back in the studio with JD and come out with another smash. Plus, with the lack of quality female MCs coming out, the game just needs her.

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NO. 6

RAP SHEET
Name: Albert “Prodigy” Johnson
Age: 35
Crime: Criminal possession of a weapon. The charge stems from a 2006 incident where police discovered a .22 caliber pistol in P’s car after pulling him over for making an illegal U-turn. He was sentenced to three and a half years.
Began Sentence: February 2008
Expected Sentence: August 2011

THIS IS WHY HE’S HOT…

Cred: As the lyrical half of Mobb Deep, Prodigy has made a career of droppin’ morbid rhymes on hits like, “Shook Ones, Pt. II” and “Survival of the Fittest.” After crafting numerous classic cuts alongside producer/rapper Havoc, Prodigy dropped a solo gem on ’em in 2000 with H.N.I.C. Three more Mobb albums would follow, including 2006’s Blood Money on 50 Cent’s G-Unit Records.

Pre-Jail Buzz: Eventually splitting amicably from G-Unit, P continued to feed the streets with dark material. 2007 saw the release of his collaborative project with the Alchemist, Return of the Mac, which drew critical acclaim. The same goes for his subsequent release, H.N.I.C., Pt. 2, which dropped shortly after P started his sentence.

Release Therapy: With a career that spans over 17 years, Mobb Deep remains one of hip-hop’s most consistent groups and there’s no doubt that the same won’t hold true upon P’s release. Despite his incarceration, Prodigy continually reaches out to the public via letters/blogs that always stirs the pot. When it’s all said and done, though, fans are still thirstin’ for an MC to keep it thoro and can spit that dunn language.

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NO. 5

RAP SHEET
Name: Charly “Max-B” Wingate
Age: 31
Crime: Convicted of felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy. The charges are tied to a 2006 botched robbery attempt of two men in a Fort Lee, New Jersey Holiday Inn. On June 9, 2009, 12 Bergen County jurors found Max guilty on all counts and he was sentenced to 75 years.
Began Sentence: September 3, 2009
Expected Release: November 2042; appeal pending.

THIS IS WHY HE’S HOT…

Cred: A former member of Byrd Gang and a longtime Dipset affiliate, Max earned his stripes alongside Jim Jones on several songs before breaking out on his own in 2007. The Harlem native quickly found success with popular mixtape series, like Public Domain, Million Dollar Baby, Goon Music and Coke Wave. Max’s consistent grind, caught the attention of Amalgam Digital, who signed him to a three album deal in 2008.

Pre-Jail Buzz: A constant force in the New York mixtape circuit, Max supplied the streets with music at a steady pace. His singing and catchy hooks, coupled with his unique slang, positioned Biggaveli as a rising underground star riding a wave of success before he got knocked.

Release Therapy: In the event that Max is able to win his appeal and get released early, he’d likely come home to instant fanfare with more street cred than the average rapper. Already an established mixtape maverick, he could finally see his hustle come to fruition with the release of his first full-length LP. Now, that would be wavy.

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NO. 4

RAP SHEET
Name:
Reminisce “Remy Ma” Smith
Age: 29
Crime: Assault in the first degree, criminal weapon possession and attempted coercion. The charges are tied to an incident on July 14, 2007, where Makeda Barnes-Joseph was shot after a dispute with Remy over $2,000 missing from her purse. Remy was sentenced to eight years.
Began Sentence: May 13, 2008
Expected Release: January 2015

THIS IS WHY SHE’S HOT…

Cred: Discovered by Big Pun, Remy made her rap debut on his 2000 album, Yeeeah Baby (“Ms. Martin” and “You Was Wrong”). That same year, she had a standout verse on M.O.P.’s “Ante Up (Remix),” which solidified her as a force to be reckoned with. Following her Grammy nomination for her verse on Terror Squad’s 2004 hit “Lean Back,” Remy dropped her 2006 debut album, There’s Something About Remy: Based On A True Story.

Pre-Jail Buzz: Splitting from Fat Joe and Terror Squad in 2007, Remy began work on her sophomore effort, PunisHer. After briefly joining forces with rappers Shawnna and Jacki-O to form an all-female super group, Remy refocused on her solo career, dropping mixtapes like The BX Files and Shesus Khryst in 2007 and BlasRemy in 2008.

Release Therapy: In a time when the caliber of notable female rappers is at an all-time low, Remy could theoretically lean back into her former position as the self-proclaimed Queen of NY. Based on past material, she knows how to straddle the line between hardcore bars and raunchy raps. At the end of the day, there’s still something about Remy.

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NO. 3

RAP SHEET
Name:
Torrence “Lil Boosie” Hatch
Age: 26
Crime: After pulling Boosie over in East Baton Rouge, LA in October 2008, police found a firearm and bag of marijuana. He was later convicted for possession of a firearm with a controlled substance. Originally sentenced to two years, Boosie’s time was doubled when a judge ruled that the terms of his probation and original plea agreement had been violated.
Began Sentence: November 2009
Expected Release: November 2013

THIS IS WHY HE’S HOT…

Cred: An underground legend in Baton Rouge for years, Boosie broke into the mainstream thanks to his appearance on Trill Ent.’s 2007 smash single, “Wipe Me Down.” His obsessively vulgar and misogynistic lyrics somehow managed to captivate a growing audience that has only grown as the years have gone by.

Pre-Jail Buzz: The Bad Azz was on track to have the best year ever when everything came to a screeching halt. His 2009 album, Superbad: The Return of Boosie Bad Azz, made Billboard’s top 20 rap albums list and his name was buzzing heavy in the streets. But in the blink of an eye it went from all good to superbad.

Release Therapy: Despite being behind bars, Boosie has managed to drop new material consistently, thanks to pre-recorded guest verses with the likes of Twista, DJ Kay Slay and his Trill Fam. Prior to starting his bid, the Baton Rouge rebel put the finishing touches on a feature film, Ghetto Stories: The Movie, and the Boosie The Last Days DVD. There’s no point in tellin’ Boosie to keep his head up, ’cause he already knows the fans will wipe hold him down. He’s on.

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NO. 2

RAP SHEET
Name:
Radric “ Gucci Mane” Davis
Age: 29
Crime: Charged with a probation violation on an aggravated assault charge stemming from a squabble with a club promoter back in 2005, Gucci was sentenced to one year in jail.
Began Sentence: November 12, 2009
Expected Release: November 2010 (possible early release with good behavior)

THIS IS WHY HE’S HOT…

Cred: Since his 2005 hit, “Icy,” Gucci has been putting in work in the trap and rap game. The following year he scored another smash with “Freaky Girl,” which landed on Billboard’s top 20 rap songs. After various false starts, as the result of going in and out of jail, the ATL rapper finally got back on track in 2009. Collaborations with the likes of Mariah Carey, Sean Garrett, Usher and more propelled Guch to the forefront. All the hard work paid off as Gucci took his place in the spotlight.

Pre-Jail Buzz: Landing at No. 6 on MTV’s annual Hottest Rappers in the Game list, Gucci was on fire, racking up high profile collabos at a frantic pace. The Icy MC had so much music, in fact, that he dropped three mixtapes in one day as part of his Cold War series. That all culminated with the release of his highly anticipated major label debut, The State vs. Radric Davis, which hit stores last December.

Release Therapy: Even though skeptics might consider his rhymes to be somewhat elementary, Gucci got swagger for days and his ear for talent is proving to be on point as well. His 1017 Brick Squad members OJ Da Juiceman and Waka Flocka Flame, as well as femme fatale MC Nicki Minaj, are continuing to heat up the streets with trap anthems and high profile guest spots. Once Gucci touches back down, things can only get more hot—icy hot. BRRR!

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NO. 1

RAP SHEET
Name:
Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter
Age: 27
Crime: Criminal possession of a weapon. The charges stem from an incident where Wayne was arrested in July 2007 after police found a handgun on his tour bus following a show at NYC’s Beacon Theater. As part of his plea deal, he was sentenced to one year.
Began Sentence: March 8, 2010
Expected Release: November 2010, with good behavior

THIS IS WHY HE’S HOT…

Cred: Rappin’ since he was a preteen, Wayne has built his rep bar by bar. First, as one-fourth of Southern super group the Hot Boys. Then, as Cash Money’s marquee artist. Initially viewed as cocky outbursts, his boasts of being the “best rapper alive” started coming to fruition thanks to a his constant work ethic and evolution as an artist. Going on a manic mixtape run and snaggin’ a multitude of guest verses, Weezy’s popularity grew to the point where he sold over a million copies of his 2008 disc, Tha Carter III, which later earned him four Grammies—including Rap Album of the Year.

Pre-Jail Buzz: Over the course of the past few years, Wayne has been everywhere—from magazine covers and award shows to feature spots and major tours. Ever the workhorse, he continued to hit the mixtape circuit and branched out to launch the careers of other artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj. Leading up to his incarceration, the non-stop MC released a compilation album, featuring artists from his Young Money empire, as well as his experimental rock project, Rebirth.

Release Therapy: With so many songs and videos already in the can, fans won’t have a chance to realize Wayne is locked up as he’ll likely remain a constant driving force in pop culture throughout 2010. When most artists are struggling to crack six figures, he’s still pushing units at a frantic pace. Wayne hasn’t even been in jail for 24 hours yet and he’s a shoe in for title of the No. 1 rapper in the bing—and that probably won’t change until the day he walks out as a free man. —Compiled by Amber McKynzie, Donovan Moore, Anslem Samuel
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