A Deep Dive Into The 2021 XXL Freshman Class
The 2021 XXL Freshman Class is finally out and the list was a bit surprising to be honest. There is a good mix of people we expected to be on the cover and some people we were not. This class is a meh from me. This is right up there with the 2015 and 2017 classes in terms of “who?” It seems like XXL was very desperate and may have had trouble filling the class so they just picked every big name they could. Let’s take a dive into each artist that graced this year’s cover.
Memphis’s Pooh Shiesty was a name I expected to be on this year’s cover. “Back in Blood” featuring Lil Durk was one of the biggest songs of the year and really put Pooh Shiesty on the map. My problem with Pooh is the legal troubles that have followed him. XXL claims they tend to stay away from artists that have problems with the law yet Pooh Shiesty is currently incarcerated on charges of armed robbery, criminal theft, and battery. Now I know people will say, “Well, what about Chief Keef? He was locked up and XXL still put him in the 2013 Class.” Chief Keef was way more influential when he made the cover than Pooh Shiesty is at the moment. My theory is XXL didn’t know who to replace him with so they just left him. Thus his appearance on the list doesn’t surprise me.
Straight outta Puerto Rico, we have Iann Dior. This pick kinda surprised me because Iann had been just floating around the music scene over the last couple of years. He would of course feature alongside 2020 XXL Freshman 24kGoldn on the song “Mood” which is Dior’s most successful track.
This was the perfect time for Iann Dior to make the list in my opinion. Sorta reminds me of Kyle from years ago when he made the list. Not the first person you’d think of but you didn’t mind that he made the list.
All the way from Mobile, Alabama, we have Flo Milli. This was my first lock for the list. Many felt she was snubbed last year, so we knew XXL wouldn’t drop the ball again. XXL also needed to fill the female rapper quota and she’s one of the hottest out right now. Following in the Megan Thee Stallion and Latto blueprint, Flo Milli delivers her bars with such a bubbly, cheery nature, which makes her music great to listen to. Easy choice for the list.
Hailing from Pontiac, Michigan, we have DDG. DDG was actually the winner of the 10th spot XXL has. Probably the most popular on the list, DDG’s story is incredible. Most people know him from his YouTube channel. DDG been making music since about 2016 and he had been on people’s predictions for years. One of the bigger surprises in the class but very much well deserved.
Jersey’s own Coi Leray was another one I could guarantee to be on the list for a few reasons. For starters there’s a lack of relevant female rappers out right now. Outside of Flo Milli, it was really anyone’s guess. Secondly, she’s coming off of two hot tracks with “No More Parties” and “BIG PURR”.
Lastly, people are always tuning in to see what Coi Leray is up to. Whether it’s her cooking videos, her “beef” with her famous father, Benzino, or previewing music; Coi Leray is always in the spotlight. She’s interesting, to say the least, sort of like what Blueface was. XXL loves characters.
From Fayetteville, North Carolina, we have Morray. One of the older people on the list, he’ll be 29 in a few months. Morray dropped “Quicksand” and featured on J. Cole’s album, ‘The Offseason.’ He’s one of the reasons I called XXL desperate this year. While I do enjoy his music, I would not have made him a Freshman this year. He’s still relatively new and a ton of people don’t even know who he is. Definitely could’ve gotten on next year.
Probably the biggest WTF on the list. Really XXL? Y’all couldn’t find anyone else? Lexington, Kentucky made, Rubi Rose is a name that most people weren’t expecting. Most people didn’t even realize she made music. To me, Rubi Rose fits in a Blac Chyna-Amber Rose type of mold more so being famous by association. She modeled in the music video for “Bad and Boujee” by the Migos, featured in the “WAP” music video, and is associated with the likes of Playboi Carti, Lil Tjay, and DJ Akademiks. It seemed like XXL was looking for anyone with a drop of clout to be featured on this year’s list. Someone could’ve definitely taken her spot.
Another lock for the list was 42 Dugg out of Detroit. His hit song, “We Paid” featuring Lil Baby almost exclusively guaranteed him a spot as the song was a TOP 10 hit on Billboard. I figured as long as he stayed out of trouble, a spot on the list was basically his. Having that co-sign from rappers like Lil Baby and Yo Gotti definitely helped out too.
You know XXL had to fill the “rapper from New York” quota, and voila, we have Toosii from Syracuse. Toosii is another name that’s been floating around, and for many fans, it was only a matter of time before he made a XXL Freshman list. He dropped ‘Poetic Pain’ in 2020 which did well on the charts and the song “Love Cycle” featuring Summer Walker also went gold. No surprises here.
Lakeyah was a name that came out of nowhere. A Quality Control artist, she has co-signs from Lil Yachty, City Girls, Migos, and Lil Baby. She’s talented and I’m a fan of her music but she would’ve been great for the 2022 XXL Class. XXL already had 2 other women on the list so her selection adds to my argument that XXL had a ton of trouble filling the list out. She doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page yet, proof in this day and age that she’s still very much so an unknown commodity. Definitely a missed opportunity for next year.
Lastly, we go to the West Coast, where we meet Blxst. When it was announced that Blxst was going to be an XXL Freshman, people were understandably excited, myself included. I was a big fan of his “No Love Lost” EP in late 2020. A melodic rapper from LA, brings a lot of Roddy Ricch-Ty Dolla $ign-esque flows with him. He fills the “lyricist” quota of this class that XXL does every year. WYE’s own Noah had the pleasure of interviewing Blxst prior to his XXL bid. I was honestly expecting him for 2022 but I’m glad XXL didn’t sleep on him.
Final Thoughts:
I’d give it anywhere from a fringe B- to a C+ as a grade. XXL did a great job capitalizing on the talent of some of these artists by not missing the boat on artists such as DDG, Flo Milli, 42 Dugg, and Iann Dior. The Rubi Rose selection will never really make sense to me. She’s not even a “who?” but rather a “why?”. There were definitely a few artists I would’ve picked for next year and of course, every class has its share of snubs. Artists like the Kid LaRoi, $Not, Sheff G, Stunna 4 Vegas, Babyface Ray and Icewear Vezzo were some names noticeably absent from the cover. While it’s clear some could’ve declined, this class felt desperate and rushed. Definitely a step back from the last 2 classes but a solid class nonetheless.