2014 XXL Freshman Class

It's amazing that it's already been a year since the 2014 XXL Freshman cover, when we unveiled our Dirty Dozen featuring two R&B artists for the first time ever. But now it's time to check the report card (click the image above). The past 12 months—really 14 months, since our 2015 XXL Freshman cover came out slightly later than usual—have been full of ups and downs for our 2014 Class, with bi

Last year's XXL Freshman Class was unique for a few reasons; for one, with 12 Freshmen on the cover, we had more artists than ever before; and it was the first time we'd included R&B singers as part of the Freshman class. But one thing hadn't changed from the 2013 edition; an artist from indie label Funk Volume's roster won the fan-voted 10th spot competition, earning a spot to call their own

XXL held our Freshmen 2014 Live show at the Best Buy Theater in New York City on Monday, and we've got your front row pass right here. Nine of our 12 Freshmen performed at the show, and special guests such as Fabolous, Busta Rhymes and Kid Ink swung through to help celebrate performances by Jon Connor, Jarren Benton, Lil Bibby, August Alsina, Kevin Gates, Vic Mensa, Rich Homie Quan, Troy Ave and

UPDATE: Here's the tracklist to XXL 2014 Freshman Class alumnus Lil Bibby upcoming project Free Crack II. Free Crack II  ----- XXL 2014 Freshman Class alumnus, Lil Bibby is currently working on the follow up to his street approved debut mixtape Free Crack...

Set your alarm. Tonight, we continue the #XXLFreshmen14 edition of Reddit's Ask Me Anything forum with class member Vic Mensa. The MC, who has become one of the hottest new artists out of The Windy City, will be posted in front of his laptop answering all your burning queries starting at 8pm EST...

The Ty Dolla $ign freshman class day is now well under way, but where did it all begin? You've seen the Freestyle and the freshmen profile page, but now we're giving you an exclusive behind the scenes look at the moment when Ty Dolla was told that he would be a part of The Dirty Dozen...

The 2014 XXL Freshman Class cover shoot was insane, wild and utterly incredible, but above all, it was shrouded in mystery. With 12 artists coming in from across the country—complete with entourages, managers and family members—as well multiple photo and video crews, the result was a day that would inspire a serious case of FOMO for any hip-hop fan...

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