Five Things to Learn From the XXL 2020 Freshman Class

There is perhaps nothing more persistent in hip-hop than the XXL Freshman Class. The hip-hop magazine XXL has annually released a list of up-and-coming rappers and given them an opportunity to showcase their talents since 2007. The rappers, dubbed that year’s “Freshman Class,” take part in a series of freestyles, in which they spit short solo verses a cappella, and a round of cyphers, in which they are split up into three groups to rap over a beat. The list is known for promoting emerging rappers into the mainstream, and this year’s class is no different. It is comprised of Polo G, Rod Wave, Baby Keem, NLE Choppa, Mulatto, Lil Tjay, Jack Harlow, Chika, Calboy, Lil Keed, Fivio Foreign, and 24kGoldn. This year’s lineup of rappers is telling in a number of ways, for both the present state of the XXL Class and the future of hip-hop.

The Pop-ification of Hip-Hop

More than any other, this year’s Freshman class shows that melodic rap is the new wave of hip-hop, with over half of the artists featured this year having a heavy reliance on melody. What has also become overwhelmingly prevalent is the inclusion of artists who barely even classify as rappers per the traditional definition, such as singer/rapper 24kGoldn. A big contributing factor of this move toward melodic hip-hop is TikTok, in which songs with catchy hooks and pop sensibilities are becoming increasingly prevalent. Artists like Baby Keem or 24kGoldn likely wouldn’t be on the list if not for their music’s rampant success on the social media app.

These People Can’t Freestyle

Another thing we can gather from this year’s Freshman Class is that some of these artists can’t freestyle. This year’s bout of freestyles were some of the weakest in recent memory, and the lowkey melodic style of many of these artists is a part of it. A majority of the melodic rappers featured on the list rely on autotune and good production to make their music, and when they rap in the same melodies without those elements, you get freestyles that sound more like elementary sing-alongs than rap verses. On one hand, you could say that making them rap without a beat is like making a drummer drum without sticks. The style of their music is focused more on riding the beat than pure lyricism, and going a cappella is something they are not accustomed to, which is apparent with Lil Keed’s freestyle. On the other hand, you could argue that rappers of any subgenre should at least sound good without a beat, especially since melodic rappers like Travis Scott have had decent freestyles in the past. But the reality is that if XXL really wants to showcase the talent of the Freshman Class, they should consider making adjustments to their freestyles.

Going No-Show

Baby Keem skipped the cypher entirely this year, continuing the trend of artists not showing up for their Freshman Class events. The growing list includes Trippie Redd, who didn’t do the cypher, Blueface and Tierra Whack, who didn’t do their freestyles, and Gunna, who didn’t show up for anything but the photoshoot. Don Toliver attempted to pull the same move that Gunna did this year but was rejected for his refusal to properly participate. It seems that rappers want the clout of being in the XXL Freshman Class without putting in the work.

A Rising Movement

While artists like Don Toliver and Lil Tecca are notably missing from the list, there is no absentee more notable and tragic than Pop Smoke, who was killed in a home invasion this February. Before his death, he was chosen as the first freshman on the list. The rising New York rapper was a leader in the movement of New York drill, an emerging subgenre defined by stuttering, bass-heavy beats and uneven flows. While other artists in the scene have found success, Pop Smoke was poised to take the genre to the next level. He had cosigns from hugely popular artists like Travis Scott and Quavo, and his posthumous album “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon” (2020) showcased New York drill on a global scale, debuting on top of the Billboard 200 albums chart. Fivio Foreign, one of the biggest names in the genre, represents it in this year’s Freshman Class. His freestyle and cypher showcased not only his unique artistry, but also New York drill as a movement.

The Standouts

This year’s Freshman Class has been a bit underwhelming. It is one of the biggest classes in XXL history with 12 artists but is somehow less interesting and sonically diverse than most. The setup of this year’s cyphers doesn’t help either. The artists are far apart to enforce social distancing, hurting the chemistry that elevated cyphers in the past, especially the legendary 2016 cypher featuring Lil Uzi Vert, Kodak Black, and more. Still 2020 totes a few diamonds in the rough. Polo G came through with thoughtful lyrics and smooth melodies on both the freestyle and cypher. Jack Harlow had a surprisingly conscious and well-written freestyle, and while NLE Choppa and Fivio Foreign’s lyrics were mediocre, their delivery and charisma made up for it. Chika is the most artistically unique rapper on the list, with her emphasis on lyricism, and Baby Keem’s freestyle was one of the most emotional performances of the event. The sub-cypher with Mulatto, 24kGoldn, Fivio Foreign, and Calboy had a level of energy and chemistry nobody expected, even if the other cyphers were mediocre. And while Lil Keed’s freestyle will definitely go down as one of the worst of all time, it is as hilarious as it is quotable.