XXL has unveiled its 2015 freshman class for its highly coveted cover, which all hip hop artist strive to achieve in their debut year. Historically the issue features the ten picks of whom to watch out for in hip hop and showcases new rappers that aren’t well known, but are considered to be on the rise.
Kid Cudi, Wale, Iggy Azalea, Big Sean, August Alsina, Wiz Khalifa are just a handful of those heavy hitters who at one point grabbed a spot on the freshman cover. This year crop of talent includes two of the most buzzed about female MC’s, a G-Unit newcomer and a 7 other movers and shakers.
“Trap Queen” hitmaker Fetty Wap joins fellow MCs K Camp, OG Maco, Raury, Shy Glizzy, Vince Staples, and GoldLink, while Detroit’s own DeJ Loaf and Timbaland’s protégée Tink are the sole two females and G-Unit member Kidd Kidd nabs the fan-voted 10th spot.
According to XXL, compiling the list is an eight-month process. The editors listen to new music and meet and interviews hundreds of potential Freshmen. Throughout the next month, the magazine plans to roll out cyphers hosted by DJ Drama along with freestyles from each member of the 2015 class.
You can catch this year’s Freshmen performing live at the Best Buy Theater in New York City on June 30 and at L.A.’s Club Nokia on July 13. Check out the behind the scenes of their cover shoot below. As well as the folks from XXL interviewing at The Breakfast Club where they break down how the top ten are selected.
