First Impressions of the 2018 XXL Freshman Class

XXL has finally released the 2018 XXL Freshman List.  You can see the official issue of the magazine in July, but for now, we have all 9 members of the list revealed.  XXL always has a theme for each list.  2016 was the new wave, 2017 was Generation Next (more like Generation Forgettable...), and 2018 is "We Got Clout."  Way to blatantly pander to your audience, XXL.  There were 9 members as opposed to 10 this year, even though we voted for the tenth spot back in the spring.  That's because Lil Skies,  the winner of the official tenth spot vote, declined.  Their replacement was Rich The Kid, who released his debut full-length project back in March, but after he learned that he was a replacement, he declined too.  After that, XXL didn't even bother trying to find a tenth prospect.  I'm honestly just glad that 6ix9ine, Lil Xan, and Bhad Bhabie didn't make it.  Before we get to the freestyles and the cyphers, I'm gonna give my first impressions of this list.

1) Ski Mask The Slump God

Projects (on Spotify)

Slaps For My Drop-Top Mini-Van

You Will Regret

Beware the Book of Eli

Notable Songs

Catch Me Outside

BabyWipe

Coolest Monkey In the Jungle - feat. SahBabii

Take a Step Back - feat. XXXTentacion

Like a Soccer Mom

Guest Appearances

Achoo - Keith Ape

Flo Rida - Higher Brothers

Thriller (Forever) - Ronny J

A ton of XXXTentacion songs

Up Next - 16yrold x Desiigner

Sounds Like if Busta Rhymes made trap music

As someone who is a huge fan of Ski Mask, I was elated he made this year's list.  He has amazing fast-paced flows, amusing lyrics, and incredibly wacky beat selection.  He is one of many South Florida rappers that blew up in the past 3 years, and apparently one of many who made this year's list.  A lot of people know his name because of XXXTentacion, a member of the 2017 Freshman List, and they have collaborated on a ton of songs together.  I don't think his career is off to the best of starts since his latest release flopped, but I believe XXL could propel him into the mainstream.

2) Wifisfuneral

Projects

When Hell Falls

Black Heart Revenge

Boy Who Cried Wolf

Ethernet

Notable Songs

Juveniles - feat. YBN Nahmir

Wya? Remix - feat. Ugly God

Lights

lil jeff hardy

2 Step

Guest Appearances

It's Snowin Part 2 - Yung Bans

Snakes - Ronny J

EA - Robb Bank$

Midday - Craig Xen

Sounds Like a typical SoundCloud rapper...but he has bars

This was a very surprising pick.  I'm surprised that he isn't as big as his other South Florida peers.  His most streamed song on Spotify is the Wya? Remix with Ugly God at just over 11 million plays.  He just released his 2018 project Ethernet this past Friday.  In my review for that project, I said that it may not be the album that propels Wifi into the mainstream.  With him being named a XXL freshman, I don't think that statement will age well and I'm very fine with that.  I've been rooting for Wifisfuneral since I've heard Boy Who Cried Wolf, and I hope that he actually blows up after this list.

3) BlocBoy JB

Projects

The Purple M&M

Who Am I 3

Simi

Notable Songs

Look Alive - feat. Drake

Rover 2.0 - feat. 21 Savage

Shoot [Fun Fact: This song appears on all 3 of his projects]

Nun of Dat - feat. Lil Pump

No Velcro

Guest Appearances

Black Feet - Moneybagg Yo

Hard - No Jumper x Tay-K

Bad Company - A$AP Rocky

Sounds Like Desiigner and Famous Dex's love child

I don't get the hate for BlocBoy JB at all.  He's one of my favorites on this list.  I know he's not a great rapper, but what draws me in is his high energy and catchy stutter flow.  You can argue that the only reason he has a career is Drake, and I'd agree.  I had no idea who he was before "Look Alive."  Since then, he's gotten many high-profile features from artists like 21 Savage, Lil Pump, and YG.  His 2018 project, Simi, only sold about 15K copies first week, but hopefully, XXL can help him blow up even more.

4) Trippie Redd

Projects

A Love Letter to You

A Love Letter to You 2

Notable Songs

Dark Knight Dummo - feat. Travis Scott

Love Scars

Poles 1469 - feat. 6ix9ine

Bust Down

In Too Deep

Guest Appearances

Wish - Diplo

Fuck Love - XXXTentacion

Ill Nana - DRAM

66 - Lil Yachty

Early Morning Trappin - Rich The Kid

Sounds Like a raspy Lil Uzi Vert who happens to look like Sid the Science Kid on meth

This was terrible timing for Trippie Redd.  An hour before the list was revealed, reports came out about Trippie Redd pistol-whipping a woman while protecting his girlfriend (I think).  He's been taking quite a few L's these past few months, especially since reports came out of him possibly fucking Bhad Bhabie, who is 15 years old.  Regardless of his recent antics, I do think he is talented and I do enjoy his music.  As I listened to his discography, his voice sounded less and less raspy and he started to sound less like a clone of Lil Uzi Vert.  I think if he stays out of trouble, Trippie Redd can truly live up to his superstar potential.

5) J.I.D

Projects

The Never Story

Notable Songs

Never

Hasta Luego

Underwear

8701 - feat. 6LACK

D/vision - feat. EARTHGANG

Guest Appearances

Sunday - EARTHGANG

Momma Tole Me - EARTHGANG

Can't Call It - Spillage Village

Meditate - EARTHGANG

Mindfuck - Da$h

Sounds Like if J. Cole made fun music

J.I.D is the best rapper on this list if you look at it from a lyrical perspective.  He is very under-the-radar and could benefit from the publicity from XXL.  I think he's very talented and makes some great music.  He's signed to J. Cole's label, Dreamville, and could make some waves in the coming years.  I'm hoping he can capitalize on his appearance on this list because he hasn't dropped anything so far this year.

6) Stefflon Don

Projects

Real Ting Mixtape

Notable Song

Hurtin Me - feat. French Montana

16 Shots

Senseless

Tight Nooki - feat. Jeremih

Ding-A-Ling - feat. Skepta

Guest Appearances

Bum Bum Tam Tam - MC Fioti x J Balvin x Future x Juan Magan

Alone - Halsey x Big Sean

London - Jeremih

Better - Lil Yachty

Look What You Made Me Do - Joyner Lucas

Sounds Like ...I truly don't know

I'm gonna be upfront here and say that I have not listened to a song from this woman.  I do know that she's from the UK, and that's a pretty cool fact.  I will check out her music and see what I'm missing.

7) Lil Pump

Projects

Lil Pump

Notable Songs

Gucci Gang

D Rose

Esskeetit

Boss

Flex Like Ouu

Guest Appearances

iShyne - Carnage

Lie Detector - 24hrs

Welcome to the Party - Diplo x French Montana x Zhavia Ward

Baby Daddy - Lil Yachty x Offset

Jettski Grizzley - Tee Grizzley

Sounds Like pure genius unfolding

Ah, Lil Pump, a certified legend who dropped out of Harvard University to start his prosperous rap career.  A man who ghost wrote the most legendary album of all time, Illmatic by Nas.  A man who-look you get how much of a meme he is at this point.  Lil Pump is a rapper who blew up because he's a living meme who spends his days doing wild shit.  Even when he's not on the xans anymore, he's doing shit like throwing his TV into his pool.  I find it weird that he didn't decline it given the success he's gained over the past year.  If anything, he should have made the 2017 list.  I'm pretty sure he joined the list because Smokepurpp is also on it.  As for his music, I actually think he's improved since his last tape.  At first, I found him to be a guilty pleasure because all he did was make some wild ignorant bangers.  He seems to have improved his lyrics and added some more flows since his first mixtape, and I'm looking forward to what he has in store next.

8) Smokepurpp

Projects

Up Now Fuck Next

Deadstar

Bless Yo Trap (a collaborative project with producer Murda Beatz)

Notable Songs

Audi

123 - with Murda Beatz

Fingers Blue - feat. Travis Scott

Glock In My Benz

Big Bucks

Guest Appearances

Buddha - G-Eazy x Carnage

3X - PnB Rock

Checks - Yung Bans

One Time - Ronny J

Captain Remix - Wiz Khalifa

Sounds Like Playboi Carti but with a deeper voice

I don't think Smokepurpp is an amazing, ground-breaking artist, but I don't think he's terrible.  I enjoy a lot of his music but I don't hold him to a high standard.  He's pretty good at providing bangers, especially bangers that are produced by Ronny J.  There's two sides of his music, his rap and his melodic rap.  I prefer when he uses his normal voice even though I do enjoy some of his melodic songs.  There really isn't that much to say about Smokepurpp, really.

9) YBN Nahmir

Projects

N/A

Notable Songs

Rubbin Off the Paint

Glizzy Hella Geekin

Bounce Out With That

No Hook - feat. YBN Almighty Jay

Bread Winners - feat. YBN Almighty Jay

Guest Appearances

Hi Bich Remix - Bhad Bhabie x Rich The Kid x Asian Doll

1942 - G-Eazy x Yo Gotti

Sounds Like if Tay-K wasn't actually about that life and sometimes made music with a West Coast influence

I like him.  I do think he's very talented and could be something special if he released a damn project.  He could benefit from varying his content a bit but I do think he has solid lyrics and flows.  I like his come-up story of going viral from rapping on Xbox Live.  He got YBN, which stands for "Young Boss Niggas," from the name of his clan.  He really hasn't done much so far into his career, but I'm holding out hope that he can capitalize on his hype.

I think that this list is a huge step forward from last year's.  There are many varying personalities and I really like almost everyone on this list.  I'll be back tomorrow with a ranking of Drake's discography.  Starting next week, I'll be starting a series called Artist Reviews where I will review a new artist's body of work and what I think of them as a whole.  Here's the schedule for the installments from the XXL Freshman Class.

June 20 - Ski Mask The Slump God

June 27 - Wifisfuneral

July 4 - BlocBoy JB

July 11 - Trippie Redd

July 18 - J.I.D

July 25 - Stefflon Don

August 1 - Lil Pump

August 8 - Smokepurpp

August 15 -YBN Nahmir