Mixtape's 2023 Freshman Class
Every year, XXL puts out a “Freshman List” of who they think are the best up-and-coming artists in the game. These heavily debated lists have predicted the rise of many hip-hop stars in past years. With so many new artists on the rise right now, we feel like XXL left out some freshmen that are changing the game. We compiled a list of these artists and why we expect them to leap into the mainstream in the near future. Here is Mixtape’s 2023 Freshman Class.
Graphic by Michael Loya
Aaron May
Although he initially went viral in 2018 after dropping “Ride” and “Let Go,” Aaron May has only continued to warrant attention. The Houston-born rapper has become one of the more popular up-and-coming artists on our list for good reason. May is undeniably talented and can be defined by his impressive lyricism and versatile flows. His familiar-yet-distinct sound is vulnerable and truthful. Taking influence from rappers such as J. Cole and Nas, May mixes a steady flow with contagious hooks. His most recent album No Recognition dropped in 2022; although this is arguably not as strong as Chase (which dropped in 2019), May’s honesty and rawness makes this piece stand out. Aaron May’s potential and drive are unquestionable and have earned him a spot on the freshmen list. -Sam
Armani White
Riding high off the release of his sophomore project Road To CASABLANCO, Philadelphia rapper Armani White is as deserving as ever for a spot on our Freshman List. White brings a buoyant presence to hip-hop, lacing tracks with light braggadocio over bouncy boom-trap production. On his most recent release, White trades bars with a few of the brightest rappers of the current generation, including Denzel Curry on “GOATED.” and A$AP Ferg “SILVERTOOTH.”. Additionally, White recruits legends Busta Rhymes, N.O.R.E, and Ludacris for a memorable remix of the track “BILLIE EILISH.”, which originally rocketed White to fame through Tik-Tok. Keep your eyes on Armani White and his upcoming projects; as 2023 has shown us that White has the potential to make waves across hip-hop for years to come. -Jake
BigXthaPlug
Just over four years ago, BigXThaPlug started writing lyrics while locked up in solitary confinement. Then in June of 2019, his debut track “Who Am I” was released, and the career of the Dallas Native began. BigXThaPlug calls on nodes of a West Coast influence with a heavy Southern twang in a way that is not only creative but has quickly propelled his career into the spotlight. The combination of the two styles of rap is evident on tracks such as “Safehouse” and “Texas.” This year, BigXThaPlug released his first studio album entitled Amar, which leans on his distinct flow while also experimenting with more R&B-style sound. These variations are what separates BigXThaPlug from other up-and-coming artists and ultimately into the arms of our Freshmen class. -Adam
Dom Corleo
Dom Corleo has gone through one of the quickest come-ups by an underground rapper we’ve seen in recent years. With the release of his breakout single “Penthouse Shorty” in 2022, followed up by the also-popular “Ginseng” and his Tiktok hit “Wake Up,” Dom has made a huge name for himself in the viral rap community. This rise has led Corleo to work with some of the genre’s hottest producers like BNYX, F1lthy, and Rio Leyva. Dom stands out in the growing rage scene due to his signature sample-chopping techniques – drawing inspiration from A$AP Rocky – heard on songs such as “Luv Drunk” and “U Feel Me.” With two albums and an EP out by the age of 21, a new project can be expected soon; hopefully one that can push him further into the mainstream. -Alex
Eem Triplin
A year after his viral empty set at Rolling Loud, 21-year-old Eem Triplin has set himself apart from the pack thanks to his reverb-heavy voice and production credits for artists such as $NOT. Triplin’s success spawns from fast-paced, quirky instrumentals and high-pitch vocals resembling emo rap. Though he’s produced since 2015, “Awkward Freestyle,” “Louie V,” and “Just Friends?,” all released in 2022 and settle in as staples in his discography. Johnstown, Pennsylvania’s leading figure has come a long way, opening for Lucki’s Flawless Like Me Tour in March and headlining his own North American Tour in November/December 2023. If that isn’t enough of a reason to include Triplin on this year’s freshman list, stream the July 2023 EP Still Pretty and tell me you don’t bob your head through the first listen; the flow and production from this young phenom is no joke. -Josh
JELEEL!
Listening to JELEEL! can give you an adrenaline rush. Ranging from afrobeats to emo, the Rhode Island-born, genre-defying rapper has been on the incline since 2015 and shows no signs of stopping. JELEEL! officially broke out with the help of TikTok when his track “DIVE IN!” took the app by storm. The song showcases JELEEL!’s naturally uplifting voice and downright frenzy-feeding persona, which both compliment his hyper-infectious performances that feature a trademark backflip off stages. Following his explosion from “DIVE IN!”, JELEEL! signed with 10k Projects record label and doesn't seem to be slowing down. I truly believe he will only continue to build a following and emerge from the TikTok world into mainstream hip-hop culture, where he will continue to grow his identity and prove why he should be on our freshman list. -Lachlan
Mavi
On “Sense,” Charlotte rapper Mavi informed the listener that his raps are “the kind you gotta read, baby.” He wasn’t lying. Seriously, what kind of rapper can slide a word like “defenestrate” into a chorus without sounding even slightly pretentious? And what kind of 23-year-old rapper draws inspiration from Zora Neale Hurston and Socrates? After a listen through his second album, Laughing so Hard, it Hurts, it’s hard to believe that Mavi is still so young and in prime position to become one of the next big things in rap. Mavi introduced himself in 2019 with a tongue-twisting feature on Earl Sweatshirt’s “Feet of Clay” and has already become one of conscious rap’s brightest stars. As he spits highly technical stream-of-consciousness verses with effortlessly shamanistic knowledge, it’s clear that Mavi deserves more recognition in the rap world. -Harry
Midwxst
Indiana rapper Midwxst burst onto the scene three years ago and hasn’t looked back. The hyperpop sensation has received some of the most coveted cosigns from hip-hop’s most famous figures, including Babytron, Yeat, and Denzel Curry. But the artist, born Edgar Nathaniel Sarratt III, isn’t satisfied yet. This past September, Midwxst blessed us with his debut studio album, E3. Centered around an electro-rock groove, E3 showcases the true potential that Midwxst has. His layered and dynamic vocals touch all the highs and lows that the human voice can, establishing himself as a talented figure who’s much more than just a Playboi Carti copycat. Midwxst deserves a spot on Mixtape’s freshman list because his unique artistry enthralls all who listen, and he’s only going up from here. -Noah W
Paris Texas
Paris Texas: it’s a city, a movie, and now an up-and-coming musical duo. Raking in almost 500,000 monthly listeners on Spotify with only two official albums out, one of which dropped last July, Paris Texas deserves a spot in our 2023 Freshman Class. The LA-based duo exhibits a wide range of sound with their production and lyricism, first gaining recognition from their EP, Red Hand Akimbo. Paris Texas isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of hip-hop, with an almost grunge sound to their music using everything from warped guitars to cloud rap lofi elements on songs like “BULLSEYE” and “RHM.” Their self-produced album, BOY ANONYMOUS, is a melting pot of alt-rock, rap, and R&B, further showing their range. Paris Texas is far from a one-trick pony, and we can’t wait to see what they have up their sleeve next. -Kira
Sexyy Red
Hailing from St Louis, Missouri, Sexyy Red brings a fun, raunchy sound to the scene. She started gaining attention in 2018 for tracks like “Ah Thousand Jugs,” a reworked version of Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles,” and is now progressing into one of the hottest rappers of 2023. She started the year with a feature from Nicki Minaj that took her to a whole new level. Debuting at #66 on Billboard, “Pound Town 2” was Sexyy Red’s introduction to the mainstream audience, and it was a success. She kept her momentum by dropping hits like “Female Gucci Mane” and “SkeeYee.” The latter is the most viral song on the internet across all genres, peaking at number one on TikTok and Billboard's Top 50 chart. With multiple viral hits, a unique sound, and everyone in the world yelling “SkeeYee,” she has easily earned her spot as a freshman. -John
Teezo Touchdown
Teezo Touchdown needs no introduction after being a fan favorite feature on Travis Scott’s UTOPIA with his stellar vocals on “Modern Jam.” The Texas artist just released his debut album, How Do You Sleep At Night, a punk-hip-hop-alternative-R&B crossover (if you could even describe it as any genre). This new album has so much depth and versatility; it sounds like an artist who discovered his own sound over the course of multiple albums. Teezo has been slowly getting into the public eye over the last two years with a feature on Tyler, the Creator’s album CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, a subsequent opener spot on the CMIYGL tour, and a feature on Lil Yatchy’s Let’s Start Here. With his new album and his new sound, it would be wrong of us to not give him an addition on this Freshmen List. -James
Veeze
This is not a fire drill: Veeze is the real thing. The 29-year-old Detroit rapper could be considered a late bloomer, but in his 5th year of publishing, he has jumped right into our Freshman List. His second studio album, Ganger, was released June 27 of this year and was a smashing success, even getting an 8.0 from Pitchfork. The album is a more polished version of his older work with the same clever and raw lyrics. Veeze keeps his Detroit roots with endless lean bars and stern-faced comedic entendres. His nonchalant aura adds to his confidence to say anything on a beat, and his lyrical ingenuity makes him an exciting listen. As Veeze continues to show his potential as the newest face of Detroit rap, we must acknowledge his talent on this year's Freshman List. -Kai