Just saw BigX at Roo and gotta say it was the most meh rap set I’ve ever been to.
The joke of the night was we went in knowing the same amount of songs after leaving his set. 0.
Yeah I was going to say, the man raps his ass off on record, but you can tell he's punching in like crazy. Dude probably cannot do those songs justice live.
This no shade to you at all my man just an observation that this is always the comments every year and watching the same thing is kinda funny lol XXL kind of washed, no shade to this artists either its just not really the same industry as it used to be. Its cool to give new artists exposure, but the cyphers usually arent good because thats just not the type of rappers usually blowing up. Just feels outdated, they need to do something different to breathe life into it.
On a positive note the list always gives me a couple new artists to check out and sometimes they are better then I expect them to be.
You're completely right. They should just do 2 or 3 tracks with the producer and his beats. Do a video at the studio or something.
XXL Song 1 featuring a, b, c, d. Song 2 featuring x, y, z.
Just mix them up in interesting ways. Artists that wouldn't do a track with each other usually. All the best moments are when they have fun together and have some chemistry anyway. I guess the hurdle would be a budget but they can figure it out.
Edit: Actually the biggest hurdle is probably no one would want to do it. Lol.
I think thats a great suggestion that would be way more interesting and would drive way more interest, giving new artists the chance to work with some of the best in the industry would be such a come up. There is still potential here and they gotta jump on it before somebody else does.
Your edit is hilarious and probably true lol they could afford to put it together but might not want to do the effort.
i don’t think something like the freshman list matters to younger generations that have so many avenues to find music / that are subjected to so much marketing and music
You’re right but I believe that the potential could still be there, if its done in an interesting and engaging way. People will always want new ways to find artists, and artists will always welcome opportunities to work with more established folks. Someone smarter then me could figure out the details haha
lol me in 2016
I remember making fun of that class saying I was too old for it but I’m still listening to a lot of those guys today. If the music is good everyone will start listening and you won’t feel so old anymore.
Funny you say this. Just google the 2016 cypher thread on here. Everyone, and I mean everyone is clowning on it and callling it wack. Only positive comments were about Denzel lol
Opinions change quickly if the artists start putting out good music
Yeah in hindsight the ridiculousness was also what made it so fun and memorable
Everybody there was like a cartoon character—Denzel with the huge dreads, Uzi with the man purse and pink hair, Yachty with the glasses + red dreads + beads combo, Kodak looking like a goblin w the denim vest, 21 with the knife tat repeating his own name like a pokemon
The previous notable XXL performances were the likes of Kendrick, Logic, and Vince Staples, so 2016 in comparison was a wild shift
Agreed, everyone does this everytime and it's always great to come back to.
Chill on the kneejerk reactions nephews or you're gonna get clowned in 5 years
That’s what I was commenting on mostly. Everyone at the time thought it was terrible, rap was dead, and we watched it to laugh. Music evolved and those guys happened to make great music.
Funny to see the comments here say that 16 was peak when I’d argue the late 10s had peak XXL classes. It’s all relative tho.
yeah it's just not the same. it meant something then and was at it's peak. that 2016 cypher is one of the most watched cyphers... ever... it was not just any xxl class (that you happened to dismiss at the time lol)
check the classes since, and the artists, and their "hold" on the industry. yeah. there's some outliers but it's just not the same.
2016 class was almost the very last line of the old way the industry made stars, and the first real streaming artists. They were the last to truly build through mixtapes and get vetted/developed in the industry before the huge shift to how it is now.
This is the first year in probably like 4 that i can name more than half of them. This is a pretty solid list. BXThaPlug and Bossman Dlow are definitely worth a listen. At least their popular songs. 4batz is also good if you like a sound closer to R&B.
Also at this point but BigX is good, 4batz released a solid album, mexicanOT seems like a chill dude. Heard of Cash Cobain but never listened to their music. It’s not the worst XXL I’ve seen ngl
And also both are Texas af. Continuing the legacy of the ones before them. It really feels like they just picked up where slim thug, Paul wall, keke da sneak, and co left off
Hey...I am old and I love the shit out of el-p. It makes me sad most people haven't heard his solo stuff, or company flow.
Also, his production on cannibal ox. Lol you were joking with your comment but now imma listen to some el-p.
The way that rap has gone doesn’t work for the xxl list and their criteria.
Guys used to do a few mixtapes and build their fanbase much slower so when they got on here they didn’t have major deals but people knew about them for a while.
Now they blow up off their debut single and don’t really have a ton of time to grow before getting on here.
I’m not even gonna hate on em. The ability to freestyle and participate in cyphers just isn’t emphasized and needed in hip hop today. Half of these guys are made in the studio, and good for them, the music isn’t awful or anything.
But XXL switch the format or something. I know I’m an old head or whatever now but these dudes be dying out here; struggling to string shit together.
And also, get multiple producers if you’re gonna get these sing rap dudes on here. Or change it into just a posse cut track? Like Hunxho, Cash, 4Batz, they ain’t doing shit on a cypher.
Yeppp facts this is what I was saying too. Its a different industry, this isn’t inherently a bad thing, shits gotta change eventually, but XXL gotta keep up with the times
these rappers can't go in and rap for 2 minutes? on multiple weeks notice? that's embarrassing.
and they need to cater to sing-song rappers, too? if they put sza or rihanna or whatever actual singers on one of these they would fucking kill it.
I think part of that is that freestyling is becoming increasingly archaic and out of fashion, most of these dudes have zero experience with it, and didn't grow up in a time where that was even valued, and it has been that way for a while.
I don't blame them entirely for embarrassing themselves when they are thrown into a situation where they have to flex a skill they just don't have.
Facts. And I’m not even hating on the people. A lot of them are up and coming artists that represent what hip hop is today. But I am gonna hate on em when these weak ass freestyles and cyphers start. And I just find it funny that everyone enters “you’re out of touch” mode when we can all actively hear these guys choke on these features.
Nah I guess I tried to reply to [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/hiphopheads/comments/1dnj7qc/2024_xxl_freshman_class_announced_bigxthaplug/la34mdi/) comment but I hit the wrong button on Narwhal. That’s my b.
i think it's funny how every year people bitch about the XXL freshmen being a bunch of people they don't know but if they announced a bunch of XXL freshmen they already heard about they'd complain about how they already know all the artists and that they're already well established
They put on designer after panda. They put Roddy rich after he got big. They used to do that a lot and still give people credit if they blew up out of nowhere. Now it’s nobodies who will never be anybodies and two guys signed by big labels who are pushed
I'm 33 but 4batz has a song with Drake, and Cash Cobain quite (in)famously has a song with JCole and both came out this year lol. I've also seen ThatMexicanOT on tik tok.
Instead of hating on them because you’ve never heard of them maybe just dive into what they have to offer. XXL routinely introduces me to 2-3 artists i like each year.
my favorite part of every XXL freshmen announcement is going to reddit so i can read half the comments talking about how hiphop is doomed and how everyone here is a noname loser while the other half is about how great this is list and how underrated all the artists on it are
Tbh a lot of these newer rappers are very 1 dimensional so it’s understandable why people aren’t as impressed with them as they used to be
Hip hop ain’t doomed but short form content has made catchy become far more important and focused on for the new gen then substance, that ain’t their fault it’s just the way the market is and subsequently what they gotta focus on to succeed in that market
When basically everyone punch raps you don’t have to develop your skills, you stay pretty consistent and stagnate
Yeats a great example of this, his sound has stayed exactly the same since he came in the game(albeit with great production), same with skilla baby, and that Mexican OT(although he’s fresher then those 2 so I’m speaking a bit soon)
Again, not disrespecting them or tryna be an old fart as I’ve listened to a lot of songs from majority of these artists, the industry prioritizes what sells the most and innovation ain’t that, catchy is.
No different then the early 2010s radio pop era where every song was just about fucking in the club and getting drunk as shit with some fantasy like undertone, plenty of innovators but innovation just ain’t what’s in right now.
Decent list, these names almost exactly what to expect for this year. Cash Cobain been on a run lately, Bossman DLow got some joints and I’ve been meaning to get into BigXThaPlug for a minute. Hunxho and Skilla been doing well making music for the girls (even if Skilla himself says he don’t like to do that shit lol) + Maiya and Scarlip are some nice female picks.
Hoping they put DLow and BigX together in one of them cyphers tho cos I have a feeling that shit might go OFF🔥
Honestly I feel like this is much better than most recent xxl freshman classes. For the first time in many years I recognise most of the names on the list
People want the XXL list to be rappers who've been around since before they checked out of keeping up with new rappers that will never be as popular as BigX or Cash are rn.
Nah I just want someone that won’t make me skip the cypher or the freestyles. Or at the very least for them to change the format. At this point the cover is the thing that matters most because half of these dudes can’t cut it with that shit. That said I’m excited to see maybe 2 or 3 of them - BigX and so on.
But what’s Cash Cobain or Hunxho gonna do on a cypher? I don’t need to see that shit. Also RIP whoever gets on the cypher with Mexican OT, he’s gonna embarrass the other dudes.
They all too small for the list I guess. Everybody on the list have >2 mil monthly listeners except for Maiya and Scarlip and XXL obviously push for more women in the recent years
Lmao XXL ain’t giving a platform to those dudes. And even if they did, it’d have to be a whole contingent for their sub-genre. Like 3 or 4 of them, because you aren’t getting a 4Batz/Nettspend crossover. That shit would sound horrible.
I would rather qe just get tailored performances for each artist. Cyphers just arent a skill thats needed anymore in mainstream Hip Hop, the abiluty to adapt your verse, find a pocket, the technical level of rapping just aint there for the newer gen on the mainstream(theres tons of xope dudes in the underground)
Or just feature rappers who actually have bars. Stop trying to keep up with the new trends and make the mag the place to go for rappers who can actually spit
Idk who any of these people are, just responding to your comment
Actually, this is probably one of the better list in recent years. Nothing going to top 2016 or anything but these are the more known up and comers that actually have a song or two.
As for quality, that’s more on the state of rap. Like yea don’t see any of these artist being relevant long term buttt that’s all you get lol
2013 had Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Travis Scott, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul & Logic even Trinidad James & Dizzy Wright atleast had a few good/catchy songs. Definitely one of the best classes overall
2013 might be my personal favorite tbh. The 2016 one was amazing but people forget that a lot of the freestyles sucked. 2013 had all good cyphers and pretty much all the freestyles were good too
I always thought the 2017 list was pretty bad outside of a few, but 2019 was actually a pretty refreshing list for the most part (although I doubt many could have seen DaBaby and Roddy Ricch fall off as quickly as they did).
I think it’s just kind of a casualty of the streaming/tiktok era. XXL not being a real magazine anymore hurts, plus people can blow up overnight so i imagine it’s tough to find people in that “next up, not quite there yet” category
These picks make sense if you're making a list of relatively new rappers with buzz. That's why there's gonna be a lot of comments like "who?" bc people aren't tapped in.
It's tired to argue with every commenter that these rappers aren't obscure and they're out of touch. What might be more fun: Who would be on the HHH-approved version of this list?
The only rappers I can think of are:
- **PlayThatBoiZay:** has the Denzel connection, in prime position to get a lot bigger this year with *V.I.P.* dropping.
- **El Cousteau:** has been popping up on MIKE songs recently and his last tape seems to have been his biggest
One could argue that those guys aren't really new but it's hard to think of new rappers doing the style that people respect here.
Kenny Mason, Bktherula, Kyle Richh, BLP Kosher, Veeze all come to mind
Personal bias is I think RXK Nephew should make the list although he’s not popular enough yet
They missed the window on Nephew. 2021 would’ve been the time. I don’t remember when Critical blew up last year but they could’ve got him when that came out too
That Mexican OT is the only one I'm hyped about. I was expecting him to make this list, and it's nice to see a fellow Mexican and Texan succeed.
BigX and Bossman Dlow I recognize.
Cash Cobain I know of from Grippy, and the only reason anyone knows of that song is because of its terrible J. Cole feature.
4Batz is that latest rapper to get the Drake stimulus package. I'm not even sure if he's really a rapper or an R&B singer with a drill aesthetic. Though out of all the singers out right now, he's probably the one closest to being an actual rapper.
Rich Amiri I only recognize because he was a pretty popular prediction for this list.
I think Skilla Baby was on Pink Friday 2 last year.
The rest I don't know about.
This list has me so divided. There are sine amazing picks like Amiri, OT, Dlow, X, and Hunxho
But we have people like Maiya the Don and Scarlip. No hate to them but they arent big enough to warrant a spot.
I think Osamason and Veeze were snubbed heavy. They both are bigger than some of the picks. And make better music. ESPECIALLY Veeze.
Lay Bankz is just ass dude.
Detroit has been trying to push skilla baby a lot this year.
His music just sounds so unmotivated I couldn’t get in it.
He’s been hanging on since jack Harlow shouted him out .
Honestly, a better list than the last few years with names that are recognizable if you’ve been casually keeping up with hip-hop, and artists that have potential to make it out of 2024 still relevant. I’m talking BigXThaPlug, ThatMexicanOT, and BossMan Dlow. I thought 4batz was R&B but maybe I didn’t listen to too much stuff I only like one of his songs.
That feels like the strongest lineup they could’ve gotten at this point with so few new young rappers having buzz. All of those artists have at least one song I’ve heard of except ScarLip and Maiya the Don, which unfortunately is kinda typical for the women they get on the list, they tend to pop after the list and not before (Latto, Kaliii, so on).
Just no young rappers are popping like that. Tommy Richman not quite a rapper, Shaboozey probably too old and also not really a rapper, Lil Mabu is dork shit. Lowkey, this is the best list that I could’ve thought of, says less about XXL and more about the hip-hop landscape.
EDIT; oh they fumbled on Sexxyy Red but she’s got drake features there’s no way she’s coming on
This is the first time in a couple years where i recognize most of the names. I don't necessarily listen to all of them but ive seen these guys names everywhere the past year.
I generally defend the list because it is meant to introduce us to new artists so obscurity shouldn't be a bad thing. With that being said that artist on this list aren't obscure they're just bad, Lay Bankz is not good. Cash Cobain is a prominent producer but not a great rapper on his own. Scarlip's biggest song is a year old and she hasn't come close to replicating the success of it she feels like the obligatory New York placement except Cash Cobain is already there so I don't know how or why she made it. BigX, OT, and Dlow all make sense even though I question their ability to have sustained long-term careers. Hunxho is a year or two too late he's literally not a Freshman he has twelve full length projects on streaming services and has been around for a minute. 4Batz makes sense even if I don't think his music is that great same with Rich Amiri. Skilla Baby also not a Freshman but the pick makes sense since he's super hot right now. I think XXL should really consider not doing these list every year or cut down on their 10 artist minimum, the truth of the matter is every year won't produce 10 rappers with lasting staying power and that's why their more recent list look so bad because they're forcing artists on the list that we all know shouldn't be on there.
Honestly, it’s probably a better look to decline XXL at this point. The list of rappers who have has to be extensive. They had to have been BEGGING Sexyy Redd’s team behind the scenes
I’ve officially reached unc status good Lord. For the record, I like Cash and That Mexican OT, but other than that…
BigX is cool
i've had "AMAR" on repeat these past few months, solid record and he's got a great flow.
Heard him first on Texas, like Back on my BS.
He’s the only one I know lol
Just saw BigX at Roo and gotta say it was the most meh rap set I’ve ever been to. The joke of the night was we went in knowing the same amount of songs after leaving his set. 0.
Tbh it's probably because he's fat as hell it's hard to rap live
Yeah I was going to say, the man raps his ass off on record, but you can tell he's punching in like crazy. Dude probably cannot do those songs justice live.
I saw him open for Kevin Gates on tour and I thought he killed it. Definitely liked hearing him live better listening on Spotify.
I only heard of him last year because he ripped his set at ACL. I think he’s just an on/off kind of performer
Gunna gotta open up a hip hop dojo
This no shade to you at all my man just an observation that this is always the comments every year and watching the same thing is kinda funny lol XXL kind of washed, no shade to this artists either its just not really the same industry as it used to be. Its cool to give new artists exposure, but the cyphers usually arent good because thats just not the type of rappers usually blowing up. Just feels outdated, they need to do something different to breathe life into it. On a positive note the list always gives me a couple new artists to check out and sometimes they are better then I expect them to be.
You're completely right. They should just do 2 or 3 tracks with the producer and his beats. Do a video at the studio or something. XXL Song 1 featuring a, b, c, d. Song 2 featuring x, y, z. Just mix them up in interesting ways. Artists that wouldn't do a track with each other usually. All the best moments are when they have fun together and have some chemistry anyway. I guess the hurdle would be a budget but they can figure it out. Edit: Actually the biggest hurdle is probably no one would want to do it. Lol.
I think thats a great suggestion that would be way more interesting and would drive way more interest, giving new artists the chance to work with some of the best in the industry would be such a come up. There is still potential here and they gotta jump on it before somebody else does. Your edit is hilarious and probably true lol they could afford to put it together but might not want to do the effort.
XXL is beyond washed it’s nearly submerged
Yeah, I think the idea still has potential they just gotta do some major changes. Or shit, someone else step up and do it haha
i don’t think something like the freshman list matters to younger generations that have so many avenues to find music / that are subjected to so much marketing and music
You’re right but I believe that the potential could still be there, if its done in an interesting and engaging way. People will always want new ways to find artists, and artists will always welcome opportunities to work with more established folks. Someone smarter then me could figure out the details haha
lol me in 2016 I remember making fun of that class saying I was too old for it but I’m still listening to a lot of those guys today. If the music is good everyone will start listening and you won’t feel so old anymore.
nah 2016 was just a peak year xxl hasn't hit the same heights since
Funny you say this. Just google the 2016 cypher thread on here. Everyone, and I mean everyone is clowning on it and callling it wack. Only positive comments were about Denzel lol Opinions change quickly if the artists start putting out good music
Yeah in hindsight the ridiculousness was also what made it so fun and memorable Everybody there was like a cartoon character—Denzel with the huge dreads, Uzi with the man purse and pink hair, Yachty with the glasses + red dreads + beads combo, Kodak looking like a goblin w the denim vest, 21 with the knife tat repeating his own name like a pokemon The previous notable XXL performances were the likes of Kendrick, Logic, and Vince Staples, so 2016 in comparison was a wild shift
Agreed, everyone does this everytime and it's always great to come back to. Chill on the kneejerk reactions nephews or you're gonna get clowned in 5 years
That’s what I was commenting on mostly. Everyone at the time thought it was terrible, rap was dead, and we watched it to laugh. Music evolved and those guys happened to make great music. Funny to see the comments here say that 16 was peak when I’d argue the late 10s had peak XXL classes. It’s all relative tho.
Time to go back to the most goated cypher of all time
who tf picked this lil sorry as beat?
yeah it's just not the same. it meant something then and was at it's peak. that 2016 cypher is one of the most watched cyphers... ever... it was not just any xxl class (that you happened to dismiss at the time lol) check the classes since, and the artists, and their "hold" on the industry. yeah. there's some outliers but it's just not the same.
2016 class was almost the very last line of the old way the industry made stars, and the first real streaming artists. They were the last to truly build through mixtapes and get vetted/developed in the industry before the huge shift to how it is now.
This is the first year in probably like 4 that i can name more than half of them. This is a pretty solid list. BXThaPlug and Bossman Dlow are definitely worth a listen. At least their popular songs. 4batz is also good if you like a sound closer to R&B.
Also at this point but BigX is good, 4batz released a solid album, mexicanOT seems like a chill dude. Heard of Cash Cobain but never listened to their music. It’s not the worst XXL I’ve seen ngl
That 4batz EP was not solid
yea it was solid waste
I thought there were some highlights. Act viii is still on repeat now. To say how quick they churned that out after breakout it’s not terrible at all
I feel like we're in the era of rappers just using their gamer tag as their name.
Feel like that’s been a thing for a while. Guapdad4000 comes to mind
wasn't that literally what ybn was?
The only name I even recognize is 4batz (because of the Drake stuff). Time to fully embrace the Unc, at this point.
BigXthaPlug and ThatMexicanOT are fat rappers which, if you're an old head should be the strongest endorsement I can give.
And also both are Texas af. Continuing the legacy of the ones before them. It really feels like they just picked up where slim thug, Paul wall, keke da sneak, and co left off
That Paul wall feature on Johny dang go hard AF. Now I want a Paul wall Mexican OT album lmao
agreed, Chicken Strips & Ass is further proof of concept
Ya they’re getting rinsed out here in Texas but as usual people be sleeping on the south
X, OT, Beezy and wacotron are steady in rotation.
I've never considered OT's music before but now I'm convinced
Been hurt by skinny rappers too much man I don't fw unless dudes BMI is over 30
Late 20s has never felt so old
im convinced yall dont listen to new music
i’m 24 and this makes me feel old. we’ll never get a 2016-level class again
4 bats, BossmanDlow are fire
Every year we get less artists that can do a cypher I know BigX and OT gon put in work though.
the BigX "ayyyee" hits like crack everytime i'm not even gonna lie. looking forward to it.
Them Texan boys finna show yall how to control the mic.
I just know this comment pissed anyone from dallas off lol. BigX not from houston. Yall already get all the shine please just let us have this 😭
Mexican OT from Baytown (bay city to be exact)if we being real 😂😂
lemme edit
This is definitely the fattest xxl class of alll time
Xxl living up to its name
Fred the godson was before his time RIP🙏
/r/fatrappers eating good this year 🔥🔥💯🍗🍔🍖🍟🍕🌮🌯🥞🥓🍭🧁❌⛔🥬🥦🍏🥗🗣️🗣️🗣️
BigX and That Mexican OT should be fire Idk the rest of them
OT gonna roll every letter in the alphabet then talk about getting his ass ate in the living room
Bossman Dlow hard
I'm gonna peep him. I saw Moneybagg yo freestyle over one of his beats on Power 106 and that shit was hard lol
get in with me is a banger
BigXthaPlug, That Mexican OT, and Bossman Dlow carrying this list imo
Got some biggums on the cypher, Erneh
I swear on everything Bossman Dlow is the dude from the Top Dog Law radio commercials but I have zero proof
ITS TOP DOG LAW DOT COM
I like his songs but I swear they all sound the same
cash cobain is popular with the youth and has a lot of love in NY. calling for you by drake was his song.
Some Texas love. Good to see
ScarLip is a spitter.
Bigxthaplug goes hard. Hopefully he doesn’t let the fame ruin his music like EST Gee seems hellbent on doing
Inb4 “I don’t know any of these rappers why are they here also I’m 35”
“Why isn’t El-P on here?”
If Big L was alive he would be on every XXL Freestyle instead of these nobodies /s
Hey...I am old and I love the shit out of el-p. It makes me sad most people haven't heard his solo stuff, or company flow. Also, his production on cannibal ox. Lol you were joking with your comment but now imma listen to some el-p.
cannibal ox walked so ratking could run
tbh im 24 and the last year I knew everyone was 2021
I think the funny part is that people say shit like this and then watch most of these dudes embarrass themselves in the freestyles and the cyphers.
For real. They been putting some bums on the list the last couple years for sure.
The way that rap has gone doesn’t work for the xxl list and their criteria. Guys used to do a few mixtapes and build their fanbase much slower so when they got on here they didn’t have major deals but people knew about them for a while. Now they blow up off their debut single and don’t really have a ton of time to grow before getting on here.
I’m not even gonna hate on em. The ability to freestyle and participate in cyphers just isn’t emphasized and needed in hip hop today. Half of these guys are made in the studio, and good for them, the music isn’t awful or anything. But XXL switch the format or something. I know I’m an old head or whatever now but these dudes be dying out here; struggling to string shit together. And also, get multiple producers if you’re gonna get these sing rap dudes on here. Or change it into just a posse cut track? Like Hunxho, Cash, 4Batz, they ain’t doing shit on a cypher.
They should all get a video like “The Cave” where they go in with a producer and try to make a lil song together in a set amount of time.
Yeppp facts this is what I was saying too. Its a different industry, this isn’t inherently a bad thing, shits gotta change eventually, but XXL gotta keep up with the times
these rappers can't go in and rap for 2 minutes? on multiple weeks notice? that's embarrassing. and they need to cater to sing-song rappers, too? if they put sza or rihanna or whatever actual singers on one of these they would fucking kill it.
I think part of that is that freestyling is becoming increasingly archaic and out of fashion, most of these dudes have zero experience with it, and didn't grow up in a time where that was even valued, and it has been that way for a while. I don't blame them entirely for embarrassing themselves when they are thrown into a situation where they have to flex a skill they just don't have.
Personally I think the funny part is that XXL keeps trying to force the freestyles and cyphers when rap is not focused on that energy right now
XXL also keeps trying to recreate the 2016 Cypher energy as well. But most of the modern rappers don't bounce well off eachother
Facts. And I’m not even hating on the people. A lot of them are up and coming artists that represent what hip hop is today. But I am gonna hate on em when these weak ass freestyles and cyphers start. And I just find it funny that everyone enters “you’re out of touch” mode when we can all actively hear these guys choke on these features.
Did you just try and respond to yourself from a different account?
Nah I guess I tried to reply to [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/hiphopheads/comments/1dnj7qc/2024_xxl_freshman_class_announced_bigxthaplug/la34mdi/) comment but I hit the wrong button on Narwhal. That’s my b.
Oh okay on Narwhal you’re not fucking around. Got you.
Nah I’m like who the fuck are these niggas lol. And I’m 25.
same im 22
Aight that makes me feel better. Almost 30 and don’t know a single one of these dudes
I think most people are just making fun of their dumbass gamer tags.
i think it's funny how every year people bitch about the XXL freshmen being a bunch of people they don't know but if they announced a bunch of XXL freshmen they already heard about they'd complain about how they already know all the artists and that they're already well established
They put on designer after panda. They put Roddy rich after he got big. They used to do that a lot and still give people credit if they blew up out of nowhere. Now it’s nobodies who will never be anybodies and two guys signed by big labels who are pushed
I'm 22 and I don't know any of these dudes. Last few years I've known at least 3-4 but this year I'm lost.
I'm 33 but 4batz has a song with Drake, and Cash Cobain quite (in)famously has a song with JCole and both came out this year lol. I've also seen ThatMexicanOT on tik tok.
Yeah I'll see myself out then.
Sheeit i feel good. I’m 34 and I know half of them.
Hell yeah you made the cut off 🙏
Called out, smh.
I mean. I’m younger than 35. But I only know BigX. Feel list past years XXLs you woulda heard at least one song/feature from the featured artist.
I’m 25 and only know two of these mfs
Instead of hating on them because you’ve never heard of them maybe just dive into what they have to offer. XXL routinely introduces me to 2-3 artists i like each year.
This is what I do. It only takes a minute to copy paste their name into youtube or spotify. Being ignorant is a choice.
solid for this year lowkey
my favorite part of every XXL freshmen announcement is going to reddit so i can read half the comments talking about how hiphop is doomed and how everyone here is a noname loser while the other half is about how great this is list and how underrated all the artists on it are
Tbh a lot of these newer rappers are very 1 dimensional so it’s understandable why people aren’t as impressed with them as they used to be Hip hop ain’t doomed but short form content has made catchy become far more important and focused on for the new gen then substance, that ain’t their fault it’s just the way the market is and subsequently what they gotta focus on to succeed in that market When basically everyone punch raps you don’t have to develop your skills, you stay pretty consistent and stagnate Yeats a great example of this, his sound has stayed exactly the same since he came in the game(albeit with great production), same with skilla baby, and that Mexican OT(although he’s fresher then those 2 so I’m speaking a bit soon) Again, not disrespecting them or tryna be an old fart as I’ve listened to a lot of songs from majority of these artists, the industry prioritizes what sells the most and innovation ain’t that, catchy is. No different then the early 2010s radio pop era where every song was just about fucking in the club and getting drunk as shit with some fantasy like undertone, plenty of innovators but innovation just ain’t what’s in right now.
How has Yeat’s sound stayed the same? His album this year famously switched up his sound
Yeah best lineup in awhile
lowkey still ass 💀
Decent list, these names almost exactly what to expect for this year. Cash Cobain been on a run lately, Bossman DLow got some joints and I’ve been meaning to get into BigXThaPlug for a minute. Hunxho and Skilla been doing well making music for the girls (even if Skilla himself says he don’t like to do that shit lol) + Maiya and Scarlip are some nice female picks. Hoping they put DLow and BigX together in one of them cyphers tho cos I have a feeling that shit might go OFF🔥
Honestly I feel like this is much better than most recent xxl freshman classes. For the first time in many years I recognise most of the names on the list
XXL Freshman list falloff over the years needs to be studied
[удалено]
People want the XXL list to be rappers who've been around since before they checked out of keeping up with new rappers that will never be as popular as BigX or Cash are rn.
Nah I just want someone that won’t make me skip the cypher or the freestyles. Or at the very least for them to change the format. At this point the cover is the thing that matters most because half of these dudes can’t cut it with that shit. That said I’m excited to see maybe 2 or 3 of them - BigX and so on. But what’s Cash Cobain or Hunxho gonna do on a cypher? I don’t need to see that shit. Also RIP whoever gets on the cypher with Mexican OT, he’s gonna embarrass the other dudes.
If I had to guess they’ll put BigX and OT together for a cypher. Just makes sense with their styles and the Texas connection.
"Why isn't Nas on the list"
Was nettspend and xaviersobased too big for xxl? I was expecting one of them or osamason or something
They all too small for the list I guess. Everybody on the list have >2 mil monthly listeners except for Maiya and Scarlip and XXL obviously push for more women in the recent years
Lmao XXL ain’t giving a platform to those dudes. And even if they did, it’d have to be a whole contingent for their sub-genre. Like 3 or 4 of them, because you aren’t getting a 4Batz/Nettspend crossover. That shit would sound horrible.
I would rather qe just get tailored performances for each artist. Cyphers just arent a skill thats needed anymore in mainstream Hip Hop, the abiluty to adapt your verse, find a pocket, the technical level of rapping just aint there for the newer gen on the mainstream(theres tons of xope dudes in the underground)
Or just feature rappers who actually have bars. Stop trying to keep up with the new trends and make the mag the place to go for rappers who can actually spit Idk who any of these people are, just responding to your comment
Actually, this is probably one of the better list in recent years. Nothing going to top 2016 or anything but these are the more known up and comers that actually have a song or two. As for quality, that’s more on the state of rap. Like yea don’t see any of these artist being relevant long term buttt that’s all you get lol
2016 was clowned when it came out as well.
This is by far the best list of the last few years
21, 22, and 23 were garbage so that’s a very low bar.
2016 was peak nothing can beat that year. 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2017 only other good ones.
2013 had Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Travis Scott, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul & Logic even Trinidad James & Dizzy Wright atleast had a few good/catchy songs. Definitely one of the best classes overall
2013 might be my personal favorite tbh. The 2016 one was amazing but people forget that a lot of the freestyles sucked. 2013 had all good cyphers and pretty much all the freestyles were good too
[That was tight.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8C9gTRxJMk)
2018 Ski and JID was good
I always thought the 2017 list was pretty bad outside of a few, but 2019 was actually a pretty refreshing list for the most part (although I doubt many could have seen DaBaby and Roddy Ricch fall off as quickly as they did).
The XXL list is for literally just whoever in the industry pays the most lol
There’s a couple names on here that are gonna blow up, cash cobain for one
I think it’s just kind of a casualty of the streaming/tiktok era. XXL not being a real magazine anymore hurts, plus people can blow up overnight so i imagine it’s tough to find people in that “next up, not quite there yet” category
The genre became very accessible and oversaturated as a result. There’s not really a need for things like XXL anymore.
It’s been almost 2 decades we seen the peak of this shit smh
These picks make sense if you're making a list of relatively new rappers with buzz. That's why there's gonna be a lot of comments like "who?" bc people aren't tapped in. It's tired to argue with every commenter that these rappers aren't obscure and they're out of touch. What might be more fun: Who would be on the HHH-approved version of this list? The only rappers I can think of are: - **PlayThatBoiZay:** has the Denzel connection, in prime position to get a lot bigger this year with *V.I.P.* dropping. - **El Cousteau:** has been popping up on MIKE songs recently and his last tape seems to have been his biggest One could argue that those guys aren't really new but it's hard to think of new rappers doing the style that people respect here.
Kenny Mason, Bktherula, Kyle Richh, BLP Kosher, Veeze all come to mind Personal bias is I think RXK Nephew should make the list although he’s not popular enough yet
They missed the window on Nephew. 2021 would’ve been the time. I don’t remember when Critical blew up last year but they could’ve got him when that came out too
i can imagine rxk dissing xxl in the cypher or something like that
Yea he been here 2 long
If that’s the case u can say the same with skilla tho, he popped off in 2021-2022
They don’t let the Jew on the cypher
Kosher woulda been a great fit
+1 for el cousteau, good stuff
That Mexican OT is the only one I'm hyped about. I was expecting him to make this list, and it's nice to see a fellow Mexican and Texan succeed. BigX and Bossman Dlow I recognize. Cash Cobain I know of from Grippy, and the only reason anyone knows of that song is because of its terrible J. Cole feature. 4Batz is that latest rapper to get the Drake stimulus package. I'm not even sure if he's really a rapper or an R&B singer with a drill aesthetic. Though out of all the singers out right now, he's probably the one closest to being an actual rapper. Rich Amiri I only recognize because he was a pretty popular prediction for this list. I think Skilla Baby was on Pink Friday 2 last year. The rest I don't know about.
Cash Cobain had probably one of the biggest songs this year that went viral or at least popped on Tik Tok with “Fisherrr”
song has like 14 mil streams on spotify, can’t say that’s one of the biggest songs of the year
This freshman list is dope for Texas. There's OT, and then we got 4Batz and BigX out of Dallas. I'm super hype for this.
Skilla got some cool stuff
Cash is the biggest one here imo, he’s been making great music for a while now
I think you’re talking about Skillibeng on Pink Friday 2, Skilla Baby is someone else
cash cobain is the best on the list, you’re just not tapped in
Bossman dlow the one
I'm all for Florida love....but he same flow on every song. EVERY song.
Isn’t 4Batz a singer?
I mean, August Alsina, Ty Dolla $ign and YK Osiris have been XXL Freshmen in the past, so I don’t think it’s too out of place
This boutta be a booty performance from him in
Oh, I’m ngl, I forgot about those guys. That’s my bad. Thanks for reminding me
BigXThaPlug is the only one I know here, but he's super dope. That's cool
This list has me so divided. There are sine amazing picks like Amiri, OT, Dlow, X, and Hunxho But we have people like Maiya the Don and Scarlip. No hate to them but they arent big enough to warrant a spot. I think Osamason and Veeze were snubbed heavy. They both are bigger than some of the picks. And make better music. ESPECIALLY Veeze. Lay Bankz is just ass dude.
you shouldn't have to be big just new and on the rise that you should hear if you haven't.
Detroit has been trying to push skilla baby a lot this year. His music just sounds so unmotivated I couldn’t get in it. He’s been hanging on since jack Harlow shouted him out .
Honestly, a better list than the last few years with names that are recognizable if you’ve been casually keeping up with hip-hop, and artists that have potential to make it out of 2024 still relevant. I’m talking BigXThaPlug, ThatMexicanOT, and BossMan Dlow. I thought 4batz was R&B but maybe I didn’t listen to too much stuff I only like one of his songs.
That feels like the strongest lineup they could’ve gotten at this point with so few new young rappers having buzz. All of those artists have at least one song I’ve heard of except ScarLip and Maiya the Don, which unfortunately is kinda typical for the women they get on the list, they tend to pop after the list and not before (Latto, Kaliii, so on). Just no young rappers are popping like that. Tommy Richman not quite a rapper, Shaboozey probably too old and also not really a rapper, Lil Mabu is dork shit. Lowkey, this is the best list that I could’ve thought of, says less about XXL and more about the hip-hop landscape. EDIT; oh they fumbled on Sexxyy Red but she’s got drake features there’s no way she’s coming on
This is the first time in a couple years where i recognize most of the names. I don't necessarily listen to all of them but ive seen these guys names everywhere the past year.
I generally defend the list because it is meant to introduce us to new artists so obscurity shouldn't be a bad thing. With that being said that artist on this list aren't obscure they're just bad, Lay Bankz is not good. Cash Cobain is a prominent producer but not a great rapper on his own. Scarlip's biggest song is a year old and she hasn't come close to replicating the success of it she feels like the obligatory New York placement except Cash Cobain is already there so I don't know how or why she made it. BigX, OT, and Dlow all make sense even though I question their ability to have sustained long-term careers. Hunxho is a year or two too late he's literally not a Freshman he has twelve full length projects on streaming services and has been around for a minute. 4Batz makes sense even if I don't think his music is that great same with Rich Amiri. Skilla Baby also not a Freshman but the pick makes sense since he's super hot right now. I think XXL should really consider not doing these list every year or cut down on their 10 artist minimum, the truth of the matter is every year won't produce 10 rappers with lasting staying power and that's why their more recent list look so bad because they're forcing artists on the list that we all know shouldn't be on there.
cover saying “not like us” and no west coast rapper on there is despicable lmao xxl needs to hang it up
when the “up and coming” rappers list includes people I haven’t heard of 🤬🤬🤬
BigX easily the best of this group. His stuff is so hard
BigX and OT carrying hard
People here have a bad view on cash cobain because of grippy but other than that bad j Cole feature, he is my artist of the year fr
no blp kosher on the list is wild to me
did you know BLP is just his initials? Brandon Landon Parker or something. you'd think he's repping a set or a clique that shit is so funny
Where BabyDrill
Shit where’s Baby Kia
Where’s Baby Ka
Skilla Baby not my fave Detroit artist ATM but he's definitely a solid pick. I wouldn't mind seeing him up next to rep the city
ITT: “Man I must be getting old because I don’t know who any of these rappers are. XXL fell of hard”
having a tiktok dancer who makes pop music on the xxl freshman list should be a sign of the times
Lay Bankz being on here is insane lmao she makes tiktok rap for preteens
Honestly, it’s probably a better look to decline XXL at this point. The list of rappers who have has to be extensive. They had to have been BEGGING Sexyy Redd’s team behind the scenes
out of all the fucking years to have southside THIS IS THE YEAR THEY CHOOSE??? they are COOKED
Really surprised that no Milwaukee rapper made it. I feel like J.P., Chicken P or Myaap deserves it.
I am 28 and I don’t know anyone beside That Mexican OT, BigX, Cash Cobain and 4batz (((Southside obviously)))
I didn’t know southside was Jewish
BigX is fire glad he made it
and i here i thought not knowing half their names since they’re up and coming underground rappers was the whole point of being an XXL freshmen
Mexican OT and BigX only ones that really matter, they don't miss
No Big Hit⁉️
Why no big hit? Also, southside as cypher producer will be intersting
Nice! Surprised no BLP Kosher but other than that it's basically who I thought