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Revisiting The XXL 2013 Freshman – Their Success & Where Are They Now?
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Schoolboy Q
Los Angeles rapper Schoolboy Q gained major recognition in 2011 with his album Setbacks. Before deciding to give away the album for free, Setbacks sold enough copies to reach the top 100 on the Billboard 200 list in the US. Schoolboy continued to build on this success with his 2012 release Habits & Contradictions. These two releases received incredible critical acclaim, and cemented his place on the XXL 2013 Freshman cover. Following his XXL appearance, Schoolboy Q began the rollout for his major-label debut, Oxymoron. The album’s lead singles “Collard Greens” ft. Kendrick Lamar, “Studio” ft. Miguel, and “Man of the Year” propelled Schoolboy into mainstream Hip-Hop as one of the Top Dawg Entertainment’s leading artists.
Where are they now?
At the beginning of 2016, it was announced that Schoolboy Q’s album, Blank Face LP, would be released in the summer. Led by the singles “Groovy Tony”, and “That Part” ft. Kanye West, Blank Face LP received widespread critical acclaim; however, it was unable to match the commercial success of his 2014 release, Oxymoron.
Joey Bada$$
After creating some buzz for himself with the song “Survival Tactics”, featuring fellow Pro Era member, Capital Steez, Joey Bada$$ released his breakout mixtape, 1999. The mixtape, which resembles the style of the New York Hip-Hop legends that inspired him, made Joey one of the most promising up-and-comers at the time. 1999 received remarkable acclaim, appearing on Complex Magazine’s best albums of 2012 list at 38, and was awarded best mixtape of 2012 by HipHopDX.
Where are they now?
In 2014 Joey released his debut album, B4.DA.$$. The album retained some of the 90’s Hip-Hop revival sound he became known for, and was notably more personal than his mixtapes. The album received generally positive reviews, and debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200. In 2016, Joey released a new single, “Devastated”, and appeared on USA network’s Mr. Robot. He’s announced a new album set to be released in 2017.
Logic
Logic’s rise really began in 2011 when he released the first of three Young Sinatra mixtapes. This series of mixtapes built Logic a large fan base, who admired his fast flows, and incredible lyrical abilities.
Where are they now?
Since Logic’s appearance on the XXL 2013 Freshman list he has released two albums, and a mixtape. His first album, Under Pressure, details his life growing up in Maryland, and was met with widespread critical acclaim. His follow up album, The Incredible True Story, is a concept album set in the distant future, and maintains his signature lyricism and storytelling. Since the release of his sophomore album, Logic has released a mixtape, titled Bobby Tarantino, and teased his third album called AfricaryaN.
Travi$ Scott
Travi$ Scott is a rapper/producer from Houston, TX known for his dark, spacey beats, and melodic vocals. Travis began to garner attention with his 2013 mixtape Owl Pharaoh. Inspiring interest from Hip-Hop icons like Kanye West, Travis found his way into the XXL 2013 Freshman Class.
Where are they now?
Following his XXL appearance, Travis released his most popular, and well-regarded project at the time, Days Before Rodeo. This tape had an impressive list of features (Young Thug, Migos, Big Sean), and established the sound that Travis would become known for. He went on to release two studio albums, Rodeo, and Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, which were both well received amongst fans and critics. Only a few months after his latest album, Travis has started to build hype for his forthcoming project, Astroworld.
Action Bronson
Action Bronson, New York Native, and professional chef, is most popular for his mixtapes Blue Chips, Blue Chips 2, and Rare Chandeliers. The unique production, emphatic vocals, and clever wordplay distinguished Bronson from his peers, and landed him a spot on XXL.
Where are they now?
Action Bronson hasn’t been as musically active as some of his fellow freshman since 2013. Since his freshman appearance, he has only released one project, Mr. Wonderful, which saw mixed reviews, and besides a handful of features, he has remained relatively silent. However, he has created a show on Vice, called F**K, That’s Delicious. This year he’s supposed to release a cookbook under the same title.
Overview
XXL’s Freshman List is known for its reputation for identifying, and building hype around the next big names in Hip-Hop/R&B. Their 2013 list is possibly the best example of this as several of the names that year are now at the top of the industry. Artists such as ScHoolboy Q, Logic, and Joey Bada$$ are at the forefront of 2016, and are prime examples of how XXL is able to boost the career of up-and-coming artists.
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