Before the 2020 XXL Freshman class will be revealed this summer, the Freshman hopefuls are here to show and prove why they deserve a spot in this year’s class. The 10th Spot voting, powered by SoundCloud, launches today (March 30), which means hip-hop's rising newcomers are vying for a spot on the 2020 XXL Freshman cover.
Nearly two years after her critical freestyles about Kanye West's political views went viral, Alabama rapper Chika has made a name for herself as a potent lyricist. The rising rhymer, a former theater kid whose career sprouted from the roots of comedic videos before her Kanye bars even circulated the web, has since delivered plenty of standout music to prove there's much more to her resume.
Tracks like last year's inspirational "High Rises" and the Charlie Wilson-featured "Can't Explain It," with their combination of singing and insightful bars, have earned the 23-year-old acclaim from fans and hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. That increase in rap game recognition has even begun to transfer to her Instagram and Twitter accounts, as she now has over 950,000 combined followers on the platforms.
A few weeks ago, Chika unloaded her Industry Games project, an effort that marked her debut on Warner Records, the label that signed her last year. With malleable vocals, dynamic rhyming ability and a winning personality, Chika is on her way up.
Now that you've heard her pitch, remember to vote for your favorite artist beginning March 30. The 2020 XXL Freshman 10th Spot will run for one week. This is where the public gets the chance to vote an artist into the XXL Freshman Class. Go here to make your vote count for your favorite artist.
Once you've voted, head over to XXL’s YouTube page to take a look back at the 2019 XXL Freshman Class, which features DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, YBN Cordae, Rico Nasty, Gunna, Comethazine, Tierra Whack, Lil Mosey, Roddy Ricch, Blueface and YK Osiris.
And watch all the 2020 XXL Freshman pitch videos that have been released on XXL’s YouTube page here.
See Photos of Every XXL Freshman Ever Inducted Into the Freshman Class Over the Years