Diggy Simmons and the XXL Freshman Class: A Platform for Rising Hip-Hop Talents
The XXL Freshman Class has become a significant platform in the hip-hop world, showcasing emerging artists and offering them a chance to gain wider recognition. Since 2007, XXL magazine has released its annual "Freshman Class" list, highlighting 10-12 artists-to-watch, all of whom appear on the cover of the magazine. The list has a history of showcasing unknown/underground rappers, as well as artists considered to be on the rise. One such artist who benefited from this platform is Diggy Simmons, who was featured in the 2011 XXL Freshman Class.
The Significance of the XXL Freshman Class
Being selected for the XXL Freshman Class is a noteworthy achievement for any up-and-coming hip-hop artist. As Diggy Simmons himself stated, "Being here means a lot. It’s always been something I thought was real cool, as a new artist to be on, and it was something that I wanted to be on this year." He further expressed his excitement upon hearing the news, saying, "When I heard [I made it], I was like, 'What?' You know, that’s something I was freaking out over, because I was putting in all this hard work, and to see it, you know, actually see the things come to past my ways, it’s just crazy."
The recognition that comes with being on the Freshman cover is a goal for many new hip-hop artists. Diggy acknowledged this, stating, "There are certain goals that people wanna reach, and being a new artist, I’m sure-well, hip-hop artist-I’m sure being on the Freshmen [cover] is one of them. And that was something that I definitely wanted to do."
Diggy Simmons: A Rising Star
Daniel Simmons, known as Diggy Simmons, was a 15-year-old rapper representing New York when he was selected for the 2011 XXL Freshman Class. At the time, he had already released the single "Great Expectations" in 2010 and made a guest appearance on Lupe Fiasco’s "I’m Beamin’ (Remix)." He had also released two mixtapes, The First Flight in 2009 and Airborne in 2010. He was working on recording material for his untitled mixtape, due spring 2011, and his solo debut album. Diggy was signed to Atlantic Records and aligned with his father, Rev. Run, and uncle, Russell Simmons. In addition to his music career, he also had a sneaker line called Chivalrous Culture, which was set to launch in fall 2011.
Diggy Simmons' inclusion in the 2011 XXL Freshman Class was a testament to his growing popularity and potential. He had been independently releasing music, and his talent had garnered attention from prominent figures in the industry, including Nas and Kanye West. As Diggy explained, "It’s crazy ’cause it was a lot of people co-signing me. Nas to Kanye, and just a lot of people that just really enjoyed [my freestyles] in particular."
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The 2011 XXL Freshman Class Experience
Diggy Simmons had a positive experience during the XXL Freshman Class photoshoot. He noted that the other artists were welcoming and supportive. "I wasn’t so anxious [at the shoot], I was excited to do it. It was kind of what I expected it to be [too], nobody was really Hollywood or anything like that. Everybody was showing love." He also enjoyed the opportunity to meet and connect with other artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Yelawolf. "I got to see some dudes that I already knew [of], like I had already known Kendrick and Mac Miller, but I never got to meet them. So, it was cool meeting them… It was real cool."
Diggy also praised the diversity of the 2011 Freshman Class, stating, "I think [this year’s Freshmen are] definitely the most diverse class. It’s usually the people that you see get on the same blogs and what not, but then you see YG or Twist or somebody like that, that don’t necessarily get posted, but they still grind. I think that’s a great part about it, you guys didn’t single anybody out for a certain reason. If you’re grinding and you have a buzz and you’re trying to make it, that’s how y’all did it."
The Impact of the XXL Freshman Class
The XXL Freshman Class has had a significant impact on the careers of many hip-hop artists. It has provided a platform for emerging talents to gain exposure and connect with a wider audience. For Diggy Simmons, being part of the 2011 XXL Freshman Class was a dream come true. "When I got that call [from XXL] I flipped, I screamed. I don’t get that hype about nothing, but I was bouncing off the walls. That obviously means that this is a big thing for me. It’s like a dream come true." He recognized the importance of the recognition, stating, "Being on the XXL Freshmen list is that mark, it’s that stamp. It’s very meaningful to me, so the fact that I got it, and now to see it set in stone, is crazy."
The exposure from the XXL Freshman Class helped Diggy Simmons reach a wider audience, including those who may not have been familiar with his music. As he stated, "I’ve still got people that don’t even know that I rap and XXL is a big outlet; a real big magazine so more it’ll just show people, and they’ll be like, ‘Yo that’s Diggy he looks older.’ Or, ‘I didn’t know he rapped.’ So for those people and also for my fans and my supporters I hope they go out and get [the issue] and enjoy it."
The Evolution of the XXL Freshman Class
Since its inception, the XXL Freshman Class has evolved and adapted to the changing landscape of hip-hop. While the core concept of showcasing emerging talent has remained the same, the selection process and the artists chosen have reflected the trends and diversity within the genre.
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Occasionally, the Freshman Class list may contain extra additions to include more rappers. The 2011, 2013, 2019, 2021 and 2024 Freshman Class lists, for example, had 11 rappers. In the case for the 2013 list, XXL added an honorary extra spot for Chief Keef due to the artist being in a six-day jail stint and therefore being unable to attend the photo shoot in New York City. For the 2025 list, EBK Jaaybo, who was the 10th spot winner, was arrested prior to the photo shoot resulting in him being unable to attend.
Declining a Spot on the XXL Freshman Cover
Interestingly, not all artists offered a spot on the XXL Freshman cover accept the invitation. Some artists feel they have "graduated" from the Freshman Class, while others may have scheduling conflicts or disagreements with the magazine's vision.
In an interview with MTV, Nicki Minaj spoke on why she and Drake declined the cover by saying "With all due respect, we felt like we kinda had graduated from the Freshman Class. We felt XXL missed the mark when they didn't put us on the cover prior to that (2009)." In an interview with Shade 45, Cam'ron revealed that he spoke to the Editor-In-Chief Vanessa Satten about putting Vado on the 2011 issue. However, Cam'ron wanted Vado to be the center focus and not share the cover with multiple other artists and Respectfully declined. Other artists who have declined a spot on the XXL Freshman cover include YFN Lucci, who initially refused to play music for XXL and said he didn't want to play any music if he wasn't guaranteed a spot on the list. On Instagram Live, he explained that he respectfully declined due to XXL apparently telling him that he would be the 10th Spot Freshman before the voting process even began. Pop Smoke agreed to be on the cover but he died before he could attend the shoot. XXL originally planned to add him on the cover to honor him, but Pop Smoke's team asked them not to do so.
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