XXL has unveiled its annual list of up-and-coming rappers, the Freshman Class. The 2023 edition features Finesse2Tymes, Lola Brooke, Rob49, Fridayy, Glorilla, 2Rare, SleazyWorld Go, Central Cee, Real Boston Richey, Luh Tyler, TiaCorine, and DC the Don.

Hailing from Memphis, Finesse2Tymes released his first major label mixtape, 90 Days, last year. The mixtape’s “Back End” has reached No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also gone gold.

Brooklyn’s Lola Brooke broke through last year with “Don’t Play with It.” She followed up the viral track with “Dummy Ummy,” “On My Mind,” “Here I Come,” “So Disrespectful,” “Just Relax,” and more, and she has since signed to Arista Records in collaboration with Team Eighty Productions.

Rob49, a New Orleans rapper, recently released his new album, 4God II, via Rebel Music and Geffen Records. The full-length features Birdman, Icewear Vezzo, Roddy Ricch, G Herbo, NoCap, Trippie Redd, DaBaby, and YTB Fatt.

Fridayy, a Philadelphia native and Def Jam Recordings signee, made his name with features on Lil Baby’s “Forever” and DJ Khaled “God Did.” The latter earned Fridayy three Grammy nominations.

Memphis upstart Glorilla gained fame last year with “F.N.F. (Let’s Go).” Since dropping the Hitkidd collaboration in April 2022, Glorilla has performed at the BET Hip Hop Awards, the American Music Awards, and the Grammy Awards. She got nominated for a Grammy, too, in the Best Rap Performance category. Read Pitchfork’s review of Glorilla’s debut EP, Anyways, Life’s Great…, along with the Rising interview “Glorilla Suffers No Fools.”

Philadelphia’s 2Rare caught the public’s eye in 2019 with “Big Bag.” He went on to sign to 10K Projects and drop “Big Drippa,” “New Virus,” and more. Now affiliated with Second Estate and Warner Records, 2Rare recently released “One of One (Back It Up Pt.2).”

SleazyWorld Go is known for his viral song “Sleazy Flow.” According to a press release, he is releasing his debut album in the fall via Island Records.

West London rapper Central Cee released his debut mixtape, Wild West, in 2021. He has gone on to collaborate with FKA twigs, Dave, and more, and he had a hit last year with “Doja.”

Tallahasse’s Real Boston Richey started rapping in 2021 after the death of his cousin. He released Public Housing in 2022, following it up with Public Housing, Pt. 2 in January 2023. Both releases have charted on the Billboard 200.

Still a teenager, Luh Tyler dropped his debut mixtape, My Vision, earlier this spring. Learn more about the Floridian in Alphonse Pierre’s “Luh Tyler Is the Coolest 16-Year-Old Rapper in America.”

North Carolina artist TiaCorine had a breakout moment with “Freaky T.” She also recently enlisted Latto for a new remix of the single. Read the Rising interview “Don’t Even Try to Put TiaCorine Into a Box.”

Last month, Milwaukee rapper DC the Don released Funeral via Rostrum Records. He recently shared the music video for the album’s “Hate the New You.”

XXL’s 2022 Freshman Class featured Doechii, Babyface Ray, Nardo Wick, BabyTron, Kali, and more.