The 2011 XXL Freshman Class is now in session. Role Call: Meek Mill, Big K.R.I.T., Cyhi The Prynce, Lil Twist, Yelawolf, Fred the Godson, Mac Miller, YG, Lil B, Kendrick Lamar & Diggy Simmons. They all seem to share the Yelawolf/Def Jam/Kanye West-thread. Is that the thread for success? Peep the skills in this Show n’ Tell:
Mac Miller, Jewish. Miller, another #smokethatdope Pittsburgh rapper, has been touring steadily since the fall and is about to head out with Wiz Khalifa on the Campus Consciousness Tour in April. His new mixtape, “Best Day Ever,” will drop on May 23.
Big K.R.I.T., an acronym for King Remembered In Time, is from Meridian, Miss. and is signed to Island Def Jam. Collab’d on songs with Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa.
CyHi The Prynce, Decatur, Atl. emcee enjoyed a bit of local radio play last year with the homegrown anthem “Sweet Georgia”, jumped on the remix to Yelawolf’s “I Wish” and is now signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music Group.
Yelawolf, Alabama emcee recently was on the last XXL cover as Eminem’s new signee. He caught Em’s attention with his “Pop That Trunk” record. Yelawolf is Alabamas’ Eminem.
Diggy Simmons, is the surprise protegé coming from Rev. Run’s family and is also nephew to Russell Simmons. Despite having nepotism priviledges, the 15 yr. old kid really does have emcee skills.
Lil B or “The BasedGod”, is a rapper from Berkeley, California. Like Soulja Boy, Lil B is noted for his extensive use of social media websites such as MySpace and Twitter to build an online following. Slate columnist Jonah Weiner labeled him as one of a growing number of “weird-o” rappers, calling him a “brilliantly warped, post-Lil-Wayne deconstructionist from the Bay Area.”
Kendrick Lamar will make post-N.W.A. Compton proud for being the quiet kid who did good in school and also notes his parents are still married. Dr. Dre is even impressed with the emcee. Lamar has been shot by paparazzi sitting Lakers courtside with the legendary producer.
Lil Twist, the second youngest in this freshman class next to Diggy, hails from Dallas. He gained success with a track called the “Texas Twist”. Lil Wayne recently signed him to Young Money and his debut album will be out this year.
Fred The Godson, repping the Bronx borough is solidifying himself as more than a battle rapper with “So Crazy,” and “Too Fat,”
Meek Mill, from Philadelphia is the new signee to Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group. “Philly had a lot of s**tgoing on and the whole city was dead,” Meek Mill said. “We need somebody to bring it back, so I said why not somebody like me.”
YG, um “Toot It and Boot It”…sike. But trilly tho’ he’s signed to Def Jam and is also from Compton but quite the opposite style of fellow Kendrick Lamar. YG, or Young Gangsta, is a former drug dealer and is gang affiliated but is down with the From Pistols to Pencils movement.
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