XXL 10 Freshmen For ’10 – J. Cole Freestyle X DLs
The N(Y)C native is at the helm of this new school of rappers with the tiller firmly in his hand, rudder at his command. Easily the coldest spitter of the group, Cole has an advantage on every other rapper in XXL’s Top 10 Freshmen. Hit the skip for a breakdown of the list, plus music from Cole you may have missed over the past couple months.
J. Cole – College Boy
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
J. Cole – Shook Ones Freestyle
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
XXL’s Top 10 Freshmen for ’10:
1. Nipsey Hussle – The West Coast native spits hard and has the backing of major artists like Snoop and Dre. That being said, he can’t match Cole’s lyrical integrity and complexity. Plus Cole has the greatest co-sign possible (HOV).
2. Wiz Khalifa - Although Wiz has been impressive in terms of his mixtape game, his studio efforts flop like Kimbo Slice in the UFC. Cole hasn’t put out his debut album yet, but- just based on who is getting down on it- he already has more credibility than Wiz.
3. Freddie Gibbs – The formerly Interscope-signed rapper from Gary, Indiana is finally putting the pieces of his career’s puzzle together. Making waves both on tour and with his work in the studio, Gibbs’ deep, growling voice has given him a corner in this shrinking market. Again, Gibbs isn’t on the same lyrical plane as Cole, and he lacks the same major-label backing that would serve as a catapult into the limelight.
4. Pill - A native of the A, Pill is reppin the South with serious pride. With support from big-time southern rappers (Killer Mike, Andre 3000, and more), Pill could make a serious splash this year. Compared to Cole, who was on tour with Jay-Z this past year gaining valuable and exclusive knowledge about performing and promoting, Pill is at a slight disadvantage. What’s more: Pill doesn’t even have his own Wikipedia page yet!
5. Jay Rock – The Watts-bred emcee has the ‘single’ game on lock, and he, like Cole, is about to put out his first studio album. But being able to shape the contours of an album is an important skill for a rapper to have in the arsenal, and it’s a skill that has become more and more scarce. The most unique thing about Cole’s mixtapes was that they still had an ‘album’ vibe about them; there was a compelling narrative from top to bottom abound with thematic elements from track to track. Only time will tell if Jay Rock possesses this same talent.
6. Big Sean – Big Sean’s in a similar position to Cole: recently signed (to Kanye’s label GOOD Music) and on the cusp of releasing his first studio album. If Kanye is below Jay-Z on the totem pole, doesn’t that mean Kanye’s protege is below Jay-Z’s?
7. Fashawn – It seems like Fash is just about to blow. His first album, Boy Meets World, was produced exclusively by Exile and could should have made our Top Albums of 2009. With a bag full of mixtapes acclaimed in the underground and some strong connections to the musically elite producers, the only thing The Phenom doesn’t have that Cole does is a viable jump off point(s) into the mainstream. Cole has been featured on several tracks with hugely popular artists (see: Mos Def, Jay-Z, Wale, B.o.B.); his portfolio is growing at an alarmingly fast pace.
9. OJ the Juiceman – the Juiceman has had major success, hitting the charts at number 19 on Swizz and Jada’s ‘Whose Real.’ He’s also been one of the most prolific emcees in recent memory, dropping more than a dozen mixtapes over the past three years. Although OJ the Juiceman has a relative abundance of material compared to Cole, the quality of Cole’s music is always extremely high (whereas the Juiceman sometimes makes sacrifices for the sake of putting something, anything out). This may give Cole more long-term viability than OJ, and it may also make his career have a much more meaningful impact on music and the music industry.
10. Donnis – Also from Atlanta, Donnis recently signed to Atlantic Records, which gives him much more mainstream viability than a lot of other rappers on this list. Donnis has appeared on tracks with some mainstays like Akon and Kardinal Official, but his resume doesn’t stand up to Cole’s side-by-side. Donnis’ most viewed YouTube video has some 83 thousand hits, whereas Cole’s ‘Lights Please’ has more than 500 thousand.
Cole fits in at number eight, although I don’t think there was a particular order to the list. If you haven’t caught some of what Cole’s done since The Warm Up, check the DL links below. For those who aren’t yet convinced of Cole’s superiority, make a case for somebody else!
_________________________________________________________________
J. Cole – I Really Mean It Freestyle
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
B.o.B. – Gladiators ft. J. Cole [prod. Alchemist]
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Wale – Rather Be With You ft. J. Cole & Currensy
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
J. Cole – Lights Please (Remix) [prod. XV]
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Wale – Beautiful Bliss ft. J. Cole & Melanie Fiona
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download:
J. Cole – College Boy
J. Cole – Shook Ones Freestyle
J. Cole – I Really Mean It Freestyle
B.o.B. – Gladiators ft. J. Cole [prod. Alchemist]
Wale – Rather Be With You ft. J. Cole & Currensy
J. Cole – Lights Please (Remix) [prod. XV]
Wale – Beautiful Bliss ft. J. Cole & Melanie Fiona
Trek Life Round 2
Stalley
David Dallas
Elite
Lil' Friday
Wispers
Apollo The Great
T3 of Slum Village
Miguel Jontel
Aloe Blacc
Yelawolf
Guilty Simpson
Homeboy Sandman
Questlove
Sage Francis and B. Dolan
Treklife
Element
DJ Webstar
Moonsatellite
I think Cole does have the advantage on that list right now. Things just seem most lined up for him – a loyal, constantly growing fan base and quality content everywhere you look.
While names like Big Sean, Wiz, Nipsey, Jay Rock and OJ are familiar, some of those other cats just seem like they came out of nowhere. The man’s name is Donnis? Like, for real?
It’s just not entirely impressive to be at the top of this list.. yet. It really takes a year or more to see how these artists are going to figure in to the game. XXL does have a good history of picking some winners, but also some dudes we’ve been known to laugh at too.
dont sleep on donnis…
@theProject like Charles Hamilton?
^but cosign jonno cause everybody on the list is worth checking out.
lol.. nah u right. the idea of the list itself is just such a dope idea cause not only does it bring mad attention to these young guns but it sheds light on a wide array of artists.
i guess i never really heard of donnis. whats good w him? potential post?
Lmfao……damn they doubt’N N.C but 2010-11 is North Carolina year, dat ni99a J.Cole jus set it off for us and now we bout to take our state to the TOP n stay der……..Facts!!!!!!lol
haha @PH33L I feel you fam, there is so much ish bubbling in NC right now it’s crazy.