A pair of California rappers have been named to this year’s XXL Freshman Class.
The hip-hop and rap-oriented outlet has been publishing their Freshman Class list – which honors 10 to 12 up-and-coming rappers – every year since 2007, apart from 2008. Starting in 2012, XXL introduced a fan voting system for the last spot in the list; the publication’s editorial staff, along with music industry figures, are the ones who select the candidates.
Per XXL, there were a total of 68 rappers who were eligible for a spot in this year’s Freshman Class. However, only 12 were selected.
They are:
Ray Vaughn
Long Beach native Ray Vaughn got his big break when he signed to Carson-based label Top Dawg Entertainment — known for helping acts like Kendrick Lamar and SZA reach superstardom — in 2021, the same year as the release of his debut EP “Peer Pressure.”
In April, he released his major-label debut mixtape “The Good The Bad The Dollar Menu,” which contained features from Isaiah Rashad, Jay Rock and LaRussell (the former two are his labelmates at TDE).
His style is characterized by relatable messaging and unique lyricism that quickly made him an internet favorite, TDE says of Ray Vaughn’s artistry.
At 29, he is the oldest MC included in this year’s Freshman Class.
BabyChiefDoit
Teenaged rapper BabyChiefDoit dropped his mixtape “ZOO LIFE” in April. From Chicago, he makes music that aligns with the city’s drill rap scene, which was popularized by Chief Keef in the early 2010s.
With a flow described as “energetic” and lyricism described as “raw,” BabyChiefDoit also takes influence from Southern trap music. According to his label, Artist Partner Group, his music touches on the themes of survival, loyalty and ambition.
He turned 17 on May 4, making him the youngest inductee in this year’s Freshman Class.
Eem Triplin
Eem Triplin, 24, originally got his start uploading beats YouTube before going viral in 2022 for his song “Awkward Freestyle.”
Born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, he eventually started making beats for more prominent artists; he also released his debut full-length project this year: “Melody of a Memory” came out on Feb. 17.
The 13-track album has a Ty Dolla $ign feature on it but mainly features Eem Triplin establishing himself in the “plugg” rap subgenre.
1900Rugrat
1900Rugrat went viral for freestyles that he uploaded over the past year. His meteoric rise really began when his breakout single, “One Take Freestylen” gained immense popularity on TikTok in September.
The West Palm Beach, Florida, native’s “One Take Freestyle” eventually received a remix from one of the Sunshine State’s most prominent contemporary rappers — Kodak Black — which showcased his growing recognition within the rap game as an energetic and humorous rapper.
He too dropped his full-length debut in February. “Porch 2 The Pent” contains 20 songs and includes a feature from Lil Yachty, among others.
Samara Cyn
Samara Cyn, born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but raised across the country due to her father being in the Army, is arguably the most soulful of the 2025 XXL Freshman Class.
Self-described as a “neo-soul hip-hop fusion artist,” Samara Cyn uses her experiences as a child and young adult to create unique music.
According to NME magazine, she performed live for the first time in 2019 and got the chance to open for Teddy Swims two years later.
Her most recent release came this past Friday — a five-song EP titled “backroads.”
GELO
GELO, also known as “G3” or his name LiAngelo Ball, didn’t initially get famous for rapping; he is the son of LaVar Ball — head of the Big Baller Brand that features his family’s sports apparel — and brother of Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, both of whom play in the NBA.
A graduate of Chino Hills High School, GELO briefly played overseas in Lithuania and Mexico while also featuring for Junior Basketball Association team Los Angeles Ballers and the Greensboro Swarm, which is the Charlotte Hornets’ G-League team.
He dropped his viral debut single “Tweaker” on Jan. 3. A remix with Lil Wayne was released the following month, and GELO also performed at this year’s NBA All-Star Game.
Loe Shimmy
Loe Shimmy, 26, has garnered fame for his melodic yet coarse songs that combine old-school and contemporary Southern rap. He is signed to the Freebandz record label, which was founded in 2011 by Atlanta rapper Future.
Hailing from Pompano Beach, Florida, Loe Shimmy has released a steady stream of mixtapes since 2021, the most recent of which, “Nardy World,” dropped in November.
One of his songs, “For Me,” got a remix featuring Grammy-nominated singer Brent Faiyaz.
Lazer Dim 700
Cordele, Georgia’s Lazer Dim 700 makes chaotic, Southern-influenced rap dominated by off-the-cuff lyrics and booming 808 drum patterns.
At 23, he’s already received co-signs from Florida rapper Denzel Curry as well as BET Hip Hip Award-winner Sexyy Red.
He released an album, “KEEPIN IT CLOUDY,” in December. Another album, “Sins Aloud,” is set to drop on July 1.
YTB Fatt
YTB Fatt hails from the Memphis metropolitan area. A gangsta rap artist influenced by the legendary Memphis MCs that came before him, he also incorporates contemporary trap elements into his songs.
He signed to fellow Memphis rapper Moneybagg Yo’s Bread Gang record label in 2023 and rose to fame with the single “Shot Off Gumbo,” released the same year.
His most recent album, “Da Foxprint,” released on June 20.
Nino Paid
Nino Paid is a rapper from Landover, Maryland, who has released two albums as of this year.
According to the Washington Post, Nino Paid inserts his real life directly into his creations, which detail traumatic experiences, such as growing up in the foster care system and losing friends and family members, in a confessional, contemporary manner.
His most recent album, “Love Me As I Am,” saw the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) rapper collaborate with Tommy Richman (known for his 2024 breakout single “Million Dollar Baby”) as well as fellow 2025 Freshman Class inductee BabyChiefDoit.
He also dropped a single on Tuesday, “Play This At My Funeral,” with Chicago rapper Polo G.
Ian
Ian Smith, known by just his first name, is 20 years old and hails from St. Louis. He, like fellow 2025 XXL Freshman Class inductee Eem Triplin, originally started making beats for other artists but gradually transitioned into making his own rap songs, blowing up in 2024 with his mixtape “Valedictorian.”
Since then, he has gotten immensely popular — “Hate Me,” featuring Lil Yachty, peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 — and he released his first studio album in Nov. 2024.
That album, “Goodbye Horses,” was released through Columbia Records and included both “Hate Me” and the Chief Keef collaboration “S–t Sad.”
EBK Jaaybo
EBK Jaaybo is a Stockton native who makes intense, high-octane rap that aligns with his EBK group — which has been designated by the Department of Justice as a street gang. EBK stands for “Everybody Killa.”
An MC with a checkered past, EBK Jaaybo has been arrested multiple times; he served a year in the San Joaquin County Jail for illegal gun possession and was arrested in May on multiple felony charges in Pope County, Arkansas. His album, “Don’t Trust Me,” dropped while he was in jail.
He was unable to make the XXL cover photoshoot because he was still in jail. He was this year’s 10th spot winner, which is voted on by fans.
Cardo (producer)
Cardo, also known as CardoGotWings, is the music producer for this year’s XXL Freshman Class cyphers, which see the inductees freestyle both on their own and in a group with fellow MCs.
He got his start by producing for Mac Miller, and he subsequently was introduced to Wiz Khalifa, who included some of Cardo’s beats on his “Kush & Orange Juice” mixtape.
Since then, the 40-year-old Minnesota native has produced for some of the biggest rappers of today’s generation, including Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Jay-Z, Jeezy and more.
Past inductees to the XXL Freshman Class include J. Cole (2010), 21 Savage (2016) and U.K. rapper Central Cee (2023).
From 2007 to 2011, there was no 10th spot winner; 2018’s edition didn’t have one either because both Lil Skies and Rich the Kid declined to be on the list.
In 2020, Pop Smoke was picked to be on the list; however, he was shot and killed at a Hollywood Hills mansion in February of that year, before the cover photoshoot could take place.
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