Badnews revisits XXL Mag’s “Top 10 Freshmen”

Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009
Tags: top 10 mcs , xxl magazine

As I sit in my living room on my computer floating around from website to website either listening or reading every single rappers comment on MTV’s Hottest rappers list, I ask myself “Do MC’s make valid points on the list put together by veteran hip hop writers and enthusiast, or is there much to do about nothing?” Some notable rappers like Gucci Mane and 50 Cent voiced there opinions about either there own ranking or a fellow MC’s, and just like the others, they claim they’re too low on the list and someone else is too high. Is MTV getting a fair shake at the list, or are they just plain wrong. Survey says… who cares. All the rappers on the list that have been in the game for a long time selling millions of records and mixtapes and all, should just sleep well at night for still being relevant thanks to MTV. But I say that to say this. MTV gets flak for dropping a hottest MC list and a majority of people are saying the good folks up there are wrong. But what about the good folks at XXL the magazine?

Remember in December of 2008 when they released the class of ‘09 issue? For those who don’t, they basically put together a list like they always do, and say these cats are the ones to watch in 2009… well it’s October let’s see how well the list held up

1. WALE- Repping Washington, D.C., this MC was definitely all over the place in 2009. He participated in the infamous 2009 MTV awards as part of the house band and most notably dropped a single with Lady Gaga. It seems that this guy is making waves in hip hop right now and he isn’t going anywhere right? Well the jury is still out for some, but his album Attention Deficit should draw reasonable and doable sales numbers. But as far as taking the world over, I wouldn’t hold my breath. XXL compared him to a Kanye West and Black Thought, and I think they hit the nail on the head. But quite honestly, we really haven’t heard any strong material from him that can say he is here to stay (no the Chillin’ single isn’t enough hard evidence). I do see a future with Wale, but I think we should see if he can survive the twitter onslaught of Charlamange Da God as well as naysayers from his own city who claimed “He isn’t reppin’ the city right”. He will be alright. Good luck sir, I’m pulling for you.

2. B.O.B.- You can call him B.O.B., you can call him Bob or you can call him Bobby Ray either way, he has had a so far so good hip hop career. With performances at this years ESPY’s and his regional smash hit singles including a song on Madden 10 (which I think is a big deal since the game always sells millions of copies every year), it seems like he is holding his own. But as of right now, the jury is still out. He can do big things if he sticks to the script, I can see this guy one day crushing the scene and doing Ludacris numbers. XXL compared him to Outkast, I would compare him to a 2009 Andre 3000, but he has done enough to separate himself and I see the sky’s the limit for this guy. XXL made the right choice.

3. CHARLES HAMILTON- Aside from getting slapped on camera, wearing Pink Panther dolls on his arm and skipping bi weekly haircut sessions from his barber, Charles has clung to the hip hop scene like Sylvester Stallone did to that mountain in the movie Cliffhanger. But remember the scene in that movie where Stallone’s friend falls to her death because the cord wasn’t secured right? I can admit that his single Brooklyn Girls was in heavy rotation in my car, but that is the only song I really heard from him that I can remember without “googling” him. XXL compared him to Eminem, but I think XXL should had put Nicki Minaj in this guys place. At least Nicki would look more sexier if she was the one wearing those pink earphones all the time. Sorry Hamilton fans, getting ripped by one of your fans in a battle, and getting dropped from your label does not give you a pass, but I can see him ghostwriting and doing other things in the hip hop community and I do applaud him for not hitting that girl back on camera.

4. ASHER ROTH – Flip flops, college parties and drinking games seem cool when Asher Roth raps about it. Asher had one of the biggest mainstream coming out parties on the list. It seemed like he was a regular on MTV, and with a co-sign from DJ Drama of all people, the Norrisvile, PA native was here to stay. And if his second album does the numbers like his debut album Asleep in the Bread Aisle hitting number 5 on the US charts and all, we will be seeing more more of this guy. With a few minor setbacks like his twitter joke about Nappy Headed Hoes gone horribly wrong, it isn’t enough to not say this guy is the most lyrical rapper out there now. So it looked liked the verdict is XXL got this one right. Aren’t you glad I tried my best by not comparing this guy to Eminem? I did try though, but he sounds like him only he is rapping about reading and college. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to get some help from Keri Hilson and Cee-Lo in the singles department…get it?

5. MICKEY FACTZ – Speaking freely on this artist, he is one of my favorites that i was actually looking out for in 2009, but just like Mr. Hamilton, I can only name one song that he did off the top of my head. That doesn’t mean you should write this guy off though, XXL did compare him to Lupe Fiasco and Big Daddy Kane, which is good, but we haven’t heard a lot of him in the year 2009. But that doesn’t mean we won’t in 2010. XXL gave him a platform and it’s only a matter of time before he takes advantage of it so as of right now, the jury is still out. Stay tuned world.

6. COREY GUNZ – If your a true hip hop fan, you will know that this artist is the son of rapper Peter Gunz, but they way he spits on records like “Turn Me Up”, “Gamble on Me” and “Richer than Richie”, you would had thought he was sonned by 50 Cent. But his grind is something of 50’s. From spending most of ‘09 on the internet grinding and releasing critically acclaimed mix-tapes, it should be soon before we get to hear how he will fair on the mainstream stage. He looks as if he can handle his own and it looks like he still is, however Gunz’s budding career still needs time to grow.  I think XXL said it best when they compared him to Nas, and looked how he turned out. But is the world ready for a second coming of a Nas or a first helping of Corey Gunz? The jury is still out.

7. BLU - If you don’t reside on the west coast, then you probably an idea who BLU is. This artist repped for the west coast for the freshman 09 XXL issue and it looks like he still has a lot of work to do if he wants that national attention, but don’t get it twisted, he has done a lot of work the past couple years.  He’s dropped his debut album Below the Heavens and made guest appearances on notable artists albums. He is far from a Nippsey Hussle or a Jay Rock, but sometimes  something fresh can be too fresh and by that, I mean he might of did all the legwork to get recognition from XXL and being compared to Common.  I don’t think it was enough for him to make a true stamp on hip hop in 09. But let’s hope XXL is right in the future, they always are… sometimes.

8. KID CUDI – Probably the most famous name on this list, Kid Cudi didn’t disappoint in ‘09 by delivering us a smash hit single “Day N’ Nite” and “Poker Face”. For a guy who was working in a Department store a few years ago, he has came up rather quickly. He made countless appearances all over TV like Jimmy Kimmel Show, 106 and Park as well as Snoop Dogg’s MTV show, and when his debut album Man on the Moon dropped, it made the internet go crazy. It looks as if 2009 was the most successful year for this guy, and no way did XXL get this call wrong. The magazine compared him to Kanye, but honestly he has made such a dent in ‘09, I would have to say Kid Cudi sounds like Kid Cudi. Good Job XXL we look forward to seeing him in 2010 and beyond.

9. ACE HOOD - Let’s roll the clock back to about the end of 2008. Ace Hood has a stellar period after he dropped the single “Cash Flow” featuring T-Pain, and it looks like he was going to be the new face of Florida hip hop as he joined the ranks with Rick Ross and got a major co-sign from DJ Khaleed when he signed to his label We The Best Music (come on what else would Khaleed name it?) Things looked like they were going to go very well in 2009 and even give Kid Cudi a run for his money. But when his album (his second album which doesn’t make this his debut because his debut album Gutta dropped seven months prior to this one) Ruthless, it didn’t put up the strong numbers or make the splash that everyone from We The Best and Def Jam had hoped for, it might look like next year could be either a make or break year for him. I can’t write this guy off yet because he has too many successful people around him to fail. For some reason ,I just don’t see Ace Hood going away, but keep those fingers crossed still.

10. CURREN$Y- Believe it or not, he actually made the freshman ‘09 list, but I don’t understand, he was doing the most since 2004. Curren$y was along for the ride Lil’ Wayne’s mainstream rise to power, and he was one of the first Young Money artists ever signed (thank him for paving the way YM artists, and if your reading this, there is a 90% chance you have a deal with YM because everyone is signed there), but with the departure from the label, Curren$y stands alone, but he he is holding it down and there are some rumors he is about to get picked by a major. Now, if you would have to compare 2009 to his 2007 grind, it might had looked like he fell off. I see a lot of good things from him, but will we hear from him in the mainstream scene? XXL thinks so, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Good luck though Curren$y, I still see you doing your thing.

So in conclusion, while everyone is worrying about MTV and their little list on Who’s Hot in the Game right now, I think we all need to pay more attention to what XXL is saying, they have more clout in hip hop than MTV will ever have. Will we need to be worried more about the New Boyz and how they will change hip hop with “Skinny Jeans” and “Jerkin’”, or will Drake become the next LL or Lil Wayne or if Rock City will make a breakthrough.  Also,why Snoop Dogg isn’t on the list but Drake is #3 of MTV’s rap list baffles me.  Keep that in mind world.

Source: BadNews – Writer for HipHopRuckus

-If you have any questions or comments for Badnews, hit him up by E-mail, MySpace or AIM (TimbNews)

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