XXL Staff Speak on 2018 Freshman Class on 'The Breakfast Club'

The 2018 XXL Freshman Class was revealed Tuesday (June 12), and per usual, the cover has received mixed responses from fans, artists and industry insiders.

XXL's Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Satten and Executive Editor John Kennedy sat down with The Breakfast Club's DJ Envy and Angela Yee this morning (June 14) and explained the selection process when it comes to picking the class. "I think what a lot of people leave out is there's a lot of sides to being a star—business sides; things that we get to see that other people don't get to see," Vanessa explains. "Attitudes, behaviors, stats, business people, controversy—a lot of things go into what that path is going to be."

Yee immediately brings up 6ix9ine, who some rap fans believe was robbed of a spot on the "We Got Clout" cover, which is comprised of Trippie Redd, Stefflon Don, Ski Mask The Slump God, BlocBoy JB, Wifisfuneral, Lil Pump, J.I.D, YBN Nahmir and Smokepurpp. While discussing the hindrance of social media and the "Keke" rapper's recent antics, Satten says, "There's a lot of things that are negative around him, and I think that that could turn people away from wanting to get too close to you to take you to that next level and invest in you."

The XXL staff also discusses Lil Skies, who earned the coveted 10th Spot this year but went silent three days before the photoshoot took place and didn't show up on the day of. In regards to his statement about the list being rigged, Satten and Kennedy say it's completely false. "Anybody has the ability to reach out to us and ask us for an interview," Vanessa adds in response to social media personalities who ran with the false rumors.

The Breakfast Club crew also bring up a list of artists they're surprised didn't make the cut, including Lil Baby, Jay Critch, YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Bhad Bhabie, which you can watch below.

Be sure to catch the 2018 XXL Freshman Class in Los Angeles and New York as all nine Freshmen take over The Novo and Terminal 5 stages this July.

See Hip-Hop React to the 2018 XXL Freshman Class