Paterson Gives Props to Jay-Z

New York governor David Paterson shifted the focus from his political future to his expertise in hip-hop on Monday, e-mailing MTV News to laud rapper Jay-Z and share his opinion about what makes a great MC.

Paterson offered the feedback in response to 2009 Hottest MCs in the Game list, which Jay-Z, a Brooklyn native and husband of Beyonce, topped.

"Jay-Z is not only an outstanding hip-hop artist, but a dedicated philanthropist as well," wrote Paterson, according to MTV News. "Having just attended his September 11th benefit concert in Madison Square Garden a few weeks ago, I can personally attest to his commitment to New York and the impact he has on New Yorkers of all ages. He is most definitely deserving of the top MC of 2009 title."

The state's first African-American governor, who formerly represented Harlem in the state senate, suggested that the next generation of MCs should tap into the political excitement created by last year's presidential election.

"I also think that the MC that figures out that people 18 and older who got the right to vote in 1972 never exercised it till 2008 -- there's a real culture for discussing how our government works and how our society works," he added. "The MC who could blaze that trail and find a creative way of displaying it will be the MC of the next decade."