These are the rappers that did not make the ballot for XXL’s 2013 freshmen list, but I hope to see them in the pages of the magazine and many others this year. I have a feeling that their music and videos will be exposed to more people in the next eleven months than they were last year. They have all worked hard and continue to be favorites of mine.
Nitty Scott, MC
It is always the small, cute girls that cause the most trouble and Nitty Scott, M.C lives up to the stereotype. My introduction was her freestyle to one of my favorite songs of 2012, “Hands On The Wheel”. The singles from her release, The Boombox Diaries Vol. 1 – EP featured hertrading bars about artist development with one of her peers anddetailing her hectic schedule. I want to see more of her this year. Also word of advice, don’t call her a “Femcee”, she is an artist.
Shawn Chrystopher
If good music and a big co-sign was enough, Shawn Chrystopher would already be established. The Inglewood, California native has producer Timbaland executive producing his album, Lovestory LP, which has a release date for later this year. The mixtape, Lovestory, is the precursor for the album and indicator for a great story about love lost, harsh realities of society, and his homies.
Dom Kennedy
Once again, Leimert Park has to take an L on the scoreboard because of the snub of Dom Kennedy. Most would say he should have been a XXL freshman after the release of his breakthrough mixtape, From The Westside With Love in 2010. People make mistakes and Mr. Kennedy took his snub like a G and released not only a free mixtape, but also an independent album in 2011. Still there was no room in the 2012 freshmen list. Last summer’s, Yellow Album spawned a surprise hit with “My Type of Party”, giving the West Coast native a better chance at making the cover this year.
Raven Sorvino
I have already sung her praise by interviewing her and besides, her music should have you believing in her talent already.
Young Roddy
Yes, he is mostly known as Curren$y’s homeboy that appears on most of his releases, but Young Roddy released his first mixtape, Good Sense, and showed that he is capable rolling solo for a couple tracks. If the New Orleans native continues to share details about his life, then he will continue to gain more fans because of him instead of the company he smokes with regularly.
XV
Add XV to the list of rappers that severed ties with Warner Bros. Records after years of sitting on the shelf. Wichita, Kansas’s first mainstream rap hope had a busy year after his break up with his first major label. He released the mixtape, Popular Culture, the EP Awesome, and the group project, Squarians. Hard work is not a problem to the head squarian in charge, when his hard work will pay off is unforeseen right now.
3D Na’Tee
Hailing from the third ward section of New Orleans, Louisiana, comes the uncontrollable/unpredictable fire flame spitter known as 3’D Na’Tee. While on Twitter, during the BET Hip-Hop Awards, I tweeted my idea of a New Orleans cypher with Curren$y, Dee-1, Mystikal, and Mia X while Mannie Fresh played the role of DJ/hypeman. My friend, @vip2live tweeted, “Add 3’D Na’Tee to that cypher”. I replied, “Yeah, as long as he goes hard”. My curiosity the minute after lead me on a Twitter search that surprised me. 3’D Na’Tee was not a man, she was far from with it her curves. Her mixtape, Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, was a good collection of freestyles and original songs with lyrics that raised my eyebrows in amazement at certain moments and the flow kept my attention long enough to realize that she takes this serious. Her seriousness caught the attention of the Diamond Princess, Trina, as she added Na’Tee and Taylor Gang’s first lady, Lola Monroe, to the response records about dudes acting up and females letting them. Her street album The Coronation is the crown jewel in her rise to mainstream media attention. The stories of her rough childhood, drug dealing past, jail time, and Hurricane Katrina all make her well rounded enough to thoroughly tell stories with complex concepts as she does in the song, ‘Lil Kim.’
These next few artists are on the ballot and will more than likely make the list and cause the most controversy (i.e. get the most attention) except for maybe one:
Action Bronson
Action Bronson deserves the honor more than the other six people in this category, the only reason I put him here is because I did not listen to either of his two critically acclaimed mixtapes. Neither, Blue Chips nor Rare Chandeliers got any play in my headphones. Sorry.
Cash-Out
Chief Keef/Lil Durk/ Lil Reese
Gunplay
Kirko Bangz
Only one artist can get a spot on this list so vote for your favorite. You already know who I will be voting for this year.
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