The XXL 2016 Class dropped about a month ago, and I have had time to reflect on the class and decipher whether or not XXL picked a sustainable class that will be at the forefront of rap in 5 or so years. Of course every class is going to have a couple dudes fall off the face of the planet (look at back at the last classes and try to pick your own 10 from each year there will always be 2-3 guys that will have just disappeared), a superstar, guys in label purgatory, etc. etc. But i think XXL did somewhat good for their 2016 class.
Anderson .Paak and Lil Uzi Vert are the two guys that will have constantly have a fanbase and will still have a career in 5 years. Whether or not respectfully that they make good music or not, thats up in the air. If I was a 17 year old again I would definitely be listening to Paak and Uzi with a wide grin on my face, but I am old and washed now and I have other stuff to do.
Dave East and Lil Dicky are two picks I would not have had on the cover due to a.) Dicky will not be a rapper in 2 years. b.) Dave East can’t decide if he wants to be a sex symbol or a rapper. Dicky’s end-game is not to be a rapper, but to leave a world that he constantly talks down upon, and shames. East also has 0 appeal outside of Philly and New York. A female presence like Kamaiyah and/or Dreezy would have been nice, oh and a Baltimore rapper like Tate Kobang could have worked too.
Denzel Curry and G Herbo are two picks that could have been picked anytime from the 2014 cover on (yeah thats only 2 years, but that’s 10 years in rap internet time). How did anyone from XXL not hear Herb’s Chiraq verse and say yeah we need Lil Bibby instead. Also how did anyone hear Curry’s Threatz and say yeah we need Kidd Kidd.
Desiigner and Lil Yachty are the two young guys (IDK i need a fact check on Kodak’s age, but too lazy), with somewhat bright futures? Desiigner the only guy on the cover with a charting single, sounds like Future and Chief Keef over produced poopy Mike Dean beats, but could find his own lane if someone tells him to pull his head out of his ass. Also YG was butt at the same age as Desiigner and by god YG is probably top 5 rappers out right now. Yachty’s Lil Boat did sound stale to me, and still does, but his recent 3.5 months have been O F F the charts in terms of growth, originality, and interestingbility (not a word). The kid’s fanbase is through the roof, and as we should know by now we should ‘listen to the kids bro.’
21 Savage is a pick that may have been too early and the added pressure of him being on the cover, could lead to his undoing. With Savage Mode on the way, this one project seems to have more weight added onto him than any other Freshman this year (also first 2016 freshman to drop after mag dropped, no Kodak doesn’t count). 21 definitely needs a GOOD project to solidify his placement or he could be in the C/D List Rapper life with no movement (think Fashawn from 2010 or Don Trip from 2012).
Kodak Black is the MVP of this class and by far the best rapper. His harsh grittiness and all-to-well story telling ability about the realities of where he grew up and where he still resides puts him in the ranks of Lil Boosie, as well as drawing similar comparisions. But Kodak’s own twist allowing him to sound like a Hot Boy circa 1999, allows him to shine instead of sounding like a derivative.
My picks if I was granted the rights for the 2016 freshman
-Kodak Black
-Lil Yachty
-Lil Uzi Vert
-G Herbo
-Denzel Curry
-Kamaiyah
-Tate Kobang
-Nef The Pharaoh
-Maxo Kream
-Dreezy
