Other celebrities and socialites who took turns spitting into the mike Thursday include reality show host Shar Jackson, heavy metal singer Sebastian Bach and Playboy bunny Kendra Wilkinson. Contestants are eliminated by popular vote on the live show -- the rapper with the fewest votes will be eliminated.

The show isn't about celebrities wanting to rap, but "it's about their passion and really wanting to succeed," MTV executive Tony DiSanto told the New York Daily News.

Successful rappers such as Tone Loc, Da Brat, MC Lyte, Warren G and Redman will mentor the newbies during the cycle on the cable network based in New York.

"I believe if somebody wants to become a rapper they can," Loc said. "If they have the skills and they want to have fun, of course they can."

Each show features a different format, including the celebrities' takes on classics, rap arrangements on non-rap songs, modern, rap rock, mash-ups, freestyle and stage presence.

DiSanto said the last rapper standing gets ... street cred.