Does anyone else remember those 2000s mega-mixes of songs like “I’m So Hood” and “One Blood?” A popular rap song would get a remix that featured WAY too many guest stars, running the gamut from dancehall deejays to R&B court jesters like T-Pain. They were a sort of much more obnoxious version of rap supercrew posse cuts geared toward drawing in as many of the featured artists’ fans as possible to extend the life of a smash way beyond its normal expiration date.
Well, Gen Z finally has its version of this, courtesy of Cash Cobain and Laila! On “Problem,” the sample drill pioneer remixes the second-gen rapper‘s TikTok hit “Not My Problem” into a prime example of the form, adding in verses from a gaggle of game MCs ranging from blog rap vets 6lack and Big Sean to teen star Luh Tyler. Even mixtape staple Fabolous gets a look, while gender parity is provided by Atlanta rapper Anycia, Flo Milli, Kaliii, and Lay Bankz. New Yorker Kelz2busy, Don Q, and Kenzo B round out the Big Apple roster, while New Orleans rising star Rob49 completes the cipher. In the interest of keeping things short enough to appeal to the target demo, the verses are kept to bite size snippets, bringing in the whole thing at seven minutes — five shorter than “One Blood,” so there’s that, at least.
The most anticipated preview of hip-hop to come has arrived. The XXL Freshman Class is an annual tradition that lets hip-hop fans get a look at the year’s fastest-rising stars.
Prior lists have included Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, and more, so it’s usually a pretty good indicator of how artists’ careers are playing out — and at least one name on the cover is almost guaranteed to become a superstar. See below for a breakdown of each rapper’s breakout moment.
BigXThaPlug
BigXThaPlug hails from Dallas and his big hits so far are “Mmhmm” and “Texas.”
Bossman Dlow
His breakout single “Get In With Me” went viral on TikTok earlier this year, precipitating a No. 20 debut for his new tape, Mr Beat The Road.
Cash Cobain
Known for his “Slizzy” approach to the traditional New York sound, Cash’s biggest looks came from “Fisherrr” and his J. Cole collab, “Grippy.”
Hunxho
Hunxho’s rise has been steady since 2021, with “Let’s Get It”; he’s since released a string of solid mixtapes including 2023’s For Her, which peaked at No. 83 on the Billboard 200.
Lay Bankz
A string of viral TikTok hits culminated this year with “Tell Ur Girlfriend” and After 7 her major-label debut project.
Maiya The Don
In October 2022, Maiya dropped “Telfy” garnering about as much popularity as the titular bag. She’s since supported Flo Milli on tour after appearing on the Montgomery rapper’s “Conceited” remix, and even teamed up with the New York Liberty.
Rich Amiri
“One Call,” was just the latest song to jump from TikTok to the Hot 100 in February.
ScarLip
You’ve likely heard “Glizzy Gobbler,” Scar’s 2022 hit viral hit; if not, you may have seen her featured alongside some of the biggest names in hardcore hip-hop, including Swizz Beatz, Jadakiss, and Benny the Butcher, Snoop Dogg, and more.
That Mexican OT
Best known for his 2023 single “Johnny Dang,” That Mexican OT is probably the breakout star of this year’s Freshman class. His albums, Lonestar Luchador and Texas Technician, have both been critical and commercial successes, and he’s bringing back the Houston sound.
4Batz
“Act II: Date @ 8” became an out-of-nowhere hit early this year, garnering the timely co-sign of Drake just before he took a shot at Kendrick Lamar and had the whole rap world turn against him. It doesn’t look like the blowback has landed on 4Batz, though; he seems to be doing great in comparison.
For the past few months, Lay Bankz has been a mainstay on all social media platforms. Whether it be X (formerly known as Twitter) or TikTok, Lay Bankz’s reach continues to grow by the month. The rapper, who hails from Philadelphia and is just 19 years old, follows a simple philosophy: Make good music and make sure it lands in people’s faces. It’s an idea that’s become the status quo in today’s social media era, especially in recent years with the presence of TikTok. It also presents the harder task of not being too much in the faces of the audience where they feel trapped, get annoyed, and run for the fences. There’s a balance to be mastered here.
Time will tell if Lay Bankz masters this, but it’s been so far so good for her. Her rise to fame kicked off last summer with the release of “Ick.” The bass-thumping addresses the “sassy man apocalypse” and begs men to “tighten the f*ck up.” The song went viral thanks to a video of Bankz dancing to it at a gas station. Her moves, which were energetic to say the least, forced you to stop and watch. The same could be said about her latest viral moment, pushed by her new single “Tell Ur Girlfriend.” The hype single is wildly infectious and begs for a few listens before moving on to something else. Both records, as well as her debut EP Now You See Me, are proof that Lay Bankz wants your attention, and she knows just how to get it.
With more music on the way, we caught up with Lay Bankz for the Uproxx Music 20 series. Scroll down to learn more about the rising Philly rapper.
I remember music from the time I was 3 years old. The first song I ever sang was “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé.
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
Honestly, myself. Music is a form of expression and it’s subjective. Once I learned I could say how I felt in another form of conversation, I took advantage of that.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I grew up playing violin, I play a little piano too. I wanna get better at the piano and hopefully start playing guitar.
What was your first job?
Sweeping in my stepdad’s barbershop.
What is your most prized possession?
My voice. It’s a gift that I can’t see or touch. Intangible, but not unattainable. It’s brought so much to my life and I couldn’t hold anything else to such high value.
What is your biggest fear?
Not being able to sing. Or not being able to take care of the people who rely on me.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
Bridgerton, only because I’ve been watching it a lot recently.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality, and why?
Beyoncé, the way she controls any narrative placed upon her on any platform is admirable as ever. She always shows a sense of resilience, and she never does too much nor does she try hard to be herself. I love that about her.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Black-own everything.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life, and what do you love about it?
That’s hard to say, there are so many songs I love. Doubling down on only one would be unfair because I grew up on so much music that I love for different reasons. Even to this day, I hear new music all the time that I appreciate for different reasons.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
Philly, the love different from your own city. I’m excited to go out of the country and show my talents overseas.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I don’t know. Maybe playing soccer or painting professionally. Whatever I would be doing would involve some sort of creativity or me being active because those are things I love. I got accepted to 23 colleges too, so maybe I would’ve went to school to study law.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
The past, just to visit moments and feelings I feel like I didn’t get to feel entirely because of how fast they happened. I experience so much every day and my life moves so fast that it’s easy to not entirely take in what’s happening to me. I wouldn’t want to see the future because I’m gonna always get there. Why rush to see what’s already written?
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Love yourself first, because not everyone will love you how they say they do.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I want my music to be held in high regard, I want it to be timeless. 2050 and after.
Philadelphia rapper Lay Bankz has been buzzing around on the independent scene for a couple of years now, but it’s starting to feel like that buzz is about to reach critical mass. At 19 years old, she’s already collected a handful of viral hits, including “Left Cheek (Doo Doo Blick),” “Na Na Na,” and “Ick,” with the latter generating a quarter of a million fan videos in seven months (which translated to nearly 3 million streams on YouTube and over 66 million on Spotify).
With features on Kyle’s Smyle Again (“Woah”) and Lambo4oe’s Self Esteem Pack remix EP this year, Bankz’s fan base is sure to expand and diversify, with her winning humor already appealing to audiences outside of the Philadelphia TikTok bubble. Add in her adept performance at Rolling Loud California in Los Angeles last month, and you’ve got a recipe for an impending glow-up. Her latest single “Tell Ur Girlfriend” is breaking out of the TikTok bubble and invading other platforms at a pace that suggests such a breakout is right around the corner.
You can check out Bankz’s “Na Na Na,” “Ick,” and “Tell Ur Girlfriend” below.
Lay Bankz is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
— I couldn’t pick between these four.