XXL Magazine unveils 2018 freshman class
Every year at this time, the American rap magazine XXL unveils the list of his prodigies for the current year. Check out the selected ones for this eleventh edition.
A few days ago, the media has unveiled the list of artists selected for the year 2018. It includes: Ski Mask Slump God, Lil Pump, Smokepurpp, JID, Stefflon Gift, BlocBoy JB, YBN Nahmir, Wifisfuneral and Trippie Redd.
As every year, the editors of the media seek the advice of many people from the rap community to make the list in order to be as objective as possible, which does not prevent it from being regularly criticized. Also note that some artists are not present following their refusal, like Lil Skies this year. As a reminder, last year's list consisted of Kamaiya, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, PnB Rock, Madeintyo, Playboi Carti, Amine, Kap G, Ugly God and XXXTENTACION.
Molly Valentine’s “Mannequin” arrives with the kind of debut confidence that feels fully imagined rather than merely promising. The UK artist introduces herself through a piece of alt-pop theatre that is lush, dark, and emotionally poised, balancing…
Kiki Rowe’s “Fool” lands with the kind of smooth confidence that doesn’t need to raise its voice to be heard. The Mississauga native has been building a reputation as a true double threat—equally comfortable shaping a song from the writing…
Alva Lys’ “Dancing with my Shadow” moves the way late-night thoughts do—soft around the edges, but strangely precise in how they land. Framed as alternative pop with a laidback pulse, the single carries…
Bor Luos turns a deeply personal idea into something warmly universal on “PARADOX,” a single that balances laidback charm with genuine emotional weight. Blending alternative pop and indie R&B, the track moves with an easy, feel-good…
A midnight engine does not roar; it purrs, hypnotizes, and persuades the road to disappear beneath it. That is the strange, nocturnal magic Adam Bogdan brings to “Omega Soul EP,” a project that moves with the confidence of underground dance…
Soul Filter’s “Letters To Myself” is the kind of single that wears its vulnerability plainly and turns that honesty into its strongest feature. Coming out of Summerside, PEI, the band leans into a familiar late-90s alternative spirit while giving it a cleaner…
Certain songs earn their strength not by raising their voice, but by refusing to bend beneath disappointment. Georgie Najar’s “Whatever” carries that kind of quiet resolve, arriving as a laid-back blend of folk pop and alt-pop that turns private frustration into something coolly self-possessed. The New York singer-songwriter has built….
Hope often arrives with less fanfare than despair, yet it can sound far more persuasive when carried by conviction. Matt Hansen’s “Vision” leans into that idea with an energised blend of folk pop and adult contemporary clarity, offering a song that…
Mista-Ree, J.O.Y., and Cherry Blaster come together on “Blue Avenue Pt. II” with the kind of chemistry that makes a groove feel instantly lived-in. Framed by alternative funk and disco-R&B, the track leans into movement without sacrificing polish…
A cracked bell can still summon the whole village; its beauty simply arrives with a bruise in the tone. David Hobbes’ “Tomorrow Man (EP)” kind of carries that same lived-in resonance — not immaculate, not overly perfumed, but strangely persuasive because of its imperfections…