The 2018 XXL Freshman list has been released and it goes as follows: Ski Mask The Slump God, Lil Pump, Smokepurpp, J.I.D, Stefflon Don, BlocBoy JB, YBN Nahmir, Wifisfuneral, and Trippie Redd.
The hip-hop magazine’s picks for, “10 Up and Coming Rappers,” is considered very influential in the genre with participant freestyles and cyphers garnering millions of views on YouTube.
The magazine picks nine, while the tenth spot is allegedly voted on by fans. Previous editions have included, Kendrick Lamar, Chance The Rapper, and Vic Mensa.
While previous issues have usually had ten freshman, this year there are only nine. because the spot winner, Lil Skies, felt the voting process was rigged. Rich the Kid was intended to replace him, but he also declined after being informed he was meant as a replacement.
Despite XXL in the past claiming they choose a variety of artists from across the country, this year there seems to be a large percentage of rappers from the South Florida Soundcloud scene with Ski Mask The Slump God, Lil Pump, Smokepurpp and Wifisfuneral all hailing from the Sunshine State.
The freestyles should come out sometime next week, with last year’s first one coming out June 19. Last year’s first cypher came out July 10.
