I just tweeted a few weeks ago about XXL’s Freshmen List being M.I.A. so far this year. Personally, I feel that like The Source, BET, MTV, and many other media outlets I ran to in my high school years a decade ago, XXL has stumbled in the game of relevance whether it is lack of quality content or credible voice.
The Freshmen List of new rappers from the house that Elliott Wilson built (Preserved By Vanessa Satten) has been able to always stir conversation in the culture. Whether it is old heads versus new school or backpackers versus skinny jeans, the artists on this particular cover are going to get attention and discrimination they never imagined. Congratulations to everyone for making the list and good luck. S/O to Kap G, the only I can say I listen to on the regular.