The XXL Freshman Class of 2009: A Look Back at Hip-Hop's Rising Stars

The XXL Freshman Class has become a hip-hop institution, an annual tradition where the magazine spotlights promising rookies poised to become staples of the culture. Every year in June, XXL unveils a new class of hip-hop neophytes that we've stamped as names you need to know (plus, one fan-voted pick per year). The 2009 XXL Freshman Class was no exception, featuring a diverse group of artists who captured the sound and spirit of the era. This article revisits the 2009 Freshman class to see where they’ve landed since gracing our cover.

The Class of '09: A Snapshot of a Generation

I think back on graduation day, and how the same optimism that filled the air is what I felt when XXL announced their ‘09 Freshmen Class. These weren’t ordinary prospects, I saw on that cover artists who would bring hip-hop into tomorrow. By name I knew them all, not a single face was new to my eyes, but they weren’t yet known throughout households. These artists were new to those who still discovered music outside, but they were familiar to anyone who surfed the blogs as if they were virtual mom and pop shops.

The 2009 XXL Freshman Class consisted of:

Wale
B.o.B
Charles Hamilton
Asher Roth
Cory Gunz
Blu
Mickey Factz
Ace Hood
Curren$y
Kid Cudi

These artists were eggs that hatched mostly on the internet, and as I was preparing to leave the halls of high school, they were entering the music industry’s School of Hard Knocks.

Individual Success Stories

B.o.B: The Crossover King

B.o.B was the first and only freshman to achieve a No. 1 record on Billboard Hot 100. He crossed over with an ease that suggested a gift for making hits that went beyond hip-hop. Overseas he became a big deal; a huge market to tap into.

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Before his debut album, B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray, hit store shelves in April 2010, the Grand Hustle signee caught listener’s ears with his debut single, the infectious Bruno Mars-assisted track “Nothin’ On You.” His follow-up, the Alex da Kid-produced “Airplanes” featuring Paramore's Hayley Williams was impressive, but it was his first hit that garnered him three Grammy nods. Add on the fact that he’s sold more than 531,000 copies of his debut LP and scored commercials with the likes of Adidas and EA Sports, and it’s safe to say Bobby Ray is ahead of his class.

Sadly, a quick rise was followed by a slow fall. The music was good, but the charts weren’t being conquered like they used to as the years moved on. Last year, Bobby made headlines for tweets and music stating the earth is flat and cloning is real, along with other theories and conspiracies that showed the once eclectic artist reached a new stage of enlightenment without the rest of us. It was hard to relate, only making the wedge between us widen.

Kid Cudi: The Genre-Bending Innovator

By now Kid Cudi is a brand name. Besides his collabos with Kanye West and Jay-Z, the 27-year-old “wizard,” as he dubs himself, already has two albums under his belt: the gold-sellingMan on the Moon: The End of Day in 2009 and Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. in 2010. Then, last year, Cudder made his acting debut in HBO’s dramedy How to Make It in America. Quite the feat for a former American Apparel employee. He recently split from longtime production collaborators Plain Pat and Emile, and is forming a new yet-to-be-named label with beatmaker Dot Da Genius.

Labeled as a Kanye protege, the Cleveland stoner had an immaculate influence on the star’s 2008 record, 808’s & Heartbreaks, allowing his sound to reach the masses before they truly recognized his name. Every artist in the blog era had their quirks and characteristics that allowed them to standout in an ocean of creatives, but it was clear from off the rip that Cudi was truly a different artist.

Wale: The DMV Wordsmith

The D.C. wordsmith’s kept busy since the cover, releasing his debut LP, Attention Deficit in '09, and the 2010 mixtape, More About Nothing, a follow-up to his ’08 joint, Mixtape About Nothing. But he hit some bumps in the road along the way, coming under fire quite a few times for creating some lackluster records and for being a “hater” in the eyes of Kid Cudi. Besides, Wale has better things to keep busy with. In February, the rhymer announced his addition to Rick Ross’ Maybach Music.

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At one point in time, Wale was placed on a pedestal next to the Drakes and Kid Cudis of the hip-hop world, wooing lyrical analysts while putting the DMV on the map. The combined effort of touching poetic content and vibrant go-go music helped him stand out in the diverse landscape of the early blog era days allowing him to become the people’s choice for the voice of their generation.

Thankfully, Wale continues to see success today in all of his creative endeavors but the grass wasn’t always green as the trajectory of his career went through many peaks and troughs over the years. To add on to the madness, Wale went through many artistic transformations which didn’t really help lighten the blows, even if it set the blueprint for the specified sound of current day hip-hop. Wale has definitely gotten his swagger back as of recent, but he never reclaimed the same magnitude of glory as his early days.

Asher Roth: Beyond "I Love College"

Asher Roth, the man who brought Frat Rap into the veins of mainstream America. He’ll be remembered always and likely forever for his ode to the lighter, more carefree side of college life. Wit and wordplay can be heard on his breakout mixtape, The Greenhouse Effect Vol. 1, a DJ Drama/Don Cannon Gangster Grillz release. This was before the police raids when Drama and Cannon had the loudest voices when it came to breaking artists through the mixtape circuit. There was no real gimmick other than the fact that Asher had bars and people wanted to hear more.

Asher went on to sell 69,000 copies of his album first week, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The reviews were mixed, failing to achieve the same applause as his mixtape release. Five years went by before RetroHash, his sophomore release. The long journey came with cutting ties with Scooter, finding a home at an indie label instead of a major, and evolving beyond the immaturity of the music he once made. His focus shifted, the sound changed, and before us was almost a new artist. The sales dropped, but the critics were far more impressed.

After trusting his intuition and following his own creative direction, he was labeled a bust as he wasn’t able to meet the industry requirements that they laid out for him. Surprisingly enough, this worked out for the better as Asher was finally able to detach himself from the overbearing machine of mainstream record labels and found a better fit as an indie artist. The tone has changed drastically from the inital college anthems as he’s able to demonstrate his passion for the music and art more with his recent works.

Curren$y: The Underground King

Curren$y has had one of the most interesting careers of all the freshmen, a title that never fit an artist who signed with No Limit Records in 2002-his first record deal. From No Limit to Young Money, Spitta became a member of Lil Wayne’s squad, a position that brought him more attention than ever. He was slated to be Wayne’s successor, but he would separate from the label before his album could be purchased in stores. Wayne’s true dominance didn’t come until after Spitta’s departure-somehow Spitta missed the heyday of No Limit and the forthcoming explosion of Young Money.

When XXL put him on the Freshman cover, he was still working on finding his footing, but buzz started to build. Everything changed for Curren$y when he decided to take his destiny into his own hands, building his own party instead of waiting to be handed an invitation. Free music is the real estate that allowed him to build a castle, and he hasn’t stopped living by the law of giving the people what they want. Supply and demand, rinse and repeat, he is not one to give fans a chance to miss him. No seer or oracle could’ve predicted that Curren$y’s lifestyle raps would make him into a star far away from popular music.

Though he experienced glimpses of success throughout his temporary tenures at No Limit and Cash Money, Curren$y didn’t really pop off as a solo act until the blog era. A breath of fresh air in NOLA’s bounce-heavy scene, Curren$y aka the Hot Spitta found his niche simply by going with the flow of his weed-oriented raps. Just like the grand majority of this list (and blog artists as a whole), Spitta had no plans on conforming to any trends allowing him to thrive as a trail blazer in his own right. A consistent output of mixtapes and loosies would allow Spitta to build a steady repertoire of classics as well as a dedicated fanbase who would stick by the Jet Life CEO as if they too were a part of the brand. The level of success that the NOLA outlier has reached is unmatched and while he rejects any positions in the spotlight, the stoned-out emcee continues to thrive in his own space as the modern day underground king.

Ace Hood: The Hustler

Ace Hood wasn’t a product of raving blog posts, he got his first big look alongside DJ Khaled as the first artist signed to We The Best/Def Jam. Before XXL sung his praises, he was reaching the masses thanks to T-Pain’s hypnotic harmonies. “Cash Flow,” the Miami rapper’s breakout single, was a modest success but brought him recognition for an aggressiveness that predates Meek Mill. With a rapid-fire style Ace wasn’t the best rapper, but when you heard his voice it hit you like a shell blasted from a shotgun. He understood branding, pushing the ethos of hustle and grind like Ross did before him, but with more tenacity.

Ace already had an album to his name when he hit our pages, as well as a big co-sign in his corner: DJ Khaled. Since thene he's stuck to the formula of many MCs before him: pump out mixtapes. Last year’s tape, The Statement, featured the Lex Luger-produced “Hustle Hard,” which even had Ace hater giving props to the young MC. He’s now on schedule to release his third LP, Blood, Sweat, and Tears, via Khaled’s We the Best/Def Jam imprint.

The transition from hip-hop’s hottest name to a fully independent artist is one that has damaged the perception of many careers, making it seem as if they can’t get by without a big name supporting their cause. Don’t let the lack of mainstream success fool you as Ace Hood continues to deliver projects at a consistent rate.

Cory Gunz: The Lyricist

I remember the first time I heard Cory Gunz rap, only because he did something that was rather abnormal at the time; he outshined Lil Wayne on a rap record. This is prime, heavyweight, I’m-the-best-rapper-in-the-world, ’08 Lil Wayne. That Wayne being outperformed just wasn’t something that happened, especially by an artist that was relatively unknown. The first version of “A Milli” that leaked online had the son of Peter Gunz rapping as if he was possessed by the spirit of a mass-murdering machine gun. His flow is faster than Barry Allen running late for a meeting with the Justice League and with wordplay sharp enough to be a knife in Caesar’s back.

Since appearing on our cover, Cory's secured what has become many a rapper’s dream deal last year, signing the dotted line with Lil Wayne’s Young Money imprint. The 23-year-old hopped on Weezy’s Bangladesh-produced banger “6 Foot 7 Foot,” showcasing double-time rhymes. His long-awaited reality show, tentatively titled Son of a Gun, helmed by Nick Cannon, is close to getting an air date.

However, things didn’t really work out all the way for Cory Gunz and we would’ve hoped. An appearance on the heavily revered Tha Carter IV was enough to garner some buzz, but not nearly enough to boast a career in the industry’s big leagues. Nowdays, the electric emcee is able to pave his own path of success in various underground avenues, but Cory went through more trials and tribulations over the years than he should’ve for an artist with his skillset.

Blu: The Underground Hero

After making waves in 2009, Blu is crafting his major label debut for Warner Brothers, titled No York. The set is rumored to feature collabos from Theophilus London and Sa-Ra Creative Partners, among others. He’s already dropped a seven-track EP titled Amnesia, which features songs from Blu's love-themed album, Her Favorite Colo(u)r, in preparation for his debut.

Just like his style, Blu was an odd standout on this list. This isn’t sayin that he wasn’t talented to make the list - as a matter of fact, he’s overqualified for a placement on this list - but the LA native had already existed across hip-hop forums for two years and some change. Blu already wielded a unanimous underground classic with the Exile-produced, Below the Heavens, but at this point, it seemed like the bizarre emcee was ready to take things to the next level.

The LA lyricist was content with being able to support himself with touring that he opted to take the indie route and cement a legacy in his own realm. Granted he still could’ve leapt up a few steps but mental health problems also factored into the equation and delayed his output as well as social presence.

Mickey Factz: The Lyricist's Lyricist

The Bronx-bred lyricist has consistently churned out mixtapes year after year, even when his laptop was stolen, causing him to start from scratch and re-record some of the material showcased on 2010’s effort, I’m Better Than You. “Paradise,” a banging track with an accompanying video showing love to his ‘hood, has proved to be the one that’s turned ears in the GFC New York affiliate’s direction. Lupe Fiasco’s even welcomed him into his circle after hearing him rhyme, tapping him for the rap outfit, All City Chess Club. After signing to Battery Records last year, Factz released his Love. Lust. Lost mixtape this year in preparation for his debut LP, The Achievement, which is scheduled to hit stores in 2011.

At the time, Mickey was a key contributor to the blog influence on hip-hop, sharing the same spotlight with artists such as The Cool Kids and Drake. His unique approach to lyricism was a breath of fresh air in a New York hip-hop scene that was dominated by gritty street bangers. Though he was projected to become one of the big dogs of the new generation, it sadly didn’t exactly pan out as planned for Mickey as he never really reached the same pinnacle of his early days; but through thick and thin, he weathered the storm as he consistently released mixtapes and continued to sharpen his pen. This allowed for Factz to build a dedicated fanbase that would uplift him to the point where he would in the position to open his own rap academy. The highly esteemed Pendulum Ink continues to bless aspiring emcees as Mickey holds courses on the depths of songwriting and core hip-hop fundamentals. He didn’t necessarily reach the industry’s standard of success, but what Mickey Factz has accomplished will forever echo throughout hip-hop’s lifespan.

Charles Hamilton: The Enigmatic Talent

After getting punched in the face by his girlfriend on camera in late ’09, Hamilton became the butt of many jokes. His Interscope debut,This Perfect Life, ended up a mixtape when the label shelved it and dismissed his record contract. More drama came when the Harlemite credited deceased music vet J Dilla as executive producer, inciting beef from many within the rap community. He’s since collaborated with B.o.B. on “Paper Boy” and released a slew of mixtapes in 2010-including six in one day. But all that studio time didn’t keep him out of trouble, as the rapper was arrested in Ohio last year on assault charges for fighting a police officer. He also checked himself into New York Presbyterian Mental Hospital.

Easily the most intriguing “what-if” cases of this time period, Charles Hamilton once wielded the talent and position to turn himself into a generational artist. Though we credit the Kanye’s and Pharrell’s for allowing us to be comfortable in our own skin, Charles Hamilton took it a step further as he embraced his quirky personality that we had never take stage in hip-hop. A lethal rapper/producer hybrid that capsulated a breath of fresh air in the modern hip-hop scene, Charles was on pace to become a star amongst his peers. As you could tell, things didn’t pan out well. If you think rappers nowadays have terrible PR, Charles reputation took a hit that no artist could ever recover from. Struggles with mental illness coupled with legal issues were enough to bury Charles Hamilton’s career alongside everything attached. On top of that, listeners began to get over the quirkiness of his style, enough to completely jump off any Charles Hamilton bandwagons. What could’ve been a generation defining artist turned into a depressing case of personal struggle and career suicide.

The Legacy of the 2009 XXL Freshman Class

The 2009 XXL Freshman Class represents a pivotal moment in hip-hop history. These artists, many of whom rose to prominence through the internet, embodied the changing landscape of the music industry. While some achieved mainstream success, others carved out niches in the underground, and some faced personal and professional challenges, each member of the class left an indelible mark on the culture.

The XXL Freshman list has a history of showcasing unknown/underground rappers, as well as artists considered to be on the rise. Occasionally, the Freshman Class list may contain extra additions to include more rappers. The 2011, 2013, 2019, 2021 and 2024 Freshman Class lists, for example, had 11 rappers. In the case for the 2013 list, XXL added an honorary extra spot for Chief Keef due to the artist being in a six-day jail stint and therefore being unable to attend the photo shoot in New York City. For the 2025 list, EBK Jaaybo, who was the 10th spot winner, was arrested prior to the photo shoot resulting in him being unable to attend.

For most Freshman covers, after the list has been announced, an artist will come out and say that they were offered a spot on the cover by XXL but chose to decline it. Other times, XXL themselves will reveal someone that they asked to be on the cover and were directly told by the artist that they were not interested. Respectfully declined and felt they were chosen too late in their respective careers. In an interview with MTV, Nicki Minaj spoke on why she and Drake declined the cover by saying "With all due respect, we felt like we kinda had graduated from the Freshman Class. We felt XXL missed the mark when they didn't put us on the cover prior to that (2009). In an interview with Shade 45, Cam'ron revealed that he spoke to the Editor-In-Chief Vanessa Satten about putting Vado on the 2011 issue. However, Cam'ron wanted Vado to be the center focus and not share the cover with multiple other artists. Respectfully declined. Don't b confused". Stated he was tired and was not up to flying to New York for the photoshoot. Felt beyond the list. YFN Lucci initially refused to play music for XXL and said he didn't want to play any music if he wasn't guaranteed a spot on the list. On Instagram Live, he explained that he respectfully declined due to XXL apparently telling him that he would be the 10th Spot Freshman before the voting process even began. Pop Smoke agreed to be on the cover but he died before he could attend the shoot. XXL originally planned to add him on the cover to honor him, but Pop Smoke's team asked them not to do so.

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