I feel exactlly what you saying, like bringing up C-Bo in the convo. You're basiclly saying who's campagining in the streets, on the road, on TV, the radio, etc. actually out there publiclly for the fans to root for.
All in all the real question is what defines HOT? Album Sales (Soundscan), Dopest Lyrics, Most Money (how do you verify that?), or the fans favorite?
No disrespect to no one but I doubt if I listen to half of the kats mentioned on any basis. What I listen to is what is presented to me thru peers and word of mouth. So hot to me is what's buzzin in the street, as well as my ears. Now the catch is... what's hot on your block, may not be hot on my block and vice versus. Now this is the SiCCness so I expect majority of the votes to go Lynch, Raided, T-Nutty, Bleezot, Sav Sicc, etc (Anyone from that Genre of Sacramento music) but the reality is there's a lot of segregation of music out here in Sac so answers will always be biased.
But who can deny Bueno at the moment? Hit song on Radio, Nice video to go with it, and he takes out of State trips so it appears the city or a good portion of it is behind em. Why Not?