Since our second Freshman Class in 2009, each edition of our annual up-and-coming MC spotlight issue has included a slew of different stories, videos and interviews to showcase the year's new crop of talent. And while a lot of attention centers, understandably, on our cyphers, a real test of a rapper's pure talent comes when they're alone on the mic, freestyling off the top of their head (or as close to that as they dare).

Many of our Freshmen have gone onto Platinum-selling success, No. 1 albums and hip-hop superstardom—many have not, as well; predicting the future is a notoriously difficult enterprise—and they laid down their Freshman freestyle at the moment when they were on the cusp of either making that leap or falling by the wayside. Whichever Class is your favorite, some of these freestyles are sure to provide plenty of entertainment and fascination, particularly as the years go by.

As we get set to start rolling out the 2015 Freshman Class' freestyles on Monday, let's go back and revisit each of the prior six years worth of XXL Freshmen freestyles. [Ed. Note: Unfortunately, the freestyles from our 2012 Class have gone missing from our archives, but we've included each cypher from that year instead.] Who spit the best verse? We'll let you decide. —XXL Staff

 2009 | 2010 | 2011

  2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015

Related: The Wait Is Over: Here Is the 2015 XXL Freshman Class
All 12 XXL Freshmen 2014 Freestyles
Every XXL Freshman Cover Over the Years
27 Former XXL Freshman Class Members Name The Best Moments From Their Freshmen Experience
22 Former XXL Freshman Class Members Have Advice For The 2014 Class 

freestyle xxl freshmen 2009 freestyle
Ace Hood, Asher Roth, Blu, B.o.B, Charles Hamilton, Cory Gunz, Curren$y, Kid Cudi, Mickey Factz and Wale
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2009

Ace Hood

Asher Roth

Blu

B.o.B

Charles Hamilton

 Home | 2010 | 2011

   2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015

Cory Gunz

Curren$y

Kid Cudi

Mickey Factz

Wale

 Home | 2010 | 2011

   2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015

xxl freshman class 2010 cover j cole pill nipsey hussle wiz khalifa oj da juiceman freddie gibbs big sean jay rock fashawn donnis freestyle
XXL Freshmen 2010: J. Cole, Pill, Nipsey Hu$$le, Wiz Khalifa, OJ Da Juiceman, Freddie Gibbs, Big Sean, Jay Rock, Fashawn and Donnis
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2010

Big Sean

Donnis

Fashawn

Freddie Gibbs

J. Cole

 2009 | Home | 2011

  2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015

Jay Rock

Nipsey Hu$$le

Pill

OJ da Juiceman

Wiz Khalifa

 2009 | Home | 2011

  2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015

xxl freshman class 2011 cover Meek Mill Big KRIT Cyhi The Prynce Lil Twist Yelawolf Fred The Godson Mac Miller YG Lil Kendrick Lamar freestyle Diggy Simmons
XXL Freshmen 2011: Meek Mill, Big K.R.I.T., Cyhi The Prynce, Lil Twist, Yelawolf, Fred The Godson, Mac Miller, YG, Lil B, Kendrick Lamar and Diggy Simmons
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2011

Big K.R.I.T.

Cyhi The Prynce

Diggy Simmons

 2009 | 2010Home

2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015

Fred the Godson

Kendrick Lamar

Lil B

Lil Twist

 2009 | 2010Home

  2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015

Mac Miller

Meek Mill

Yelawolf

YG

 2009 | 2010Home

  2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015

XXL Freshmen 2012 Cover freestyle future kid ink danny brown french montana macklemore don trip machine gun kelly hopsin iggy azalea roscoe dash
XXL Freshmen 2012: Future, Kid Ink, Danny Brown, French Montana, Macklemore, Don Trip, Machine Gun Kelly, Hopsin, Iggy Azalea and Roscoe Dash
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2012

Iggy Azalea, Kid Ink, French Montana, Macklemore and Don Trip

Future, Danny Brown, Machine Gun Kelly, Hopsin and Roscoe Dash

 2009 | 2010 | 2011

  Home | 2013 | 2014 | 2015

XXL Freshman class 2013 ScHoolboy Q Trinidad James Joey Badass Ab-Soul Logic Action Bronson Kirko Bangz Travis Scott Dizzy Wright freestyle Angel Haze Chief Keef
XXL Freshmen 2013: ScHoolboy Q, Trinidad Jame$, Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, Logic, Action Bronson, Kirko Bangz, Travi$ Scott, Dizzy Wright, Angel Haze and Chief Keef
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2013

Ab-Soul

Action Bronson

Angel Haze

 2009 | 2010 | 2011

  2012 | Home | 2014 | 2015

Dizzy Wright

Joey Bada$$

Kirko Bangz

Logic

 2009 | 2010 | 2011

  2012 | Home | 2014 | 2015

ScHoolboy Q

Travi$ Scott

Trinidad Jame$

 2009 | 2010 | 2011

  2012 | Home | 2014 | 2015

XXL Freshman Class 2014 Chance The Rapper Rich Homie Quan Isaiah Rashad Ty Dolla $ign Lil Durk Kevin Gates Troy Ave Vic Mensa Lil Bibby Jon Connor Jarren Benton August Alsina freestyle
XXL Freshmen 2014: Chance The Rapper, Rich Homie Quan, Isaiah Rashad, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Durk, Kevin Gates, Troy Ave, Vic Mensa, Lil Bibby, Jon Connor, Jarren Benton and August Alsina
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2014

August Alsina

Chance The Rapper

Isaiah Rashad

Jarren Benton

 2009 | 2010 | 2011

    2012 | 2013Home | 2015

Jon Connor

Kevin Gates

Lil Bibby

Lil Durk

 2009 | 2010 | 2011

     2012 | 2013Home | 2015

Rich Homie Quan

Troy Ave

Ty Dolla $ign

Vic Mensa

 2009 | 2010 | 2011

    2012 | 2013Home | 2015

2015 xxl freshman freestyle freestyles
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Fetty Wap

DeJ Loaf

Vince Staples

Raury

GoldLink

Tink

Shy Glizzy

K Camp

OG Maco

Kidd Kidd

 2009 | 2010 | 2011

    2012 | 2013 | 2014Home

Related: The Wait Is Over: Here Is the 2015 XXL Freshman Class
All 12 XXL Freshmen 2014 Freestyles
Every XXL Freshman Cover Over the Years
27 Former XXL Freshman Class Members Name The Best Moments From Their Freshmen Experience
22 Former XXL Freshman Class Members Have Advice For The 2014 Class

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