Hottest Rapper in New York Each Year of Derek Jeter’s Career

A hip hop timeline paralleling Captain Clutch's career.

Crowning Moments  - New York Yankees All-Star Derek Jeter closed out his Hall of Fame career Sunday (Sept. 28) in Boston and played his final home game last Thursday at Yankee Stadium. Jeter led the Yankees to five World Series and without a doubt earned his crown. To salute Captain Clutch, let's take a look at the New York MCs who ruled the Empire State each year during Jeter's 20-year run. —Michael Harris (@IceBlueVa)(Photos from Left: Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images, Mike Stobe/Getty Images, Larry Busacca/PW/WireImage for Parkwood Entertainment)

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Crowning Moments  - New York Yankees All-Star Derek Jeter closed out his Hall of Fame career Sunday (Sept. 28) in Boston and played his final home game last Thursday at Yankee Stadium. Jeter led the Yankees to five World Series and without a doubt earned his crown. To salute Captain Clutch, let's take a look at the New York MCs who ruled the Empire State each year during Jeter's 20-year run. —Michael Harris (@IceBlueVa)(Photos from Left: Clarence Davis/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images, Mike Stobe/Getty Images, Larry Busacca/PW/WireImage for Parkwood Entertainment)

Notorious B.I.G.'s Verse on "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)" - In case you were wondering what makes Biggie Smalls so notorious, it's that he makes rap braggadocio so believable, and for anyone else who attempts it with "the gimmicks, the wack lyrics," he'd say: "The s--- is depressing, pathetic, please forget it/ You're mad 'cause my style you're admiring/ Don't be mad, UPS is hiring."(Photo: David Corio/Redferns)

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1995 – The Notorious B.I.G.  - Biggie Smalls was the illest in 1995 as he captained Bad Boy's dynasty and left the streets of New York ablaze with a string of hits that included "Big Poppa," "One More Chance" and "Juicy." The Big Apple had a few contenders for the crown at the time but there could only be one king.(Photo: David Corio/Redferns)

1996 – Puff Daddy - Bad Boy reigned supreme in 1996 and Diddy ran the city alongside his all-star lineup of the Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e Total, Faith Evans and the Lox. Puff and Bad Boy had radio and the underground on lock as the George Steinbrenner of hip hop took the field with his team and became bigger than his own artists, "all up in the videos" dancing and flexing his own mic skills in the process.  (Photo: Diane Freed/Getty Images)

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1996 – Puff Daddy - Bad Boy reigned supreme in 1996 and Diddy ran the city alongside his all-star lineup of the Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e Total, Faith Evans and the Lox. Puff and Bad Boy had radio and the underground on lock as the George Steinbrenner of hip hop took the field with his team and became bigger than his own artists, "all up in the videos" dancing and flexing his own mic skills in the process.  (Photo: Diane Freed/Getty Images)

"Higher" Featuring The-Dream, Pusha T, Cocaine 80s, Ma$e - Ma$e gave that Kanye shrug on G.O.O.D. Music's first compilation album, Cruel Summer, via the song "Higher." The album debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's 200 and even landed in the headlines of the Christian Post, "Pastor Mason Betha Shocks Rap Fans on Kanye West's Cruel Summer."(Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

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1997 – Ma$e - The world was ready to write off Bad Boy in 1997 when the Notorious B.I.G. was murdered but Ma$e emerged and put the label on his back and took NY to new heights in the process. Couldn't nobody hold the Harlem MC down as he had everybody "Feeling So Good" and took "Rookie of the Year" honors when he anchored Diddy's "No Way Out" and dropped his solo debut, "Harlem World." (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Jay Z – "Meet the Parents" - Jay Z rhymed about a deadbeat father named "Mike" who murders his son. After being absent all of the kid's life, he didn't even recognize that it was his own blood flooding the streets.(Photo: Scott Harrison/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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1998 – Jay Z - With Ma$e finding the Lord, and Biggie returning to the essence, Jay Z and Derek Jeter landed their first championships in 1998. Jigga's breakout smash, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, catapulted the heralded MC to stardom and had everyone across the country trying to emulate that New York hustler lifestyle. The talk was now over and no one was saying, "N***a What, N***a Who?"(Photo: Scott Harrison/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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DMX – "Damien" - DMX rhymed multiple times about a devil named "Damien," to whom he sold his soul for the riches of hip hop. X lyrically caught a few bodies at Damien's urging, even murdering his man Shawn in his "be careful what you ask for" tales. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

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1999 – DMX - DMX didn't let you forget how gully New York was when he took the "Player of the Year" honors and had clubs like the Tunnel on smash. Dropping two albums in one year (It's Dark And Hell Is Hot / Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood), X made Yonkers a household name and let you know NY "Didn't Give a F**k."(Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

2000 – Ja Rule - It was murder in New York in 2000 as Ja Rule and Derek Jeter both took home World Series MVPs. The Queens MC kicked off his run with a string of hits that included "Put It on Me," "Between Me and You" and "I Cry" as he had the streets and the ladies "holla, holla" his name. (Photo: Scott Gries/ImageDirect)

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2000 – Ja Rule - It was murder in New York in 2000 as Ja Rule and Derek Jeter both took home World Series MVPs. The Queens MC kicked off his run with a string of hits that included "Put It on Me," "Between Me and You" and "I Cry" as he had the streets and the ladies "holla, holla" his name. (Photo: Scott Gries/ImageDirect)

"The Takeover" — Jay-Z Disses Nas at 2001 Summer Jam\r - Jay-Z holds the distinction of firing the first shot in one of the most closely watched rap beefs in hip hop history. Jay chose New York's 2001 Summer Jam stage to make the first public acknowledgement of the feud when he performed "Takeover," the first single for his upcoming album The Blueprint, which dissed Nas and ended with the line "Ask Nas, he don't want it with Hov. No!"\r(Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)J

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2001 – Jay Z - Jigga was officially "That N***a" in 2001 as he took over New York with arguably his best album, The Blueprint. With Kanye catching on the production tip for Big Sean, you couldn't go anywhere without hearing "Izzo (H.O.V.A)."(Photo: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect)

2002 – Ja Rule - Ja Rule once again took over the streets of NY with his blend of melodic choruses as he had the rotten apple "livin' it up" and everyone screaming, "It's Murder!" That platinum run of hits continued with his third album, Pain Is Love. (Photo: M. Caulfield/WireImage)

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2002 – Ja Rule - Ja Rule once again took over the streets of NY with his blend of melodic choruses as he had the rotten apple "livin' it up" and everyone screaming, "It's Murder!" That platinum run of hits continued with his third album, Pain Is Love. (Photo: M. Caulfield/WireImage)

2003 – 50 Cent - 50 had the streets of New York on fire with his slew of mixtapes, but in 2003 he deeboed the game and ended Ja Rule's reign and career in one fell swoop. Determined to get rich or die tryin', Fif took home "Rookie of the Year" honors with a stat sheet that included "In Da Club" and "21 Questions" as New York abandoned its "Wankstas" and stunners and took hip hop back to the block.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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2003 – 50 Cent - 50 had the streets of New York on fire with his slew of mixtapes, but in 2003 he deeboed the game and ended Ja Rule's reign and career in one fell swoop. Determined to get rich or die tryin', Fif took home "Rookie of the Year" honors with a stat sheet that included "In Da Club" and "21 Questions" as New York abandoned its "Wankstas" and stunners and took hip hop back to the block.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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50 Cent Vs. Jay Z - 50 called out Jay Z on "How to Rob," a song that appeared on not only Fif's debut album, the unofficailly released Power of the Dollar, but also on the In Too Deep soundtrack. There was no denying this new kid on the block. In addition to Jigga, he called out DMX, Diddy, Big Pun, and more. Nas is the only one who really appreciated the comedy, taking 50 on his Nastradamus tour as proof. But Jay did return the mention with a one bar response on "I'm Hot," also released back then. The Winner: Tie (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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2004 – 50 Cent - Curtis wouldn't let up and had the streets of New York Begging for Mercy as he continued his dominance and brought along his G-Unit crew for the annihilation. 50 remained "So Hood" and had women "Smiling," which proved to be a deadly fast pitch and breaking ball.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

2005 – 50 Cent - Hate it or love it, 50 Cent continued to let the world know that he ran New York as he Massacred the competition. The Queens MC went on the offense and threw a few darts at previous NY Kings like Diddy, Jay Z and Nas that year. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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2005 – 50 Cent - Hate it or love it, 50 Cent continued to let the world know that he ran New York as he Massacred the competition. The Queens MC went on the offense and threw a few darts at previous NY Kings like Diddy, Jay Z and Nas that year. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Jim Jones, “G's Up” feat. Max B - Pete Rock and Jim Jones? This surprise pairing didn’t make any sense—until you heard it. The song, highlighted by Pete’s classic boom bap and Max B’s melodic hilarity, gave Jim a brief break from otherwise relentless backpack hate. (Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/Getty Images)

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2006 – Jim Jones - The Diplomats were New York's under bosses for several summers but in 2006, the capo of the Dipset took over the Empire State as he had everyone balling to his breakout hit, "We Fly High." Jim put on for Harlem and got new York poppin' once again with his grand slam.(Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/Getty Images)

2007 – M.I.M.S. - The South had started its global dominance and New York was running on "E" but M.I.M.S. (Music Is My Savior) held the city afloat with his pinch-hitting heater "This Is Why I'm Hot." While he may have been a one-hit wonder, you can't deny the fact that he briefly wore the crown.(Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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2007 – M.I.M.S. - The South had started its global dominance and New York was running on "E" but M.I.M.S. (Music Is My Savior) held the city afloat with his pinch-hitting heater "This Is Why I'm Hot." While he may have been a one-hit wonder, you can't deny the fact that he briefly wore the crown.(Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

Jay Z - Jay Z is not only arguably the greatest rapper of all time, but he might be the most loved as well. Fans proved that to Hov via his and Beyoncé's On The Run tour. Jay even made the time to guest appear on DJ Khaled's "They Don't Love You No More" and Jeezy's "Seen It All." An MVP contender, no doubt.(Photo: Sutton / Corbis /Splash News)

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2008 – Jay Z - Hov took reign once again in 2008 as he resigned from his post as president of Def Jam and released his concept album, American Gangster, at the end of 2007. Getting back to music, the Roc Boy became "Internatiomal Hov" during his European run.

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2009 – Jay Z - Hov made a triumphant return in 2009 as he elevated from King to God-like status with 2009's The Blueprint 3. Jigga ran the town and had all of his subjects in an "Empire State of Mind" while he killed the auto-tune crutch. In the process, he and Jeter both added another championship feather in the Yankee fitteds.(Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

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2009 – Jay Z - Hov made a triumphant return in 2009 as he elevated from King to God-like status with 2009's The Blueprint 3. Jigga ran the town and had all of his subjects in an "Empire State of Mind" while he killed the auto-tune crutch. In the process, he and Jeter both added another championship feather in the Yankee fitteds.(Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

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2010 – Nicki Minaj - In 2010, Nicki Minaj did what no other female MC has ever done, she dethroned the fellas and took the New York crown. Her highness "Did It Om'em" and you couldn't deny the Queens MC was "The Best" in the five boroughs. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for VH1)

Photo By Kevin Winter/Getty Images for VH1

Nicki Minaj - Young Money first lady Nicki Minaj was a must-have nominee for Best Female Hip Hop Artist after she dropped her sophomore LP, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.(Photo: Kevin Winter/DCNYRE2012/Getty Images for DCP)

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2011 – Nicki Minaj - Nicki still wouldn't relinquish her crown in 2011 as she continued to ride the wave of her Pink Friday debut. With New York clearly on lock, she ruled all she surveyed as the features queen. She even murked Jay Z on Kanye West's "Monster."(Photo: Kevin Winter/DCNYRE2012/Getty Images for DCP)

Nas - Year of Honor: 2006It seems contradictory to award a man who proclaimed hip hop to be dead in an album title (which was released the same year he received this award) with the first I Am Hip Hop award. However, hip hop as a culture has always been at odds with itself and no artist has ever embodied that struggle better than Nas. Hailing from Queensbridge, NY, his highly-lauded debut album, Illmatic, was credited with ushering in a new era of rap music whose effect can still be heard today.(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

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2012 – Nas - Nasty Nas stays in the best MCs debates but he reclaimed his "Don" status in 2012. Esco brought that grown man consciousness back into the game and became an "addiction" once again for New York heads with his 11th album, Life Is Good. (Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

2013 – French Montana - French Montana emerged from a Coke Boy posted on the blocks of NY to bona fide anthem dropper. The Bronx representer had the clubs on fire with joints like "Pop That" and "Freaks" as he took the streets and the crown and let you know he "ain't worried about nothin'."(Photo: Prince Williams/FilmMagic)

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2013 – French Montana - French Montana emerged from a Coke Boy posted on the blocks of NY to bona fide anthem dropper. The Bronx representer had the clubs on fire with joints like "Pop That" and "Freaks" as he took the streets and the crown and let you know he "ain't worried about nothin'."(Photo: Prince Williams/FilmMagic)

Photo By Photo: Prince Williams/FilmMagic

Surprise Appearance at Hip Hop Awards 2014 - He wasn't slated to perform, but when he appeared at the end of the show, no one was complaining. (Photo: Brad Barket/BET/Getty Images)

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2014 – Bobby Shmurda - As Derek Jeter rides out his illustrious career, he started and ended it all with Brooklyn. Bobby Shmurda takes home New York's "Rookie of the Year" for 2014 and tries on the crown. Shmurda's definitely the "Hottest N***a" in the Rotten Apple right now, sporting that Yankees cap.(Photo: Brad Barket/BET/Getty Images)