Dear XXL (re: 2010 Freshman 10)

It's a rarity in life that a good deed goes unnoticed. However, in hip-hop, good verses, ciphers, MC's and producers go overlooked every day. That's why hip-hop publications exist: to inform the less-than-informed masses about who's going to be on the come up in hip-hop. Unfortunately for you XXL, you're preaching to the choir with this year's XXL Freshman 10. Before we rant about who deserved what, let's see exactly who is on the list:

J. Cole
Nipsey Hussle
Wiz Khalifa
Donnis
Fashawn
Pill
OJ da Juiceman
Big Sean
Jay Rock
Freddie Gibbs

Now, doing a quick Wikipedia or Google search of all of these names, here is what I already knew stumbled upon: 1) ALL of these dudes have been out since at least 2007. 2) ALL of these dudes have put together at least one album-quality (yes, that's subjective, so feel free to disagree) release in the past year. How exactly does that qualify them as a new breed of hustlas? (I love how hip-hop publications purposefully misspell shit to make it sound more underground) Not that I'm hating on anyone's grind, but shouldn't the 'New Breed of Hustlaz' actually be a 'new breed'? I've heard music from each and every rapper on your list, and I'm sure that I'm not the only person who can claim that. Even so, your list is indicative of the way the hip-hop is going.

Now, instead of promoting artists and music suitable for the radio, you guys (as well as most hip-hop publications) are catering toward the internet. While inevitable, your new direction was obvious just from the way you guys pushed those freestyles from this year's class (5/10 were wack, and 3/5 hot ones were from other songs/ciphers). With the exception of maybe OJ, (why is he on the list in the first place?) all of the rappers on the list are coming from blog fame, not random guest spots or local radio. XXL, the blogs (including this one) are forcing your direction more than you'd like to admit. That's not to say that blog influence is a bad thing. However, any regular blog reader (and EVERYONE reads blogs now) will know more than half of these acts. XXL, you're doing a valiant thing with the Freshman 10. That said, you need to seriously search for rappers who are going to appeal to hip-hop as a whole, not just the ones featured on blogs or hailing from your local trap house. Lord knows another list with an OJ-esque rapper will have your list looking wacker than this year's NBA All-Star Weekend...