Ranking Every XXL Freshman Class (PART 1) 

Man, 2016 has to be number 1 surely.

2016 gotta be the best, every single one of them still has a pretty huge career or at least made a huge impact at the time. Not to mention it has Anderson Paak., Denzel Curry and 21 Savage 2013 was pretty incredible too though, with Joey bada$$, Ab-soul, Action Bronson, Logic, Schoolboy Q, Travis Scott and Chief Keef, both rappers with huge impact and rappers with less impact but a ton of artistry.

Why is Lil B so low, this is literally the pioneer of cloud rap and internet rap as a whole??

This guy gave Joey Bada$$ a 6/10… wtf 😂

4:35 When melon sees one of the best albums of all time

Alfo is Tripping. 2011 and Cole’s list including Freddie Gibbs and other being this low is literal insanity. Also, Cyhi is more than an Association to Ye with any minor research. Has written and produced for Ye. Listening to his catalog he is easily one of the last generations most under appreciated rappers.

2016 really was the best everything went downhill from there

2011, 2013, 2016 are the best years for sure

Anyone else think it’s weird that Tyler wasn’t ever in a freshman list?

THANK YOU FOR THAT ISAIAH RASHAD TAKE, I AGREE 100 PERCENT.

Kind of a ramble on this one, but the 2012 list is just weird for me to personally rank, specifically the rappers I'd like to call the Cursed Four. Hopsin made huge waves in the underground with his own independent label, not to mention fellow former Funk Volume members Dizzy and Jarren became XXL alum themselves. He's also that one "real music" kid with severe main character syndrome who never grew up since high school. Iggy Azalea was one of the biggest artists in 2014. She's also the living embodiment of cultural appropriation and just fell off after her peak. MGK is currently putting guitar-driven rock back into the mainstream. He's also an insufferable burnout 17 year old trapped in a 30 year old's body, and relies on Travis Barker for pop punk anywhere near the quality of okay. Macklemore is a Grammy winning artist with some of the most commercially successful rap music in the 2010s. He's also that one cishet white guy who tries way too hard to be an ally. Like part of me really wants to say you didn't give them enough credit because they at least made some genuine impact, especially when compared to some of the more forgotten names among the XXL freshman alum. But there's a reason why the cursed four are so cursed, and no amount of success will change their current status as walking punchlines.

was waiting for this video to exist

What I find really interesting is that, in the 2010 class, you said you have no idea who Pill is. However, I know him from being a feature in the song Bitter Pill on Consequences 2011 mixtape Movies on Demand 2. The most interesting part is that two other young up-and-coming rappers that were featured on other songs of the album is Mac Miller and Kendrick Lamar respectively.

S/o the Isaiah respect at the end, fantastic take

amazing idea

2013 is definitely the best. Even the names you said at the beginning of it weren't bad at all. I was a big Dizzy Wright fan for a while, always thought he was underrated

How is 2013 only a 6? You said they weren’t super influential but you have Travis and keef who are two of the most influential artists in trap for the 2010s

Macklemore gets way too much hate. He's not for hip hop heads, he's for suburban parents to play something during car rides. If he didn't win that Grammy people wouldn't dislike him because he would never even be in these conversations as a "rapper"

Even though Jon Connor fell off he had one of the best cypher performances ever, definitely worth checking out

3:23 where is blu? Where would he have ranked?

I still don't understand how the lineup for the 2012 freshman class even was created

Great vid. But i think ur definitely underselling lil B

G Herbo & Dave East still got the best XXL Cypher ever.

Let's Gooooooooooooooo.🔥

hopsins fire bro

Jarren Benton goes hard

HOLD ON! We’re not about to call Flint a “random town in Michigan.” NOT ON MY WATCH BUCKAROO! Ok, less intensely now, the reason why Flint being in dire straits is a big deal is because of how big Flint is. Not only do a LOT of people you know come from there, it’s also just one of the biggest cities in Michigan. I understand it’s not Detroit or even Traverse City, but it’s pretty important to the state and our history. Like I’m not about to call Rochester a “random city in New York”, you know? Ok, soap boxing over, just need to stand up for my state. Love your work 👍

you forgot to rank blu, he an 8 or 9 for me.

from this batch, my personal favorite probably is 2011 with 2013 being close second

Honestly 2013 or 2016 might be the best in terms of the most amount of great or amazing rappers that either had great runs in the 2010s or that are still relevant today 2013: Joey bada$$, Ab-soul, Action Bronson, Logic, Schoolboy Q, Travis Scott and Chief Keef (7 rappers) 2016: Denzel Curry, 21 Savage, Lil Uzi Vert, Anderson.paak, lil yachty and Kodak black (6 rappers) Would probably edge it to 2013 but that 2016 cypher is easily xxl’s most legendary

I think below the heavens deserves classic status as much as lupe tbh

Lil B genuinely my 2nd favorite of 2011

Jarren Benton is underrated in my opinion, but I understand him not being known and that's the reason for his low score.

The rankings are cool but the way you explain them afterwards make you sound super pop-rap like you just listen to people with over >100 mil streams

The only thing I remember about troy Ave is that someone said I destroy average rappers in a diss track

Hast released mutch, procedes to drop the banger that is 2000

"Life-changing. The good outweighs the bad. 5.5/10" yeah okay

vic mensa was way more than just “chance’s friend”, despite how his career panned

Pill was a Maybach Music member and I don’t know a song from his besides John Doe from the first MMG complication album

2010 is hands down the best freshmen class.

Can't wait for 2016

Alfo confirmed not based

Based god the goat. Should be rated 11/10

why did this have to be split into parts

2:36 I remember that obama llama guy

6:30 mans did Hopsin dirty, I mean how's he lower than french montana and mgk💀

2011, 16, and 13 are probably my top 3 in no order

Man that Hopsin rating surprised the hell out of me!

You accidentally omitted Blu on the chart/score contribution for 2009

I feel like you kinda brushed over Joey bada$$ man had one of the best 3 album runs ever

bro watch out for me on xxl 2025

Don't sleep on the 2020 class, I know it's still recent, but the way that class is going in terms of popularity, they could end up giving 2016 a run for their money when it's all said and done

XXL cyphers were amazing in my high school days

i need to know where blu is ranked , is be a 7 or an 8 , u didnt include him

His entry on 2014 is a great reminder that youtubers are just giving their opinion and may not know what they're talking about. Overlooking any of August's hits, Vic Mensa's talent and Kevin Gates" impact

I don’t know why people hate Hopsin so much. Man can out rap any rapper, has a unique flow and cadence, and got bars. Even though sometimes he has some cringe bars, he still makes meaningful music. His ill mind songs, nocturnal rainbows, hotel in sydney, the fiends are knocking on my door, and even some of his recent stuff. People gotta start respecting this man. Lowkey he can out rap j cole.

rethink your opinion on lil b please!

Lil Durk is rated way too low imo. I don't listen much to his solo stuff but he's one of the best sounding feature rappers nowadays. Never heard one mediocre verse from him.

Yes.

the disrespect for jarren benton is insane. i get not knowing him or just brushing him off to the side cause he was on hopsin’s label, but damn he had some songs that hit. specifically silence, that song is just heartbreaking.

you underrated 2010

looking at 2013, i think you really overweighted your personal liking over other 4 ranking factors you mentioned you do you of course, but stating that you will count the objective factors too made me expecting an objective ranking in the end

2010 Underrated. Overall I would say 7/10, but compared to the rest in this video it’s an 8/10

Ngl, I think you dirty some of the more "Rap for the sake of rapping" guys here

Joey Bada$$ might not release a lot but imo he is probably top 5 in this whole video a six is honestly ridiculous for him

these mixtapes are the reason my expectations were impossibly high Lupe Fiasco : revenge of the nerds Wale : Mixtape about nothing Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y : How Fly

As a Hopsin fan, I definitely understand the hate for his music. Looking back at his albums I loved as a teenager, I can hardly listen to them now. But his newer music (besides Happy Ending, the worst song of all time) is a lot better.. but that's not the rapper I feel has been slept on in this video. It's gotta be Yelawolf. Granted I haven't heard his latest albums, but Trunk Muzik 1 and 3 are good. Love Story, Trial by Fire, and Ghetto Cowboy are amazing albums. I guess people don't like him for "sounding like Eminem" but I really don't hear it when I listen to his music.

Man I’m so glad you gave Isaiah rashad love

Feel like you definitely overlooked Lil B's influence

not saying there arent top artists from other years but 2016 is the only one that matters

Why no Blu rating tho??

Oof alfo ur taste in hip hop is ... interesting Still like the video tho

So Im curious... I dont listen to a lot of hip hop, much like your journey to listen to more metal, it would be really cool if you posted a playlist of your favorites? I find it funny that I watch these vids knowing very little of hip hop/ rap and still enjoy them. Even if you or even if someone in the comments wants to link a solid playlist of favorites with some decent stuff in a reply, that would make my day. Cheers!

Did you really say Joell Ortiz and Crooked I are known for being the lesser members of Slaughterhouse? Man I might as well stop the video right there.

why do you never seem to mention tyler the creator in any of your videos? as far as i know he’s pretty influential to rap and hip-hop, and kanye and frank ocean are some of your favorite artists, so why not mention him or odd future at all? not trying to hate or anything, just curious :D

kinda ridiculous how you’re supposed to be ranking them based on how successful they still are, and gave MGK a 2/10 after back to back number one albums. you ranked these rappers horribly, was really excited for this video but it’s kinda a flop

Bruh I totally forgot about Gorilla Zoe. His first album is pretty hard tho

I definitely agree with that Isaiah Rashad take

Pill was a real trapper bro

2013 was a 🔥class!

Definitely check out mickey factz, super understated lyricist who absolutely slaughtered Royce da 5’9 with his diss wraith

Bruh you forgot to put blu at 3:23

We are basing these off hits 2007 mid 6 standouts plies,boosie,lupe 2009 high 6 standouts ace hood,currency.cudi 2010 perfect 10 standouts j cole,jay rock,big sean,wiz khalifa and nipsey 2011 high 8 standouts Kendrick, meek,ygand mac miller (lil b was cool too) 2012 low 6 hopsin,mgk,macklemore (roscoe dash was this years lil b) 2013 mid 8 standouts schoolboy q,chief keef,logic,travis and badass 2014 low 8 standouts durk rashad gates and chance

Isaiah Rashad #2 in TDE is kinda wild my dude but music is subjective

bro said sosa and travis aren’t as influential as others???

*The 2013 XXL Freshmen* Class is the best IMO & my favorite from 2007 - 2014.

Joey badass should be higher than a 6/10

2008 had a class, the 2 notable members are Soulja Boy and Drake

am i weird for thinking iggy and MGK should be higher?

how was lil durk that early

curren$y the go to guy for hustler rap tbh

man i disagree with a lot of these rankings still a good vid tho

Put some respect on Mickey Factz, Fred the Godson and Cyhi’s names 😤

J. Cole 9 and Freddie 8?

Why does bro sound like CM Punk

Who the hell is Lil Boozy?!? It’s Boosie (boo-see) lmao this list is wild you can definitely can tell when someone is from outside the culture by their rap/music preferences

You really couldn’t have just made this one video

lmfao at 7:20

Lupe is one of the greatest artists of our generation.

Isaiah Rashad is really a great rapper and lyricist. He's one of my favorite rappers and I think he deserves more fame than he is receiving.