Ten years ago, XXL took a chance on 10 rising artists who would eventually become some of the most successful rappers in hip-hop history. 21 Savage, Kodak Black, Lil Uzi Vert, G Herbo, Denzel Curry, ...

Nearly five years ago, XXL debuted the 10 rappers who were selected for the 2016 XXL Freshman cover. Kodak Black, Dave East, Lil Dicky, Desiigner, Lil Uzi Vert, Anderson .Paak, Denzel Curry, G Herbo, ...

Editor’s Note: This story appears in the Summer 2026 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website. Since being released 10 years ago, the cypher has amassed more ...

Lil Yachty offers his decisive vote for the best verse from the 2016 XXL Freshman Class, which featured him, Denzel Curry, Kodak Black, Lil Uzi Vert, and 21 Savage. "I think it’s pretty undeniable 21 ...

A preface: the most popular does not always equate to the best. Yet there is merit in popularity, as mass appeal is a difficult achievement for any creator in any given medium. And while rap fans love ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The cyphers are about presence, attitude and that undeniable spark that makes the audience pay attention. For many of these ...

First up, Desiigner makes it known that's he's more than a mic-wielding cartoon character, handing it off to Anderson .Paak, who provides no shortage of swaggerific heat. Then comes Lil Dicky to close ...