10th Spot Trials.
- Smoove The Source.
- Apr 10, 2023
- 6 min read
XXL Magazine is known for their yearly campaign of their Freshman Class. The Freshman are artists from around our nation who have made the most noise, motion, and numbers in their areas.
Now who brings these artists to the nominations, I don't know. Nor do I know what the criteria is to be nominated to be voted upon. But XXL always used to hit the nail on the noise when it came to their Freshman List. This year, we get to vote for the 10th slot on their list.
I, SmooveTheSource, personally think that this is a marketing scheme. I think they are getting our votes in, getting our conversations recorded and going to base the entire class on the total votes. There has yet to be announcements on the following 9 artists, so I have yet to be convinced otherwise that a focus group is currently in session.
I asked a few of my favorite music friends what their predictions were for the 10th slot and here they are:
Smoove's predictions:(@SmooveTheSource)
Ice Spice.
Glorilla.
FRIDAYY.
REAL BOSTON RICHEY.
TIA CORINE.
MONALEO.
FINESSE2TYMES.
HEEMBEEZY.
MIDWXST.
Glorilla takes the number one spot for me. Glorilla signed to the biggest camp. Signed to the biggest artist-label owner. Dropped the biggest song April 2022, it's currently April 2023 and she is a Grammy-nominated artist. Nominated due to having the biggest song of the year. Performed at award shows. Released an album, went on a sold out tour. Performed on sooooo many major stages. Content is beautiful. Personality is on 1000%. To me it's giving Cardi B but without Love and Hip Hop. The elevation has been beautiful to experience. Getting to interview her when she came to Connecticut was a very big moment for me. It was the day before she got grammy nominated and it just is dope to experience artists win.
Ice Spice to me is a no brainer. Had 2nd biggest song of the year following up on F.N.F. by GloRilla and HitKidd. Best partnerships. Best at being talk of the town. Released a project, and a really good one at that. Has perfect artist development. Has major performances under her belt. Ice Spice got her bag, her look, and her content on lock. Spice got the growls posing different and sticking their tongues out. She's bringing out OG New York lingo.
FRIDAYY takes the third spot for me due to the placements hes had over the year. Being on DJ Khaled album, I think that he has a lot of potential to continue to sky rocket in his career. He has had a lot of radio replay as well. Things are bright for him. Most of 2022 was filled with his name vs the other two main selects I chose, just coming up on their year marks.
Maya predicts:(@mayaa.nochasrr)
Glorilla
Finesse2Tymes (because of his growing popularity)
Lady London
“I have doubts about Zai1k because he has one hit right now. Lola Brooke and Ice Spice don’t seem ready for that type of thing, (they seriously lack development and the music hits but they can’t carry themselves, in my opinion).
I gotta listen to a bit more of all of their music to make a concrete prediction though. That’s off first glance
Quan’s predication:(@quan.jayweather)
Glorilla.
“Keep it hot…XXL could make their first all women list if they wanted to. Lola Brooke, Ice Spice, and Glorilla are the biggest names and they all have the most buzz on that list.
Im going to say Glorilla the 10th spot cause I think she has the biggest songs so far and has CMG behind her as her team. Yo Gotti is doing right as far as music goes over there.”
Smvvth’s prediction: (@SMVVTH)
Tia Corine
“I’m voting for Tia cause she’s from the from the crib, North Carolina. Im going to always go with home team no matter what! Let’s gooo FREAKY T‼️”
Chris’s prediction:
Ice Spice.
“I got Ice Spice ALL DAY. She’s too big at this point to not put her on the list.”
Pyro’s prediction: (@PyroLucain)
Lola Brooke.
Real Boston Richey.
Finesse2Tymes.
"Lola Brooke - I feel like she should get picked to be on the freshman list because she’s been working consistently for sometime and she’s waited for her time patiently, now she has a viral Hit along with other hits to follow.
Real Boston Richey - Now I heard about him alot within the last year or so, he was catching a lot of steam, even with him having legal issues, I feel that didn’t slow anything down it added more to his popularity.
Finesse 2 Tymes - he’s been making himself visible wether it’s interviews, Instagram post or him getting into altercation at his shows, with all that his music is gaining a big following, especially with his last breakfast club interview with him expressing what he likes for his women to act."
Simones’s predictions:
Central Cee.
Ice Spice.
Luh Tyler.
"Central Cee - for a London/UK artist to be recongnized / considered for the XXL Freshman list is BIG in my opinion. He has started to make a name for him self in the US so I’m excited where / what that brings him this year.
Ice Spice - like it or not Ice Spice has dominated over the last year. She has managed to dominate the drill genre, which some may consider a dying genre. Not only that, but she has had some amazing brand partnerships, as well as dominated TikTok with North West and Kim Kardashian over the last year. I’m excited to see what she has up her sleeve. As I think, we will be seeing some new things from her soon as well as a new sound, and new music.
Luh Tyler - I feel like he came into the game swinging. Definitely coming in strong for Florida and his stardom / sound definitely reminds me of a young Kodak Black. Which is why I feel people gravitate towards him, and I like his music right now. I’m excited to see what he’ll bring from the south, as hip hop has definitely taken on the drill sound from the UK/NY."
Rach’s predictions:
Ice Spice.
Tia Corine.
Eem Triplin.
Lola Brooke.
“You would think Ice Spice has it locked lowkey, being the people’s choice, but we know XXL and they gonna keep her off just to make noise. Which I would be ok with and is honestly the point of this list, there’s others who need their recognition like Eem Triplin, Lola Brooke, & Tia Corine.
If it was up to me, Eem Triplin should’ve been on that list, and being a girls girl I would have Lola Brooke & Tia Corine on deck.
Eem Triplin has been on the rise for a minute, but I also love the amount of women dominating music right now and I think that should be recognized. Tia Corine is on tour with a tough act and Lola been doing appearances left and right. I saw her at the MEFeater Fashion Week show and her stage presence is amazing, but when she speaks she’s still super humble and down to earth. She was just on Ebro in the Morning talking about how it’s been her dream since day one to be at Summer Jam and now she’s on it surrounded by fire women artists. Love to see it!”
Sey's predictions:
(@seymynameeee)
Big Yayo.
Lady London.
Glorilla.
Iayze
Ice Spice.
Lil Double O.
Luh Tyler.
Monaleo.
Kenny Mason.
Finesse2Tymes.
"Ice Spice - I think Ice Spice is a serious contender because she’s been able to not only gain a strong audience but maintain it. She also has managed to get multiple singles on the radio and she’s only been mainstream for about a year. Luh Tyler - I think Luh Tyler is also a legitimate possibility for the 10th spot. He has a sound similar to Yeat or Carti with his instrumentals (both of which have average mainstream success). Not to mention, he’s only 17. He’s a handsome boy that doesn’t front in his raps but still maintains his cool aura. Very impressive and difficult for a 17 year old to accomplish. Glorilla - The person that might have the best chance of getting that spot is Glorilla. Underdog is an understatement to describe Glorilla in the rap game. This woman had 3 hit singles from her very first album as a female rapper. That’s hard! She has also garnered the attention of males not just for her looks but for her bars as well. It’s not uncommon at all to see guys actually rapping her music. It seems like a simple task but in a period where men feel all women rap about is pussy, she’s changing things."
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