The Enduring Legacy of the XXL Freshman Class
Since its inception, the XXL Freshman Class has become a prominent marker in the hip-hop landscape, identifying and showcasing emerging talent poised to shape the future of the genre. Beginning in 2007 (skipping 2008), XXL magazine, a leading hip-hop publication, has annually released its Top 10 (sometimes more) Freshman list, an issue featuring ten to twelve artists-to-watch, all appearing on the cover of the magazine. This list has a history of showcasing unknown/underground rappers, as well as artists considered to be on the rise. The list creates significant buzz among listeners and artists alike and is credited for giving many artists their first taste of fame. The Freshman list has essentially become hip-hop’s draft class. And so, it’s fascinating to look back on which rappers were grouped as peers, which have ascended to greater heights, and which have fallen by the way-side.
The Freshman Concept
The XXL Freshman Class is more than just a list; it's a platform. Each selected artist is featured on the cover of the magazine's July issue and participates in a freestyle and cypher performance. These performances provide a crucial opportunity for the artists to showcase their skills and gain exposure to a wider audience. The selection process involves extensive evaluation, with XXL staff holding daily meetings with nearly 100 of rap's newest stars starting in January before wrapping in April with the final 12 artists chosen. The criteria include hitmaking potential, lyrical skill, and the overall unique qualities that set an artist apart. Over the course of the following month, XXL will then be releasing freestyles, cyphers, interviews, and more content with each member of the Freshman class.
The Impact and Evolution of the Freshman Class
Over the years, the XXL Freshman Class has played a significant role in launching the careers of numerous successful artists. Many artists have received their first taste of fame from the list. The annual announcement generates considerable discussion and debate within the hip-hop community, solidifying its place as a cultural touchstone. As the years have gone by, there have been a lot of discussions on the relevance of the event as more and more artists drop out of doing the freestyle and cypher performances, as well as some not-so-good rappers being selected year after year. Still, hey it is a way for an artist to get noticed.
Declining the Honor
Interestingly, not all artists offered a spot on the XXL Freshman cover accept the invitation. Some artists, like Nicki Minaj and Drake, felt they had "graduated" from the Freshman Class by the time they were offered the spot. Others, such as Cam'ron, declined due to creative differences regarding the cover's focus. Financial considerations and scheduling conflicts have also played a role in artists declining the honor. Juice Wrld also turned down the opportunity. Don Toliver wasn't a Freshman because he refused to participate. Ice Spice Turned Down XXL Freshman Cover due to her hectic schedule.
A Look at the 2025 XXL Freshman Class
XXL has officially unveiled the 2025 XXL Freshman Class. The rising artists that make up the new class are just as diverse as every class before them. Representing different sides of the California sound are Long Beach's TDE lyricist Ray Vaughn, Stockton livewire EBK Jaaybo, the 10th spot winner, and basketball player turned hit maker Gelo, who represents Chino Hills. Traversing to the other side of the map, Florida's Loe Shimmy and 1900Rugrat put on for the new school coming out of the Sunshine State, representing Pompano Beach and West Palm Beach, respectively. While Memphis has had the wave, it's Murfreesboro, Tenn., native Samara Cyn who is currently oozing star potential. BabyChiefDoIt is the youngest in charge out of Chicago. Cordele, Ga., representor Lazer Dim 700 has captivated the young masses with his lo-fi sound. Nino Paid (Landover, Md.) and Eem Triplin (Johnstown, Pa.) are carrying the East Coast, while YTB Fatt, from West Memphis, Ark., and Ian, coming out of Dallas, are making waves.
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Early indicators from the 2025 Class
As always, for this ranking, I listened to each freestyle and cypher from all participating freshmen and ranked them using a points system. I awarded 1-12 points to each freshman for the freestyle and cypher, then added the points to determine who had the overall best (and worst performance. The more points, the better the performance was. Each freshman was judged based on factors such as flow, lyrics, breath control, uniqueness, and overall entrainment that I observed while listening to either freestyle or cypher.
The bottom tier
YTB Fatt received low scores for both his freestyle and cypher, with only 3 points in total. His freestyle was criticized for mumbling, being offbeat, and having a distracting chain. His cypher performance was short but similarly unimpressive, with unclear lyrics.
Lazer Dim 700 also scored 3 points, with his freestyle being particularly criticized for incomprehensibility. The reviewer could barely understand any words and found the performance to be another generic rap about drugs, money, and women. His cypher was similarly disappointing, with mumbled lyrics and a lack of coherent content.
Ian earned 7 points for his performances. His freestyle was described as corny and off-beat, with cringe-worthy humming in the background. While the reviewer appreciated that Ian was actually freestyling, the overall quality was lacking. His cypher was also criticized for being corny and hostile.
Middle ground
EBK Jaaybo received 8 points. Despite being recorded in a jail cell after his arrest, his freestyle was praised for its meaningful lyrics, good rhyming, breath control, and emotional delivery.
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Loe Shimmy scored 10 points. His freestyle was considered decent but generic, with stereotypical gangster rap lyrics. His cypher was unremarkable and reminiscent of Lil Baby's style.
Gelo also earned 10 points. His freestyle was highly anticipated due to his background as a basketball player turned rapper. However, it was criticized for being off-beat and inauthentic. His cypher was similarly unimpressive, with lyrics that contradicted his privileged upbringing.
A look back at past Freshman Classes
Back in 2010, a bubbling J. Cole was named a 2010 XXL Freshman as he looked to parlay his rapidly growing fan base, the backing of Roc Nation and the success of his 2009 mixtape, The Warm Up, into superstar status. His accomplishments since then tell a story almost no one could have predicted, as he's become one of the biggest artists in the world. He's gone to fill up stadiums on both solo tours and alongside Drake, and, as you may have heard, he did once go platinum with no features.
In 2011, blossoming names like Kendrick Lamar and Mac Miller came to prominence after being inducted into the 2011 XXL Freshman Class. K-Dot has since become a Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper who is currently dominating the world with his song "Not Like Us." Before his tragic death at the age of 26, Mac Miller solidified himself as a respected craftsman who became a fan favorite while constantly evolving his sound. He'd earned the respect of artists from all corners of the music world.
In the years since, the Freshman lists have helped introduce future stars like 21 Savage, J.I.D., Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow and Gunna. The lists go on and on. There are now 194 Freshman artists in total.
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