XXL magazine has released its 2015 Freshman Class, which is a list of today’s most promising up-and-coming rappers. The XXL staff’s decisions are based on the rapper’s who are defining the new wave of hip hop. This year’s list includes Fetty Wap, Kidd Kidd, DeJ Loaf, OG Maco, Vince Staples, Tink, Shy Glizzy, Raury, K Camp, and GoldLink. All of the hip hop artists were selected by XXL, except for Kidd Kidd, who was voted to be on the list by the fans.
Fetty Wap’s “Trap Queen” reached Number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it peaked at the top of the Hot Rap Songs and Rhythmic charts. The hit song also impacted three more US singles charts including the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Number 2), Mainstream Top 40 (Number 20), and Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Number 24). “Trap Queen” charted in the UK, Sweden, Ireland, Netherlands, France, Denmark, Canada, and Belgium as well. After selling over one million copies in the US, “Trap Queen” has been certified platinum. Fetty Wap has yet to release a studio album, but he has dropped two successful mixtapes entitled Up Next (2014) and Zoo Style (2015). The rapper has collaborated on songs with Cash Out, Remy Ma, and he is featured on Natalie La Rose’s new single “Around The World.”
Tink is a protege of superproducer Timbaland, and she has been compared to the likes of Lauryn Hill. Audiences started to take notice of Tink when she dropped her rendition of Rick Ross’ “Movin’ Bass.” Even though Ross wasn’t too happy about Tink recreating his song, hip hop fans were more than impressed by her rapping skills. Tink has released several mixtapes including Winter’s Diary, Alter Ego, Blunts & Ballads, Boss Up, and Winter’s Diary 2: Forever Yours. To date, she has dropped two major singles including “Ratchet Commandments” and “Million.” The single “Million” peaked at Number 44 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Tink has been featured on a few singles including Future Brown’s “Wanna Party” and Sleigh Bell’s “That Did It.” The rapper is expected to drop her debut studio album, Think Tink, some time this year.
FDRMX Eyes: Atome Primitif’s video for their song “Silver House” is a simple animated short set primarily in black and white. The video opens to a girl staring out her room window on a rainy day. Check the video out here:
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