Here’s a Look at XXL Freshman By the Numbers

It's impossible to predict the future, but that's something XXL has come pretty close to doing with the XXL Freshman cover, an annual selection of artists identified as torch-bearers for the future of the rap game. Since launching in 2007, 124 artists have been chosen, and today, we take a look at the group in the most technical way possible: by the numbers.

A cursory glance at all the Freshmen selected over the last 12 years proves one thing outright: Freshmen tend to skew young. The average age of 2019 XXL Freshman class—comprised of Comethazine, Tierra Whack, DaBaby, Lil Mosey, Roddy Ricch, YBN Cordae, YK Osiris, Rico Nasty, Gunna, Megan Thee Stallion and Blueface—is 22. At just 17, Lil Mosey is the youngest 2019 XXL Freshman. YK Osiris is the second youngest at 19.

Looking at the XXL Freshman classes as a whole, the youngest Freshman ever selected was 15-year-old Diggy Simmons in 2011. To put that into perspective, that was eight years ago and Diggy is 23 now. Pretty crazy stuff.

Continuing our look at the class with a wider aperture, 80 Freshmen were signed to major record labels at the time they were selected. While that seems like a big number, that leaves about 46 percent of Freshmen who weren't signed to majors. Going indie remains a viable route for aspiring rap stars indeed.

The numbers just go on from there. Seven Freshmen were born outside of the country, 21 Freshmen have appeared on more than one XXL cover, 35 Freshmen have rocked hats on a Freshman cover and another 37 had braids or dreadlocks. There have also been nine Freshmen with Lil in their name. You get the idea.

Check the numbers for 12 years worth of the annual XXL Freshman classes in the video below.

See Photos of Every XXL Freshman Ever Inducted Into the Freshman Class Over the Years