Before the 2018 XXL Freshman class will be revealed this summer, the Freshman hopefuls are here to show and prove why they deserve a spot in this year’s class. The 10th Spot voting has officially launched, which means hip-hop's rising newcomers are vying for a spot on the 2018 XXL Freshman cover.

Houston's Maxo Kream has made a name for himself with his gritty imagery and ability to craft bangers without slacking lyrically. After he dropped 2016's The Persona Tape, he went relatively silent until he geared up for his 2018 album Punken. With singles like "Bussdown," the well-received album shows a more vulnerable Maxo, swapping out vivid street stories for lyrics about his family's history and life's highs and lows. With Maxo Kream's depth on full display, his popularity will only increase.

Now that you've watched his pitch below, it's time to vote. The 2018 XXL Freshman 10th Spot will run for one week. This is where the public gets the chance to vote an artist into the XXL Freshman Class. Go here to make your vote count for your favorite artist.

Once you've voted, head over to XXL’s YouTube page to take a look back at the 2017 XXL Freshman Class, which featured A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Aminé, Kap G, Kamaiyah, Kyle, Madeintyo, Playboi Carti, PnB Rock, Ugly God and 10th spot winner XXXTentacion.

And watch all the 2018 XXL Freshman pitch videos that have been released on XXL's YouTube page here.

See Every XXL Freshman Cover Over the Years

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