u/RicoSystem

Dreamville - Costa Rica (ft. Bas and JID featuring Guapdad 4000, Reese Laflare, Jace, Mez, Smokepurpp, Buddy and Ski Mask the Slump God) (2019)

• Kid Cudi
• Wale
• B.o.B
• Curren$y
• Ace Hood
• Asher Roth
• Charles Hamilton
• Cory Gunz
• Blu
• Mickey Factz

Coming right after XXL skipped 2008, this class officially captured the explosion of the "Blog Era." It featured a shift away from traditional street rap toward internet-bred, genre-bending, and highly introspective lyricists who would alter the landscape of the 2010s.

The official 10-rapper lineup consisted of: Kid Cudi, Wale, B.o.B, Curren$y, Ace Hood, Asher Roth, Charles Hamilton, Cory Gunz, Blu, and Mickey Factz.

Major successes

• Kid Cudi: He evolved from a blog-era darling into a global icon, a multi-platinum artist, and a foundational architect of modern melodic hip hop. His Man on the Moon trilogy cemented his legacy, and his influence can be heard in almost every major artist that followed him.
• B.o.B: He was the first from this class to truly conquer the mainstream pop charts. Driven by multi-platinum global hits like "Nothin' on You" (which introduced Bruno Mars to the world), "Airplanes," and "Magic," his debut album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.
• Wale: After a rocky start with his debut, signing with Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group (MMG) launched him into major commercial success. He secured multiple gold and platinum plaques, hit #1 on the Billboard charts (with albums like The Gifted and The Album About Nothing), and became a radio mainstay throughout the 2010s.

Respected lyricists

• Curren$y: The undisputed king of independent consistency. Instead of chasing a major label machine, "Spitta" built a legendary underground empire by releasing dozens of highly acclaimed, weed-rap lifestyle mixtapes and albums. He prioritized creative freedom and a dedicated fan base over radio singles.
• Blu: A pure lyricist's lyricist. His 2007 collaborative album with producer Exile, Below the Heavens, is widely regarded as a flawless, underground backpack-rap classic. Though major label politics kept him out of the mainstream, his pen game remains revered by hip hop purists.
• Mickey Factz: One of the earliest pioneers of using the internet and digital spaces to distribute intricate, high-level lyricism. While he didn't secure commercial hits, he established himself as a highly respected authority on the craft of rapping, eventually founding his own school for lyricism (Pendulum Ink).

Moderate success

• Ace Hood: Backed by DJ Khaled’s We The Best imprint, Ace Hood was a physical, high-energy powerhouse. While his studio albums had modest sales, he achieved huge commercial spikes with absolute street and club anthems like "Hustle Hard" and the 2013 smash "Bugatti."
• Asher Roth: He achieved instant, massive commercial visibility with the 2009 smash anthem "I Love College," pushing his debut album into the Billboard Top 5. However, he quickly resisted the corporate pressure to keep making "frat-rap" hits, intentionally stepping back into a highly creative, independent lane.
• Charles Hamilton: A hyper-prolific creative genius whose brilliant, sample-heavy mixtapes and hit single "Brooklyn Girls" had him poised for stardom. Unfortunately, public industry friction and severe mental health struggles derailed his initial major-label run, leaving him as one of the era’s deepest cult-classic figures.
• Cory Gunz: An incredibly talented, rapid-fire lyricist who earned a massive look with his career-defining guest verse on Lil Wayne's 6x-platinum hit "6 Foot 7 Foot." However, a mix of legal issues and label delays at Young Money ultimately kept his official major-label debut album shelved.

Check out the XXL 2010 Freshmen class

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