XXL has officially announced the 2025 XXL freshman course. The rising artists who formed the new class were as diverse as every class in front of them.
Representing different aspects of California’s sound is Long Beach’s TDE lyricist Ray Vaughn, Stockton Livewire Ebk Jaaybo, No. 10, while basketball player turned Hit Hit Maker Gelo “representing Chino Hills.” Florida’s Loe Shimmy and 1900 Rugrat travel across the other side of the map, wearing the new school in Sunshine State, representing Pompano Beach and West Palm Beach, respectively. Despite the waves in Memphis, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is currently radiating the potential of stardom. BabychiefDoit is the youngest person in charge in Chicago. Cordele, Georgia, representative Lazer Dim 700 attracted young masses with his Lo-Fi sound. Nino paid (Landover, MD) and Eem Triplin (Johnstown, PA) in Johnstown, PA are carrying the East Coast, while YTB Fatt from West Memphis, Arkansas and Ian from Dallas are making a sensation.
XXL has been developing for more than a decade after launching a freshman platform with artists like Plies and Boosie Badazz in 2007. The result is that some of the most dynamic and iconic artists in hip-hop are welcomed on 18 magazine covers.
Back in 2010, a bubbling J. Cole was named the 2010 XXL freshman because he hoped to bring his rapidly growing fan base, support from Roc Nation, and his 2009 mixtape The Hump Up to become a superstar status. Since then, his achievements have told almost a story, because he has become one of the largest artists in the world, so he is almost unpredictable. He went to two solo tours and Drake’s stadium, and as you might have heard, he used to have no features, he used to go to Platinum.
In 2011, blooming names like Kendrick Lamar and Mac Miller attracted attention after being selected for the 2011 XXL freshman class. Since then, K-Dot has become a Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, and he currently dominates the world with his song “Not Like Us”. Before he tragically died at the age of 26, Mac Miller consolidated himself as a respected craftsman and became a fan favorite while constantly developing his voice. He has won the respect of artists from all corners of the music industry.
In the years since, the freshman roster has helped introduce future stars such as the 21-year-old Barbarian, Jid, Megan Thee Stallion, Jack Harlow and Gunna. The list continues. There are now a total of 194 new artists.
Today, XXL looked at each of the past and present XXL freshmen. From underground favorites to lyricists who define the era to commercial generators of genre fluids, they are all here. Peek at each newborn in the gallery below.
