XXL Releases Top 10 Freshmen of 2010

New York, NY – XXL Magazine has been compiling the names of the freshest and newest addition of Emcees in Hip-Hop for the past two years and with each annual list, some of those names have gone on to become heavyweight artists in their own rite. For third time this decade, the publication come has compiled a list of names for the Top 10 Freshmen of 2010 in Hip-Hop.

Representing for the West Coast you have Nipsey Hussle, Jay Rock and Fashawn. O.J. Da Juiceman, Pill and Donnis are holding it down for Atlanta. While North Carolina native, J. Cole, also made the cut, as did Pittsburgh’s Wiz Khalifah. The Midwest’s own Big Sean (Detroit) and Freddie Gibbs (Gary, Indiana) round out the roster.

XXL Editor in Chief Vanessa Sutton spoke to MTV News a few weeks before the release of the finalized cover during the photoshoot. These were her comments about the next controversial issue:

“It’s always interesting to assemble the guys; because you don’t know what kind of vibe you’re gonna get. The first [class in 2008], they were kinda brooding. They were kind of boring on the actual shoot. The second one, they were exciting. This year, we didn’t know what to expect from them, because the first two [classes] were so opposite of each other. You never know what you can expect when you get those 10 rappers together. It could be pretty much anything.

You’re not dealing with divas like you normally do with a bigger cover, but at the same time, you’re dealing with people who’ve got these insecurities, who are not used to the situation and not as recognizable. You gotta get them to be a bit more animated and be a little bit more interesting so the photos could be spectacular. It’s a little different when you put a bigger star on the cover.

Last year, in general, the class was more Internet-driven. It was kind of a different class. The office would make fun — it was more of a nerdy class. The rappers involved might get offended by that, but it was definitely to the direction of the Internet audience, the Internet rappers. This [new] class is a mix of that and a little bit more street. And more of hodgepodge.”

The XXL Top 10 Freshmen edition for the April issue will hit newsstands on March 16.

On the real, I can understand Nipsey Hussle and J.Cole, but I think XXL forgot a couple of names from Miami.

Lil Wayne’s Path to Rikers Island

Miami, FL – Earlier in February it was anticipated that Wayne was to turn himself into the New York authorities where he would begin serving his one year sentence stemming from gun charges he concurred in 2007. Due to a request made by his defense team for an extension in order to undergo dental work, which was granted to him, Wayne was allowed more time to handle more business, record more music and videos before the time of redemption.

It has been recently reported that Wayne has been working quite excessively within the time frame that was allowed to him. Besides being in the studio recording like a monster, he has apparently found time to record videos with his Young Money family and alongside Diddy, Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, Rick Ross, and of course Drake and himself. The interesting fact about the entire story behind the videos is that he shot all seven in one night and is boosting about it.

Wayne’s personal videographer, DJ Scoob Doo, who has been with him since the recording of the ‘Nino Brown story,’ just so happened to record a final clip of Wayne over the weekend on his tour bus. The video was sent to MTV News.

These were some of his comments taken from the video about his seven videos in one night achievement:

“I’mma show y’all the [work] ethic of a true artist, you know what I’m talkin’ about?’ Seven videos. I shot 10 in two days before. Now we about to do seven in one night!”

At press time, the newest Young Money video was released and aired on 106 & Park this past Monday (March 1).

Checkout the Video that was sent to MTV News: