XXL released their Freshmen class of 2012 candidates today. The magazine is also giving fans the power to decide one of member of the 2012 Freshmen class by online voting. The magazine will select 9 artists for the cover, and fans will decide the final 10th. It’s an interesting move considering the flux in fan’s reactions to the cover over the last 4 years. The 50 eligible artists run the gambit from famous faces and sure fire hits, to obscure names, to artists that have built a solid fanbase for years. I think the fan voting concept is actually good one. It could possibly be improved by letting fans pick the final 10th after the other 9 have been decided similar to the way baseball does All-Star voting for that final roster spot.
Lots of familiar names on the list including Digital Freshness and Closed Sessions alums like Action Bronson, brandUN DeShay, Rockie Fresh, Danny Brown, Emilio Rojas, Chip Tha Ripper, Outasight, and others. Let me digest this for a while before putting my 10 down on paper. Do yours at home, and let’s compare notes.
• Action Bronson (digital freshness)
• Alley Boy
• A$AP Rocky
• Black Cobain
• Bobby Brackins
• brandUN DeShay
• Casey Veggies
• Chevy Woods
• Chip tha Ripper
• Chris Webby
• Danny Brown
• Dee-1
• Don Trip
• Earl Sweatshirt
• Emilio Rojas
• Erk tha Jerk
• French Montana
• Future
• Hopsin
• Iggy Azalea
• Jon Connor
• Kid Ink
• Kirko Bangz
• Kreayshawn
• Laws
• Los
• Macklemore
• Mann
• Marcus Manchild
• Machine Gun Kelly
• Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire
• MullyMan
• Neako
• Outasight
• Phil Adé
• Playboy Tre
• Reek Da Villian
• Rockie Fresh
• Roscoe Dash
• Sam Adams
• ScHoolboy Q
• Slim the Mobster
• Smoke DZA
• Stalley
• Starlito
• STS
• The Kid Daytona
• Trouble
• V-Nasty
• XV