For the past few years, XXL has been doing an annual roundup of hip-hop’s “freshman class,” a preview of the genre’s next wave, and the full lineup for this year’s crop has just been announced. It includes: Pill, Wiz Khalifa, Nipsey Hussle, Fashawn, Freddie Gibbs, Donnis, Jay-Z protégé J. Cole, Kanye protégé Big Sean, OJ da Juiceman, and Jay Rock, whose freestyle to mark the occasion includes the phrase “under surveillance of federal agents / catastrophic as breakfast with Satan.” So, who will be this year’s Kid Cudi, and who will be its Ace Hood? [XXL]
