In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12 and (with Royce ...read more. This project is what proved there was more to Cudi than just one song, as he took off from here and never looked back. Lil Wayne's mixtape run in the mid-to-late 2000s is the stuff of legend, and this tape was a big stop along the journey. Since then, Youngboy has continued to rake in millions of views on YouTube per day and he consistently fluctuates within the list’s top five — earning the top spot more often than any other artist. We’re committed to reporting on the issues that matter most to the community where we live, learn and work. It all started with this tape, and the crew's penchant for reworking popular rap songs and making them their own was very novel at the time. "Hot Girl," "Know You," "Ex Games" and more showcase Jacquees' singing ability and tone, which set him apart in a somewhat stagnant male R&B world. Here are the top five XXL, It’s entirely possible that The Kid LAROI will be inducted into XXL’s 2021 freshman class. All The Best New Music From This Week That You Need To Hear February 22, 2021 by: Derrick Rossignol Facebook Twitter The Best Sex-Themed Podcasts To Listen To In 2021 Very few rappers arise every generation who permanently change the landscape of hip-hop. Yellow Album is exactly why Dom Kennedy still gets so much love. 1 Eminem Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor and music producer born on October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, Missouri. 2019 XXL Freshman Lil Mosey put it best when he, , “When you a (XXL) Freshman and, shit, you either made it or you the next to go crazy.” His sentiment is the essence of the XXL, Freshman List. As a result, Migos entered 2014 as some of the hottest up-and-comers in the game and kept the momentum going by releasing, , featuring staples, “Fight Night,” “Handsome and Wealthy” and “Freak No More.” Even with this hype around them, XXL still didn’t admit Migos to the Freshman List.Â, Before Lil Baby even started taking rapping seriously, he had already made quite the name for himself in Atlanta. Beast W/ Ba…, UFC's Jan Blachowicz Says Fatherhood Made Him More Dangerous Fighter, …, Rapper Jackboy Arrested on Gun Charge During Traffic Stop. Over the course of their careers, Drake and Nicki have since amassed countless accolades and revolutionized hip-hop in their own ways. This early 2016 mixtape, Mood, is what set the groundwork to the success that Jacquees would experience soon after. 50 Cent Is the Future, the primary G-Unit mixtape ever, launched in June of 2002. Nicki Minaj was signed as one of two female rappers to Young Money in 2009. It felt like Kid Cudi was taking music by storm in 2008, and he was. While all of this is fine and convenient, what does that mean for mixtapes, the collections of rap songs that were mostly released for free and toed the line of legality years ago, that you want to listen to? FNL fueled Cole's early touring treks, and served as a strong project from a rapper with a ton of buzz early on. Tyler, The Creator, the crew's leader, dropped his 2009 debut mixtape Bastard, which is best described as a modern horrorcore project by a gifted California kid. This tape also marks the graphic, shock value-ridden style Tyler has left behind these days. 50 Cent Is the Future, the first G-Unit mixtape ever, released in June of 2002. Imitation is the greatest compliment one can receive, and Drake — fresh off of his Grammy win for Best Rap Album — cosigned the group by hopping on the “Versace” remix with his own take on the triplet flow. Since then, the 26-year-old rapper has gone on to validate his pitch and become one of the biggest names in hip-hop.Â, Honorable Mentions: Iann Dior (2020), NAV (2018), 6ix9ine (2018), Rae Sremmurd (2015). Drake has innovated the genre and endeared himself among fans through his seamless fusion of relentless bars, with deeply personal lyrical content and melodies, while Nicki has become the most popular female rapper since Missy Elliott, while also paving the way for a, Daily Arts Contributor Aidan Harris can be reached at, The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown challenges at all of us — including The Michigan Daily — but that hasn’t stopped our staff. Consequence is clever with the rhymes and Kanye is in his prime here, turning out quality beats in his sleep. As far as guest features, Ty welcomes rappers with hits like Big Sean, French Montana and Rick Ross, but the singer never gets lost in the shuffle. 2019 XXL Freshman Lil Mosey put it best when he remarked, “When you a (XXL) Freshman and, shit, you either made it or you the next to go crazy.” His sentiment is the essence of the XXL Freshman List. This tape is hard to find nowadays, and putting it on DSPs would change all of that. While mafioso rap was what turned him into a rap star and respected lyricist, but this is a trap rap mixtape for the most part. Weezy was rapping over everything on here, from Little Brother's "Lovin It" to Dem Franchize Boyz's "Oh, I Think They Like Me," and snapping on each beat. list for 210 consecutive weeks. A lot of them didn't make it to streaming platforms, so the tapes live elsewhere, whether it's in your CD collection, on your computer or housed on your favorite mixtape site. What can be said about Rich Gang: Tha Tour, Pt. The Bronx MC first gained extensive recognition for her feature on Young Money’s collaborative track, “Bedrock,” released the same year. It’s even rarer for two of those rappers to ascend at the same time, on the same label. They can’t say, ‘Hey, get on the next one.’ ”Â, Drake elaborated, “Technically, we were freshmen when they didn’t put us on.” The two rappers were correct, as they each began a decade’s reign of dominance beginning in 2010, with the releases of their debut studio albums.Â. , Atlanta’s trap godfather, Young Thug, him to stay out of the streets and spend more time in the studio. $ign Language stands next to Ty's current style now, and makes it easy to draw a line from who he was to who he became. YoungBoy has been on. Your donations keep our journalism free and independent. While the offensive lyrics definitely stuck out, Earl was so good at putting words together, his talent became the focus over anything else. They broke into the mainstream in 2013 with their single, “Versace,” which was included on numerous “Best Songs of 2013” lists. Needless to say, fans were puzzled by Baby’s absence from the class, as exemplified in this very 2018 tweet. Here are the top five XXL Freshman List snubs. Further, he has earned the respect and affirmation of some of hip-hop’s greatest legends, with both Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg giving him rare features on his most recent studio album, Top. First Pics from Nicolas Cage's 5th Marriage, to 26-Year-Old in Las Veg…, Tiger Woods Was Found Unconscious at Crash Scene By Local Man, Officials Sa…, PETA Protests North Carolina Police Dept. When discussing influential rappers of the 2010s, you can’t leave out Atlanta’s Migos. They have to pay for that. Vote for the best new school rappers of 2018. He got sent to a Samoan school for at-risk boys by his mother, due to his bad behavior sometime in 2010. Since its inception in 2007, the XXL Freshman List has been considered by fans, hip-hop media and rappers themselves to be a major career milestone for emcees. 50 Cent Is the Future. It sold 732,000 album-equivalent units, which included 160,000 pure album sales, making it the biggest first week of the year at the time. Indeed, he had already begun to distinguish himself from his peers through his fusion of piercing lyrics with melodic drawl. Dom's coolness and penchant for describing life in L.A. feels like the best sales pitch for the city. It’s not unusual to head to the comment section of any hip-hop-related social media post and find YoungBoy’s most dedicated fans claiming him to be “the goat.” Meanwhile, his most fervent haters incessantly meme him for his abrasive music and personality. They have to pay for that. Rich Forever is strong and holds up well, making it perfect for DSPs. His first week at #1 on the list was the week of Jan. 5-11 in 2018, at the age of 18. Technology changed everything when MP3s were created, turning music into easily transferable files. Nicki Minaj was signed as one of two female rappers to Young Money in 2009. Even then, he would still be a clear snub from the 2020 list. They can’t say, ‘Hey, get on the next one.’ ”Â, have since amassed countless accolades and revolutionized hip-hop in their own ways. They broke into the mainstream in 2013 with their single, “Versace,” which was included on numerous “Best Songs of 2013” lists. 2019 XXL Freshman Lil Mosey put it best when he remarked, “When you a (XXL) Freshman and, shit, you either made it or you the next to go crazy.”His sentiment is the essence of the XXL Freshman List. As hard as it may be for some to believe, there was definitely a world before streaming services. In 2011, Harlem native A$AP Rocky was making a ton of noise in New York City, but was also feeling some backlash because his sound wasn't traditional NYC rap; it was closer to Houston hip-hop. It’s not unusual to head to the comment section of any hip-hop-related social media post and find YoungBoy’s most dedicated fans claiming him to be “the goat.” Meanwhile, his most fervent haters incessantly meme him for his abrasive music and personality. Check out the hip-hop mixtapes that need to hit DSPs A.S.A.P. He’s amassed a solid following by using the heartbroken, emo rap style pioneered by artists like Trippie Redd, Lil Peep and, most predominantly, his mentor, Juice WRLD. In 2004, Consequence was already known due to his past features on A Tribe Called Quest records, but the mid-2000s saw him getting a different brand of attention due to his ties to Kanye West. He had every trick up his sleeve, dancing all over a Barry White sample on "How It Feel" to rhyming alongside French Montana and his East Coast trap style on "Mula." This tape is great, so much so that Sean's last album, Detroit 2, is its proper sequel. Big Sean's Detroit mixtape, also released in 2012, proved he was a sharp MC, and not just an up-and-coming rapper who can make hits. All it took was a run that stretched back into 2014, featured three exemplary mixtapes with his closest and best collaborators, a No. There Is No Competition 2 is a time capsule of what East Coast mixtape rap was at the time, and one of the best examples of such. Bastard is one of the projects that perfectly encapsulates what Odd Future was, and Tyler's starting point in rap began. Hopefully it happens one day. In the really early days, you had to go to a store to buy your favorite vinyls, tapes and then CDs. Drake has innovated the genre and endeared himself among fans through his seamless fusion of relentless bars, with deeply personal lyrical content and melodies, while Nicki has become the most popular female rapper since Missy Elliott, while also paving the way for a new wave of artists. Hailing from Toronto, Drake first caught the attention of Young Money’s founder, Lil Wayne, with his 2007 single, “Replacement Girl.” Drake and Lil Wayne went on to release several tracks together in 2008, one notable example being Weezy’s feature on Drake’s breakout 2009 mixtape, So Far Gone. Widely considered Dom Kennedy's best project, Yellow Album is a very smooth 2012 mixtape that perfectly encapsulates who the West Coast rapper is as an artist. The chemistry between Thug and Quan is apparent, and their styles mesh perfectly; Thug is the explosive, experimental rapper who likes to sing while Quan is the talented chameleon who might croon or get serious about trying to survive the streets in his lyrics. Lyrically, the songs are strong, and feel like Big Sean felt free to be himself, with no concerns about trying to make a hit song. Turning Quan and Thug into a duo was Birdman's idea, and it produced nearly immediate results. Odd Future, the California-based crew of talented teen oddballs, left their stamp on rap without a doubt when they emerged in the 2000s. Sean decided to feed the streets with Detroit, a 2012 mixtape that was loved almost immediately. Indeed, he had already begun to distinguish himself from his peers through his fusion of piercing lyrics with melodic drawl. Regardless of anyone’s personal opinion about the 21-year-old Baton Rouge, La., rapper, one thing is for certain: He puts up serious numbers. Up to that point, Lil Baby had built some buzz through a slew of mixtapes, which included standout tracks such as “My Dawg” and “Freestyle.” He reached another level one month before the unveiling of the 2018, Freshman List, when he achieved widespread acclaim through his collaborative single with Drake, “Yes Indeed,” which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Bronx MC first gained extensive recognition for her feature on Young Money’s collaborative track, “Bedrock,” released the same year. "Suicide 2," "Roger That" and "Popular Demand" are standouts on the DJ Drama-hosted tape, and there's no shortage of Fabolous' stellar punchline either. The Midwest MC made his name off mixtapes, so making his return to that space after his debut LP did wonders for his confidence. "Call Me," "Got Me A Bottle" and "The Banks Workout" are all G-Unit classics that everyone should be able to hear whenever they want. Simply by collaborating with Lil Wayne, the self-proclaimed and widely accepted “best rapper alive” at the time, Drake changed the rap game forever. By 2020, the then-16-year-old Australian rapper already had two music videos with renowned director, Cole Bennett. Music artists, Cons became a benefactor of ’Ye's push. Take ’Em to the Cleaners is a 2004 mixtape on which Cons handles the raps, and Kanye did most of the production, to interesting results. A Kid Named Cudi is his 2008 debut mixtape, and he delivered in every way, illustrating his ability to craft songs and just have fun with the music. Still, these impressive statistics, at an incredibly young age no less, were not impressive enough in the eyes of XXL’s management, as he was not offered a spot on their 2018 Freshman List. Celebrity Toothpics -- Happy Dentist Day! 1 that hasn't been said already? Still, these impressive statistics, at an incredibly young age no less, were not impressive enough in the eyes of XXL’s management, as he was not offered a spot on their 2018 Freshman List. By 2020, the then-16-year-old Australian rapper already had two music videos with renowned director, Cole Bennett. At the time, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo were a Queens, N.Y. trio that would soon enough dominate hip-hop. Released in January of 2012, Rich Forever is one of Rick Ross' best projects, period. His first week at #1 on the list was the week of Jan. 5-11 in 2018, at the age of 18. Days Before Rodeo, dropping in August of 2014, almost a full year before his debut album, Rodeo, arrived, is a vital step in Travis Scott's career. It serves as an affirmation of talent, promise and star power from the hip-hop community to its rising prospects. He demonstrated that anyone, no matter what city — or even country — they’re from, could become a successful hip-hop artist. Compared to the last time this lineup (minus Nate Dogg) connected on “We All Die One Day,” this second chapter of “Warrior” feels almost contemplative. Some of Wayne's best performances are on here; it was amongst one of the best mixtapes of 2006, and still receives hall of fame levels of reverence now. The tape is a bit darker than his album, and felt closer to an early Gucci Mane project. Two years later, with no follow-up to his 2007 self-titled debut album, he released the Bigger Than the Mayor mixtape in 2008. This would be a welcome addition to Spotify, Apple Music or TIDAL, as it's only on SoundCloud these days. It also helped that they really did have talent, with 50 being the star, Lloyd Banks serving as the sharp lyricist and Tony Yayo owning the funny, tough guy lane. below. On the time, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo have been a Queens, N.Y. trio that will quickly sufficient dominate hip-hop.It began with this tape, and the crew’s penchant for remodeling in style rap songs and making them their very own was very novel on the time. One of Ty Dolla $ign's more underrated tapes is 2014's $ign Language. Travis Scott is a superstar now, but 2014's Days Before Rodeo tape provided a glimpse into the artist he could become while winning over a bunch of fans in the process. Laroi currently has more monthly, than legends like Jay-Z and popular rappers of the day like Lil Durk.Â, YoungBoy Never Broke Again is one of the most divisive rappers out there. "Take It Off" still sounds crazy today, as does "Supafly." He demonstrated that anyone, no matter what city — or even country — they’re from, could become a successful hip-hop artist. At just 16 years old, Earl Sweatshirt dropped his incredible debut mixtape, Earl, in 2010. 's "Spaz" for Kudi's "CuDi Spazzin" are extremely enjoyable, and showed he rapped best over off-kilter soundscapes. Over beats that sounded like something from an intergalactic Swishahouse tape, Rocky demonstrated himself as a competent MC who blended well with guests like ScHoolboy Q, the rest of his A$AP Mob and his soon-to-be former friend SpaceGhostPurrp. If XXL offers him the honor on this year’s list, it would be too late. Dropping in March of 2010, There Is No Competition 2 is one of Fabolous' finest mixtapes. Re-Up Gang, a rap group consisting of Clipse, Major Figgas' Ab-Liva and Sandman, were a formidable foursome of lyrics and street bars. If XXL offers him the honor on this year’s list, it would be too late. Here's what we found, Phoenix, a secret society at U-M, votes to disband permanently, Schlissel: U-M to announce fall plans by mid-March, well-being days don’t 'solve the problem', Second lawsuit against U-M OIE director alleges mishandling of Title IX case while at University of Nebraska, Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Michigan Daily Weekly Roundup, Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building. As a result, Migos entered 2014 as some of the hottest up-and-comers in the game and kept the momentum going by releasing No Label II, featuring staples, “Fight Night,” “Handsome and Wealthy” and “Freak No More.” Even with this hype around them, XXL still didn’t admit Migos to the Freshman List.Â, Before Lil Baby even started taking rapping seriously, he had already made quite the name for himself in Atlanta. The tape was a great exploration of something rap never had prior: an East Coast rapper who fully embraced Southern rap while displaying good song structure and charisma in droves. Rich Boy had the No. The trio of relatives — Quavo, Offset and Takeoff — almost single-handedly popularized the triplet flow, one of the most commonly used flows in rap today. This version of Travis is more free-wheeling and experimental as he continued to develop his sound. This should be easily available on streaming platforms everywhere. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown challenges at all of us — including The Michigan Daily — but that hasn’t stopped our staff. Laroi currently has more monthly Spotify listeners than legends like Jay-Z and popular rappers of the day like Lil Durk.Â. The crew worked as a vehicle to not only show off their individual talents, but also to keep Clipse hot as their Hell Hath No Fury album was held up from releasing at Jive Records. To this day, the tape is fun, and songs like "Tell Em (Lies)," "Givenchy" and "Milk Marie" illustrate just why Quan and Thugger were so highly-touted at the time. Since then, Youngboy has continued to rake in millions of views on YouTube per day and he consistently fluctuates within the list’s top five — earning the top spot more often than any other artist. See the Most Anticipated Hip-Hop Albums of 2021, Every Person Drake Name-Drops on Scary Hours 2 Songs, Kevin Connolly Gets Pissed After Car's Towed in Parking Tiff with Flor…, Kardashians Looking to Get into Greeting Card Biz with 'Kardashian Kar…, Browns Star Wyatt Teller Slays Giant Alligator, Carries 200 Lb. Needless to say, fans were puzzled by Baby’s absence from the class, as exemplified in this very 2018, . This was the tape that put Rocky on the path to stardom; it's still worth a listen today. Bigger Than the Mayor could easily be lost in the cracks of late 2000's rap, but being on DSPs would help it get its just due. Rick Ross' 2012 mixtape, Rich Forever, features him immersing himself deeper into the trap sound after dabbling in it for a few years. Hailing from Toronto, Drake first caught the attention of Young Money’s founder, Lil Wayne, with his 2007 single, “Replacement Girl.” Drake and Lil Wayne went on to release several tracks together in 2008, one notable example being Weezy’s feature on Drake’s breakout 2009 mixtape. The album was supported by six singles, including the number-one … In this video I let the potential member open up my overnight package. This mixtape is a bit unheralded, but set the foundation that led to the popularity that followed. . As one of the original G.O.O.D. 2, finds the crew at their peak, rhyming over new beats and revered production alike. All 25 tracks on the album entered the Billboard Hot 100. This classic mixtape, which dropped in September of 2014, combines the talents of Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan with Birdman playing the background. Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly (born May 7, 1997), known professionally as His return to the U.S. in 2012 was met with plenty of buzz, which hadn't been given to a teen rapper in a long time. So much so that prior to the release of his first official mixtape, 2017’s Perfect Timing, Atlanta’s trap godfather, Young Thug, paid him to stay out of the streets and spend more time in the studio.