XXL Editors Break Down the 2016 Freshman Cover to ‘The Breakfast Club’

Today (June 13), XXL's Editor-in-Chief, Vanessa Satten, and Assistant Editor, Miranda J., pay a visit to the Breakfast Club to discuss the freshly announced 2016 XXL Freshman list. Throughout the 24-minute interview, Satten and J. talk about the positive energy in the room for the photo shoot, discuss how rappers rise to prominence in the Internet age and explain why certain artists did or didn't ultimately make the cut.

Every spot on XXL's annual freshman list is coveted. Desiigner, the 18-year-old G.O.O.D. Music artist, earned his place on the cover thanks in large part to his smash hit, "Panda," which reached No. 1 chart status. Satten expands on why Desiigner was included.

"You can't deny the song – how big the song is and what it sets him up as, as far as the eyes that are on him. We went down to the wire on that one, because we weren't sure," Satten says. "Once [Panda] hits No. 1, and it's recognized by so many different people, the platform that he's set up on ... We have to hear the rest of the music. Brooklyn would love to see that happen."

In case you missed it, XXL unveiled the 2016 Freshman Class this morning. In their conversation, DJ Envy, Charlemagne, Angela Yee, Satten and J. also touch on the artists who missed out on this year's cover, including Zoey Dollaz, Post Malone, Young M.A, Mick Jenkins, D.R.A.M., Joyner Lucas, Cardi B, Blac Youngsta and O.T. Genasis.

Satten and J. also delve into the difference between becoming an established MC 10-15 years ago versus gaining recognition in 2016.

"Everyone always asks us, 'What's the difference between picking freshmen now and then. It's that they used to come in with more of a body of work. You can't really put it on us that they have one song and start getting a fortune of money and are on tour," Satten says. "Let's rewind, and I like to compare it to and see what 50 Cent had to do to get the Dr. Dre/Eminem deal back in the day. The amount of mixtapes, the amount of content, how big 'Wanksta' had to be, all the music that built up to it in order for him to get that million dollar deal with Dre and Em. And then what you have to do now, it's less and less in order for you to start to pop and buzz and for people to love you so much. And I think Yachty's a good example."

The New York XXL freshman show will take place June 28. Get tickets below.

See Every XXL Freshman Class Cover Over the Years