Well, the time is approaching once again. For the past two years, XXL has taken the generous route of giving a couple talented artists some exposure. Some blow up (Kid Cudi, B.o.B), others have floated beneath the radar (Mickey Factz, Donnis) and others, well, still have us scratching our heads (Ace Hood, OJ Da Juiceman). Hell, the biggest "new" artists of the past two years haven't even made the cover (Drake, Nicki Minaj)...
The reality of it is, aside from MTV's bullshit lists, this causes a lot of commotion among both underground and mainstream rap circles. Now, with the given outlets the Internet has provided us, we see new faces in hip-hop everyday (thanks to 2DopeBoyz and NahRight...who won't email me back...FOH).
I've decided to post up some of my draft picks for this years cover. Remember, I don't support all of them musically. I love to see these kids make it happen, but it doesn't necessarily mean I like their music. For example, Lil' B and Roscoe Dash both have pretty good chances of landing the cover this year - does that mean I'm doing the cooking dance? No. #Based.
I digress. Let us begin @JohnDanielMusic's XXL Freshman Draft 2011....
Los
From: Baltimore, MD
Big Sean + Elzhi + Fabolous = Los
Chances: Very Likely
From the land of The Wire comes Los, a talented young spitter with a lot to say with his bars. It's very refreshing to hear such a rapper's rapper come out of the woodwork. While he does have a large focus on swag (I'm not mad at it, don't get me wrong) he will appeal to hip-hop heads with his hard hitting lyrics and abrasive delivery. Rumors are spreading that Kanye's considering signing him, which would be a GREAT look. Diddy fucked up letting this kid go..."I play the assassin role, y'all niggas Degrassi/I'm more like da grassy knoll". Get this kid on the cover, already.
CyHi Da Prynce
From: Atlanta, GA
Kanye West + Andre 3000 + Big Sean = CyHi Da Prynce
Chances: Certain
GOOD Music's young muse has certainly made an impact within the last year. I first heard him on Yelawolf's "I Wish (Remix)" track, which I thought he did pretty well on. He has a lot of appeal with an offbeat delivery reminiscent of Three Stacks. Some quotables in "So Appalled", as well as plenty appearances on the GOOD Friday series, CyHi is this year's Big Sean. See him on the cover, and check out his mixtape "Royal Flush".
Mac Miller
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Asher Roth + Wiz Khalifa = Mac Miller
Chances: Certain
I'll admit, when I copped Mac's first couple tapes, I was impressed. He had lines ("I'm top notch and you ain't got a fan yet/Watch me blow they minds with some bars, call me Xanax") and some ill songs ("Snap Back", "Nikes On My Feet"). However, now, I fear that he has become a caricature of himself. I can't see him broadening his lyricism OR content a la Wiz Khalifa. While being in Young Khalifa's shadow is a tough thing to survive these days, the kid has done well for himself. This year's Asher Roth, I'm expecting his career to take a similar route.
From: Cleveland, OH
Eightball + Bun B + Devin The Dude = Chip Tha Ripper
Chances: Certain
I'm not up on my Chip. While I enjoy Cudi's music, I immediately assumed Chip was a mere weed carrier for Scott. However, he's made a name for himself on the underground circuit, collaborating with Big Sean, Curren$y and Asher Roth. While I find his lyrics unimaginative, he's not a chore to listen to. Definitely smoking music, Chip needs to either find a cult following within his niche or expand. However, with the Man on the Moon's cosign and his recognizable name, he'll grace XXL's cover this year.
Yelawolf
From: Gadsden, AL
Eminem + Travis Barker + OutKast + Tech N9ne = Yelawolf
Chances: Certain
Earlier, I would have wrote his chances as "likely", but with the almost breaking news of his signing with Shady Records, he's a given. I'm a huge Yelawolf fan, I find his originality endearing. His appearance is unlikely to be embraced by hip-hop heads, until you hear the kid spit. His flow is RIDICULOUS, his lyricism is very imaginative ("I gotta a pocket full of stones 'cause I fell off my dirtbike in cargo pants I rock a microphone literally, lit up the track lyrically with bottles, cans") and his appeal will surprise many. In a perfect world, Eminem will push this young spitter along with Slaughterhouse to break some ground in hip-hop. Yela has A LOT of potential. Cop "Trunk Muzik" asap.
Kendrick Lamar
From: Compton, CA
Q-Tip + Andre 3000 + J Cole = Kendrick Lamar
Chances: Likely
One of the emcees I'm most impressed with, Lamar has brought a certain energy into hip-hop that's been missing. He takes the pure formula and puts his own spin on it, which is a beautiful thing. A compelling lyricist, Kendrick has the potential to bring his team (TDE/Black Hippy, some VERY talented emcees) to the forefront of not only the West Coast, but hip-hop in general. "Come, come now/'Pac told me fuck the world, I'm 'bout to cum now/I've been a pro, now I'm profound/Propone on posers, restrainin from the doja/Imagine if I smoke, I'll come up with a quote/So heavy you'll forget every album you heard from Hova/Or 2Pacalypse, I'm Hub City's novelist/Come and get your scholarship, I'm takin' kids to school". Amazing. Download the "OverDedicated" mixtape, and support Black Hippy (Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, and last year's West representer, Jay Rock).
Lil' B
From: Berkeley, CA
Gucci Mane + Soulja Boy + Trent Reznor + Jesus Christ = Lil' B
Chances: Certain
Remember what I said about supporting artists? Well, let that be said here. Now, his mixtape music ("Suck My Dick Ho", "Everything Based") is HORRIFIC. Blatantly ignorant, he is just extending precedents set by the Waka Flocka generation that previous artists listed are trying to distance themselves from. However, projects like "I'm Thraxx" (especially "Secrets, Pt. 1" and "Chasing The Rain") and the brilliant "Rain In England" have me very confused about this character. All I know is that his fans love him primarily because of his cooking dance and Soulja Boy-esque songs, but I'd really enjoy seeing some more experimental music coming out of him. He's a pretty unstable artist, but that's never been an issue before. #Based.
Hopsin
From: Los Angeles, CA
Eminem + Tech N9ne = Hopsin
Chances: Unlikely
My number one draft pick. A very, VERY talented MC, producer, self promoter - the kid has it all. Lyrical content a la Eminem '99 with his flow ranging between that and '02 Tech N9ne. Certainly a favorite for all technical heads out there, his 2010 album "Raw" is, IMO, the third best from it's year. He covers topics from fake friends to killing Lil' Wayne to not bringing gold diggers home to momma...plus some. Producing all his music, directing all of his videos - this is a young artist that definitely took control of his destiny. Following in the footsteps of Joe Budden (the greatest MC of all time), Hopsin, shortly after being benched by Ruthless Records, started up Funk Volume and propelled his own movement. Now, with talks of Tech N9ne being interested in him and his album becoming a smash on the Internet, there's no stopping him. It took media outlets like XXL over ten years to notice the similar hustle of Tech N9ne, will they pick up on this kid early or sleep? Time can only tell, we just have to let the world know where the true talent rests in hip-hop.
Other possible contenders...
Dom Kennedy
Roscoe Dash
Meek Mill
Diggy Simmons
Vado
Tyga
Smoke DZA
Sha Stimuli
Thee Tom Hardy
Skyzoo
Gudda Gudda
etc...
Thoughts, hate, opinions, whatever. Leave it here. I'm out. Hopefully XXL lands me on a spot here one day.
One.
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