Young Money’s Drake and Nicki Minaj accomplished this feat. 's "Spaz" for Kudi's "CuDi Spazzin" are extremely enjoyable, and showed he rapped best over off-kilter soundscapes. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12 and (with Royce ...read more. Tyler, The Creator, the crew's leader, dropped his 2009 debut mixtape Bastard, which is best described as a modern horrorcore project by a gifted California kid. Needless to say, fans were puzzled by Baby’s absence from the class, as exemplified in this very 2018, . Hailing from Toronto, Drake first caught the attention of Young Money’s founder, Lil Wayne, with his 2007 single, “Replacement Girl.” Drake and Lil Wayne went on to release several tracks together in 2008, one notable example being Weezy’s feature on Drake’s breakout 2009 mixtape. The Midwest MC made his name off mixtapes, so making his return to that space after his debut LP did wonders for his confidence. If XXL offers him the honor on this year’s list, it would be too late. The trio of relatives — Quavo, Offset and Takeoff — almost single-handedly popularized the triplet flow, one of the most commonly used flows in rap today. FNL fueled Cole's early touring treks, and served as a strong project from a rapper with a ton of buzz early on. It sold 732,000 album-equivalent units, which included 160,000 pure album sales, making it the biggest first week of the year at the time. The Bronx MC first gained extensive recognition for her feature on Young Money’s collaborative track, “Bedrock,” released the same year. Lyrically, the songs are strong, and feel like Big Sean felt free to be himself, with no concerns about trying to make a hit song. One of Ty Dolla $ign's more underrated tapes is 2014's $ign Language. 50 Cent Is the Future, the first G-Unit mixtape ever, released in June of 2002. As a result, Migos entered 2014 as some of the hottest up-and-comers in the game and kept the momentum going by releasing No Label II, featuring staples, “Fight Night,” “Handsome and Wealthy” and “Freak No More.” Even with this hype around them, XXL still didn’t admit Migos to the Freshman List.Â, Before Lil Baby even started taking rapping seriously, he had already made quite the name for himself in Atlanta. It all started with this tape, … This tape is much-needed on DSPs. Bastard is one of the projects that perfectly encapsulates what Odd Future was, and Tyler's starting point in rap began. Turning Quan and Thug into a duo was Birdman's idea, and it produced nearly immediate results. This version of Travis is more free-wheeling and experimental as he continued to develop his sound. He’s amassed a solid following by using the heartbroken, emo rap style pioneered by artists like Trippie Redd, Lil Peep and, most predominantly, his mentor, Juice WRLD. They broke into the mainstream in 2013 with their single, “Versace,” which was included on numerous “Best Songs of 2013” lists. Tyler's improving skills on the mic and his already impressive production abilities are showcased here. While the offensive lyrics definitely stuck out, Earl was so good at putting words together, his talent became the focus over anything else. Still, these impressive statistics, at an incredibly young age no less, were not impressive enough in the eyes of XXL’s management, as he was not offered a spot on their 2018 Freshman List. Although Drake and Nicki were not considered for the 2009 XXL Freshman List, they were both offered spots on 2010’s cover. It serves as an affirmation of talent, promise and star power from the hip-hop community to its rising prospects. The chemistry between Thug and Quan is apparent, and their styles mesh perfectly; Thug is the explosive, experimental rapper who likes to sing while Quan is the talented chameleon who might croon or get serious about trying to survive the streets in his lyrics. By the time he released his debut tape, Live.Love.ASAP in October of that year, the naysayers were silenced. It’s entirely possible that The Kid LAROI will be inducted into XXL’s 2021 freshman class. This tape is hard to find nowadays, and putting it on DSPs would change all of that. Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly (born May 7, 1997), known professionally as Where K-9 Choked and Hit. Odd Future, the California-based crew of talented teen oddballs, left their stamp on rap without a doubt when they emerged in the 2000s. Even then, he would still be a clear snub from the 2020 list. Very few rappers arise every generation who permanently change the landscape of hip-hop. He's very clearly a singer, but has some rapper sensibilities, from subject matter to some of the cadences and production he chooses. While all of this is fine and convenient, what does that mean for mixtapes, the collections of rap songs that were mostly released for free and toed the line of legality years ago, that you want to listen to? Young Money’s Drake and Nicki Minaj accomplished this feat. Up to that point, Lil Baby had built some buzz through a slew of mixtapes, which included standout tracks such as “My Dawg” and “Freestyle.” He reached another level one month before the unveiling of the 2018 XXL Freshman List, when he achieved widespread acclaim through his collaborative single with Drake, “Yes Indeed,” which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. 6 song in the country when "Throw Some D's" hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006, and a track that big makes any rapper the man of the moment. Nicki Minaj was signed as one of two female rappers to Young Money in 2009. Ross shines here, rapping at a supreme level left and right. Further, he has earned the respect and affirmation of some of hip-hop’s greatest legends, with both Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg giving him rare features on his most recent studio album, When discussing influential rappers of the 2010s, you can’t leave out Atlanta’s Migos. Consequence is clever with the rhymes and Kanye is in his prime here, turning out quality beats in his sleep. "Day 'n' Nite" was his big hit at the time, but his takes on contemporary songs, like GrindMode's "I'm So High" for his version on "Maui Wowie," and N.E.R.D. "Suicide 2," "Roger That" and "Popular Demand" are standouts on the DJ Drama-hosted tape, and there's no shortage of Fabolous' stellar punchline either. His first week at #1 on the list was the week of Jan. 5-11 in 2018, at the age of 18. Drake has innovated the genre and endeared himself among fans through his seamless fusion of relentless bars, with deeply personal lyrical content and melodies, while Nicki has become the most popular female rapper since Missy Elliott, while also paving the way for a new wave of artists. The crew worked as a vehicle to not only show off their individual talents, but also to keep Clipse hot as their Hell Hath No Fury album was held up from releasing at Jive Records. Since its inception in 2007, the XXL Freshman List has been considered by fans, hip-hop media and rappers themselves to be a major career milestone for emcees. Indeed, he had already begun to distinguish himself from his peers through his fusion of piercing lyrics with melodic drawl. Copyright © 1998-2021, all rights reserved. Further, he has earned the respect and affirmation of some of hip-hop’s greatest legends, with both Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg giving him rare features on his most recent studio album, Top. Songs such as "Doctor, Doctor" and "So Soulful" display the kind of chemistry the two had when working together. Laroi currently has more monthly, than legends like Jay-Z and popular rappers of the day like Lil Durk.Â, YoungBoy Never Broke Again is one of the most divisive rappers out there. He buoyed every track, and further proved why he was—and still is—a unique talent within music. Yellow Album is exactly why Dom Kennedy still gets so much love. Big Sean's mainstream popularity was starting to rise after the release of his 2011 debut album, Finally Famous, and as per usual, the fans wanted more. Hopefully it happens one day. You can support our work here. Things would be much easier if mixtapes could just be streamed on DSPs, and XXL highlights some of the tapes that have earned that distinction, from recent releases to older classics. Edited and managed by the students at the University of Michigan since 1890. Regardless of anyone’s personal opinion about the 21-year-old Baton Rouge, La., rapper, one thing is for certain: He puts up serious numbers. His return to the U.S. in 2012 was met with plenty of buzz, which hadn't been given to a teen rapper in a long time. Since its inception in 2007, the XXL Freshman List has been considered by fans, hip-hop media and rappers themselves to be a major career milestone for emcees. All 25 tracks on the album entered the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, Youngboy has continued to rake in millions of views on YouTube per day and he consistently fluctuates within the list’s top five — earning the top spot more often than any other artist. These days, you don't ever have to "own" the hip-hop music you like, if you don't want to since a majority of your favorite rappers' albums and songs are available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, Pandora or any other platform you prefer. YoungBoy has been on. Regardless of anyone’s personal opinion about the 21-year-old Baton Rouge, La., rapper, one thing is for certain: He puts up serious numbers. "Hot Girl," "Know You," "Ex Games" and more showcase Jacquees' singing ability and tone, which set him apart in a somewhat stagnant male R&B world. In the really early days, you had to go to a store to buy your favorite vinyls, tapes and then CDs. He got sent to a Samoan school for at-risk boys by his mother, due to his bad behavior sometime in 2010. As one of the original G.O.O.D. Here's what we found, Phoenix, a secret society at U-M, votes to disband permanently, Schlissel: U-M to announce fall plans by mid-March, well-being days don’t 'solve the problem', Second lawsuit against U-M OIE director alleges mishandling of Title IX case while at University of Nebraska, Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Michigan Daily Weekly Roundup, Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building. Some of Wayne's best performances are on here; it was amongst one of the best mixtapes of 2006, and still receives hall of fame levels of reverence now. First Pics from Nicolas Cage's 5th Marriage, to 26-Year-Old in Las Veg…, Tiger Woods Was Found Unconscious at Crash Scene By Local Man, Officials Sa…, PETA Protests North Carolina Police Dept. Despite all the buzz, Laroi was not included on XXL’s 2020 Freshman List, most likely due to his lack of an official project at the time of its assembly. As far as guest features, Ty welcomes rappers with hits like Big Sean, French Montana and Rick Ross, but the singer never gets lost in the shuffle. "Villematic," "Too Deep for the Intro" and more, plus "In the Morning," his early collab with Drake, highlight Cole's potential before he was off and running. Check out the hip-hop mixtapes that need to hit DSPs A.S.A.P. Released in January of 2012, Rich Forever is one of Rick Ross' best projects, period. Featuring the best underground rappers who started on SoundCloud, XXL Freshman Class, and international rappers, this list of the best rappers under 30 includes Lil Yachty, Earl Sweatshirt, Vince Staples, Lil Dicky, Logic, Chance the Rapper, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, and more. YoungBoy Never Broke Again is one of the most divisive rappers out there. See the Most Anticipated Hip-Hop Albums of 2021, Every Person Drake Name-Drops on Scary Hours 2 Songs, Kevin Connolly Gets Pissed After Car's Towed in Parking Tiff with Flor…, Kardashians Looking to Get into Greeting Card Biz with 'Kardashian Kar…, Browns Star Wyatt Teller Slays Giant Alligator, Carries 200 Lb. At a time when uptown set the tone for what was hot in New York's streets, DJ Brucie B was at the epicenter of it all. Still, these impressive statistics, at an incredibly young age no less, were not impressive enough in the eyes of XXL’s management, as he was not offered a spot on their 2018 Freshman List. Travis Scott is a superstar now, but 2014's Days Before Rodeo tape provided a glimpse into the artist he could become while winning over a bunch of fans in the process. Over the course of their careers, Drake and Nicki have since amassed countless accolades and revolutionized hip-hop in their own ways. Since then, the 26-year-old rapper has gone on to validate his pitch and become one of the biggest names in hip-hop.Â, Honorable Mentions: Iann Dior (2020), NAV (2018), 6ix9ine (2018), Rae Sremmurd (2015). There Is No Competition 2 is a time capsule of what East Coast mixtape rap was at the time, and one of the best examples of such. Nicki Minaj was signed as one of two female rappers to Young Money in 2009. Drake has innovated the genre and endeared himself among fans through his seamless fusion of relentless bars, with deeply personal lyrical content and melodies, while Nicki has become the most popular female rapper since Missy Elliott, while also paving the way for a, Daily Arts Contributor Aidan Harris can be reached at, The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown challenges at all of us — including The Michigan Daily — but that hasn’t stopped our staff. Since then, Youngboy has continued to rake in millions of views on YouTube per day and he consistently fluctuates within the list’s top five — earning the top spot more often than any other artist. This tape also marks the graphic, shock value-ridden style Tyler has left behind these days. Hailing from Toronto, Drake first caught the attention of Young Money’s founder, Lil Wayne, with his 2007 single, “Replacement Girl.” Drake and Lil Wayne went on to release several tracks together in 2008, one notable example being Weezy’s feature on Drake’s breakout 2009 mixtape, So Far Gone.