• Gov't Name: Osiris Williams
  • Age: 19
  • Reppin': Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Twitter: @ykOsiris
  • Instagram: @ykOsiris
  • Notable Releases: Singles: “Worth It,” “Timing,” “Valentine,” “Run It Up”; Guest Appearances: Quando Rondo’s “Lovers and Friends”
  • Label: Def Jam Recordings
  • Currently Working On: Major label debut album, Love & Hate, due this summer.
  • Surprised About Who Is Missing: “No one. All of these artists are stars.”
  • Influenced by: “One of the artists who I look up to that inspired me is Michael Jackson ’cause he have a lot of pain. He not just a singer, he’s an artist, you know? When he sings, you can feel it. Just like how you can feel my music when I sing and I pour my heart out. It’s a lot behind just singing and that’s what Michael Jackson had and that’s what I have. He a legend, too. Bruno Mars is someone who inspired me because he has a lot of pain behind his music, too. He sang his heart out. You can feel what he feel. He’s not just a singer either. He’s a whole artist. He’s legendary. He’s worldwide. It’s no limit with him. He’s a businessman. He have a lot going on.”
  • As a Freshman in High School: “ I was goofy, you know? I was the class clown. I’m the one that was throwing paper in the class and stuff. But I was so smart. I got straight As and Bs. I was very smart. But, I was the one that be giggling and laughing when the teacher be talking and stuff.”

TRUTH ON BEING AN XXL FRESHMAN: “Being a 2019 XXL Freshman means a lot to me because I always wished to be on XXL. I always looked back on there and said, ‘I wanna be on there.’ And look at me now. I thank XXL for picking me ’cause it means a lot to me. My mom, I know everybody happy.

I found out that I made the cover when my people called me from Def Jam and told me I made the cover. My manager called me and told me I made the cover. And I was shocked. Like, for real? Is this true? I was so amazed. I didn’t really believe it, but they said it was true. I was very happy. I was jumping up and down in the car. I was going nuts in the car. It just made my whole day. And I was down before that. It just made my whole day when I heard that.

My mom was the first person I told and it was important that I told her first. It made her so happy when I told her. She almost cried like, ‘You’re doing your thing. You’re going crazy.’ It’s important to her because it’s my mom. We went through a lot. We came from the mud. And to know her son is gonna be on the XXL Freshman cover is amazing.

The most important part about being a Freshman is that it’s big. It’s like, everybody don’t get it. I thank God that I made it. I dreamed to be on here and I’m here. It means for my fans that y’all did it. Y’all helped me a lot to be on this cover. I had the talent, but y’all helped my streams go up. I thank y’all for doing this. It means a lot to me.

I didn’t really need to prepare for this day because I’m a star. It’s already in me. So I’ma go crazy regardless. You know I’ma do my thing. I’m YK Osiris.

Whenever I saw the XXL Freshman online everywhere it inspired me to be on there. It inspired me to go harder. It inspired me to follow my dreams ’cause I just saw all the artists I looked up to on there. August Alsina, Chance The Rapper. It made me go harder when I saw it. Like, I wanna be on there. I like all the covers. Last year’s cover was my favorite cover because they was turnt. I like [Lil] Pump, Smokepurpp, BlocBoy [JB]. The class is crazy.

This is XXL Freshman and it is hip-hop, but I fit in it because I got swag, you know? I’m not just no singer. I got swag, I got the drip [and] I got the looks. I fit in ’cause I’m versatile. I’m different. It’s important that XXL shine a light on singers because we have a story, too. We have pain. We for the culture. We go all around the world. We got swag. We got drip, you know? I’m very glad that they shine a light on the singer because we have the same thing rappers have; we just don’t rap.

And I’m not just doing love songs either. I got them rap songs, too. I got that street side to me. I’m not just no singer. I’m coming both ways. Now that I’m an XXL Freshman, what I plan to do is go harder. Ain’t no stopping [me]. About to drop my album. We going crazy. A lot of stuff about to happen. Stay tuned.”

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YK OSIRIS' 2019 XXL FRESHMAN PROFILE INTERVIEW

When the XXL Freshman cover is unveiled every summer, each artist is welcomed with a rather polarizing reception: either hip-hop fans love or hate the members of the new class. Subjectivity is the beauty of music; there's something for everyone's tastes, which is what the XXL Freshman cover highlights when the new class is inducted. While XXL's tag line has been "Hip-hop on a higher level" since the start, R&B has weaved its way into the conversation as the genre has flourished, bringing with it plenty more artists to consider for the Freshman class.

Singers Ty Dolla $ign and August Alsina landed on the 2014 cover while rap crooners A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and PnB Rock made their way into the 2017 class. Now, Jacksonville, Fla. native YK Osiris follows in the footsteps of the respected XXL Freshman singers before him, bringing his soul-stirring voice and lyrical depth to a new crop of listeners as a member of the 2019 XXL Freshman class.

At 19, YK Osiris is a proven success story when it comes to his songwriting skills and freestyling talents. He created "Worth It," his biggest hit to date, during a freestyle session in a friend's small Florida studio set up in a house in 2018. Once YK—the YK stands for "Young King"—put the song on Instagram, the track went viral and the demand for the singer to release it skyrocketed.

Four months after crafting the song, produced by his boys Kiwi and M.Geezy, he landed a record deal with Def Jam, one of hip-hop's most storied labels. Almost a year later, "Worth It" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 87, marking YK's first entry on the chart. With a peak position of No. 52, the song has also found success on streaming platforms like Spotify, where it currently sits at more than 77 millions streams, and YouTube, where the video has been viewed upwards of 47 million times.

With a legion of supporters in tow, it’s likely to come as a surprise that YK didn’t believe in his talent early on. "When I was young, I didn't take it serious at first until somebody told me that, you know, 'You got a great voice. It's unique.' And I just started taking it very seriously because I didn't really think I could sing at first. But then I start feeling myself, you know, and singing and people liked it. I made viral videos, people loved it and it made me go harder." “Worth It” is indicative of that virality.

Florida has been strongly represented in the XXL Freshman classes over the last few years, with Kodak Black repping the Sunshine State in 2016, XXXTentacion in 2017, and Ski Mask The Slump God, Wifisfuneral, Lil Pump and Smokepurpp in 2018. YK Osiris continues to carry the torch for the bottom of the map. "I'm from Jacksonville, Fla., a.k.a. Duval, and it influenced me to go harder, you know, because I ain't came from a lot, you know, and you can hear through my songs. I spit it all out." YK truly got it out the mud.

Like many singers before him, the King of Pop has been a main source of inspiration for YK. "One of the artists who I looked up to that inspired me is Michael Jackson ’cause he have a lot of pain, he just not a singer, he a artist," he shares. "And, you know, when he sing you can feel it. Just like how you can feel my music when I sing and I put my heart out."

YK Osiris' position as the sole singer in the 2019 XXL Freshman class is unique. With 11 artists featured on this year's cover, he's the only one crooning his heart out. But don't write him off as just another singer creating baby-making music. While YK Osiris can do plenty of that, he prides himself on his versatility.

"This is XXL Freshman and it is hip-hop, but I fit in it because I got swag, you know?" he declares. "I’m not just no singer. I got swag, I got the drip [and] I got the looks. I fit in ’cause I’m versatile. I’m different. It’s important that they shine a light on singers because we have a story, too. We have pain. We for the culture. We go all around the world. We got swag. We got drip, you know? I’m very glad that they shine a light on the singer because we have the same thing rappers have; we just don’t rap."

Get to know YK Osiris in his 2019 XXL Freshman interview above.

See Photos of YK Osiris Behind the Scenes at the 2019 XXL Freshman Cover Shoot

YK OSIRIS' 2019 XXL FRESHMAN FREESTYLE

YK Osiris has a unique position in the 2019 XXL Freshman class as the sole singer. Eleven artists selected for this year's cover and he's the only one crooning his heart out. But don't get it twisted. Singing love songs like his gold-certified hits "Worth It" or "Valentine" isn't all he's got in the chamber. The 19-year-old Jacksonville, Fla. native is locked and loaded, ready to take aim with his versatility.

"And I’m not just doing love songs either," YK Osiris affirms. "I got them rap songs, too. I got that street side to me. I’m not just no singer. I’m coming both ways." Now, the burgeoning artist proves he's got the gusto for one of hip-hop's oldest art forms: freestyling. For his 2019 XXL Freshman freestyle, YK kicks the adoration and romance to the curb to tell the story of a tainted friendship, all while showing off impressive vocal range. Auto-Tune enthusiasts, take note.

The Def Jam signee keeps it real about loyalty and taking action in the streets. "When I ain't even had that Glock, but you let me use yours/You know I bust for you, lil nigga, what was mine is yours/We ain't had no food, all we had was us, dog/Thuggin' in these streets, I was servin' niggas raw," YK delivers.

Then a switch-up occurs to YK's dismay. "I kept it solid, but you changed, tell me why you changed on me," he croons, the hurt seeping through his voice. "Why you had to change, you know that you changed on me/Why you had to change, tell me why you changed on me/Shit just ain't the same, no, it ain't the same for me."

If YK Osiris' freestyle isn't enough to quell the naysayers hating on his spot in the class, allow him to prove his point. "This is XXL Freshman and it is hip-hop, but I fit in it because I got swag, you know?," he expresses. "I’m not just no singer. I got swag, I got the drip [and] I got the looks. I fit in ’cause I’m versatile. I’m different. It’s important that XXL shine a light on singers because we have a story, too. We have pain. We for the culture. We go all around the world. We got swag. We got drip, you know? I’m very glad that they shine a light on the singer because we have the same thing rappers have; we just don’t rap."

Experience YK Osiris bring his truth to light in his 2019 XXL Freshman freestyle above.

YK OSIRIS' ABCs

YK Osiris admits he was a class clown in school. As a freshman roaming the halls in Jacksonviille, Fla., the 19-year-old singer reveals he wasn't always on his best behavior. “I was goofy, you know? I was the class clown," he shares. "I’m the one that was throwing paper in the class and stuff."

The newly-minted 2019 XXL Freshman may have found himself in some trouble here and there for his antics, but he never let his grades suffer. "I got straight As and Bs," YK Osiris says. "I was very smart, but I was the one that be giggling and laughing when the teacher be talking and stuff.”

Now he combines his school smarts and clever quips for some fast-action word association for XXL's ABCs series. To start things off, YK picks the word appalled for the letter A to describe his mood at the moment. He's also feeling "amazed" and "shocked." Up next, one of his musical influences gets a shout-out for the letter B. "Bruno Mars, very talented, legend," the "Valentine" singer declares. "Legendary, for the culture. I love him." The crooner also shows some love to Chris Brown when it comes to C. "Very talented, know how to dance his behind off, like do everything," he continues.

Based off the more than 2 million people who follow YK Osiris across social media or those that watched his "Worth It" video, which has been viewed more than 47 million times on YouTube, it's evident the rising crooner has a solid fan base. But do they know what YK stands for? "Young King," he states for the letter K. "My name is Young King. And I'm a king. My teacher gave me that name and I ran with that." And for O, YK Osiris gives the uninformed a lesson in his government name. "Osiris, that's my name," the Def Jam signee confirms. "It means powerful, strong, Greek." In ancient Egyptian mythology, Osiris ruled as king of Egypt.

Watch up top to learn more about what 2019 XXL Freshman YK Osiris thinks of his Jacksonville stomping grounds, the name of his new dog and his nod to Kodak Black in XXL's ABCs.

DABABY, MEGAN THEE STALLION, LIL MOSEY AND YK OSIRIS' 2019 XXL FRESHMAN CYPHER

With each new XXL Freshman class comes a new set of rappers on a mission to prove they are ready for the hip-hop world. The 2019 inductees are no different. A divergent new crew of 11 artists were crowned XXL Freshmen this year, but despite their contrasts, they have one consistent goal to help raise the bar; a common theme in the roundtable interview with DaBabyMegan Thee StallionYK Osiris and Lil Mosey.

“When you a Freshman and, shit, you either made it or you the next to go crazy,” says Seattle’s Lil Mosey of the cover’s stamp of approval. “That’s like the biggest platform. If you there, everybody’s watching, like, ‘These the niggas that’s next up and shit.’”

YK Osiris agrees there is a certain amount of responsibility that comes with being one of the select few chosen. “A lot of people didn’t make it, you know? So, for you to make it, a lot of people gon’ be watching and your career is going to go up and up,” the Florida native says. “They expect more outta, you know? You can’t just do no dumb junk. You gotta go crazy after that.”

With over a decade of Freshman magazines in the books, most of the class is young enough to have literally grown up checking for the covers before they were rapping.

“It’s definitely something all of us used to look at. You look at that shit, it make you put your eyes on somebody. So, it’s big, big. It’s extra-large,” says DaBaby, who has already collaborated with fellow Freshmen YK and Megan on tracks.

Houston hot girl Megan Thee Stallion believes the 2019 XXL Freshman class has set a new standard. “I’ma just say, I feel like this class is one of the best in a minute,” she opines. “We got some rappers on here. Some people that actually take their craft pretty seriously. After this, I feeling like you gotta raise the bar for the next people y’all pick because we did the damn thing this time.”

Peep DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, YK Osiris and Lil Mosey’s XXL Freshman roundtable discussion above.

DABABY, MEGAN THEE STALLION, LIL MOSEY AND YK OSIRIS' 2019 XXL FRESHMAN ROUNDTABLE INTERVIEW

With each new XXL Freshman class comes a new set of rappers on a mission to prove they are ready for the hip-hop world. The 2019 inductees are no different. A divergent new crew of 11 artists were crowned XXL Freshmen this year, but despite their contrasts, they have one consistent goal to help raise the bar; a common theme in the roundtable interview with DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, YK Osiris and Lil Mosey.

“When you a Freshman and, shit, you either made it or you the next to go crazy,” says Seattle’s Lil Mosey of the cover’s stamp of approval. “That’s like the biggest platform. If you there, everybody’s watching, like, ‘These the niggas that’s next up and shit.’”

YK Osiris agrees there is a certain amount of responsibility that comes with being one of the select few chosen. “A lot of people didn’t make it, you know? So, for you to make it, a lot of people gon’ be watching and your career is going to go up and up,” the Florida native says. “They expect more outta, you know? You can’t just do no dumb junk. You gotta go crazy after that.”

With over a decade of Freshman magazines in the books, most of the class is young enough to have literally grown up checking for the covers before they were rapping.

“It’s definitely something all of us used to look at. You look at that shit, it make you put your eyes on somebody. So, it’s big, big. It’s extra-large,” says DaBaby, who has already collaborated with fellow Freshmen YK and Megan on tracks.

Houston hot girl Megan Thee Stallion believes the 2019 XXL Freshman class has set a new standard. “I’ma just say, I feel like this class is one of the best in a minute,” she opines. “We got some rappers on here. Some people that actually take their craft pretty seriously. After this, I feeling like you gotta raise the bar for the next people y’all pick because we did the damn thing this time.”

Watch DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, YK Osiris and Lil Mosey’s XXL Freshman roundtable discussion above.

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