This year's panel of judges includes MC and producer Amu, UJFM 16BarsRELOADED host Spoken Priestess, DJ Capital, Slikour and the organiser of SA Hip-Hop Awards, Rashid Jay. The panel is mediated by industry veteran, Proverb. According to MTV Base, the panelists used the following criteria to rank the finalists: "impact, lyrics, sales, buzz, style and other 'intangibles' that make them stand out from the crowd".
In Friday night's episode, the first half of the top 10 countdown was revealed:
10. Gigi Lamayne
9. Okmalumkoolkat
8. A-Reece
7. Fifi Cooper
6. Riky Rik
Fans obviously reacted to the reveal of the list's first half on Twitter:
The criteria of the awards were also critiqued by fans who think a different approach might lead to a different outcome in the future.
@MTVBaseAfrica#SAHottestMCs y'all need to watch the American version emphasis is on delivery lyrics.
— Gift Mutewera (@Kinggigger) November 22, 2016
Waiting in anticipation for the top five to be named this evening — in an episode airing on Friday at 5:05pm CAT on DSTv Channel 322 — some fans already made their predictions:
Kwesta is dope
Reason is slept on
— The_Mbonisi♪ (@iam_mbonisi) December 2, 2016