Artist XV

Blog hype and indisputable skills have led to many rappers being snatched up from fly-over towns to bigger stages (Big K.R.I.T., G-Side, etc.), but even still, XV repping Wichita still manages a “huh?” But it’s his universal style that earned him a spot on the ballot for XXL’s 2012 Freshmen list, even though he’s been putting stuff out for a couple years now. The best of that output came in 2011 with hisZero Heroes mixtape, which boasted a fantastic list of producers like Just Blaze and Seven, and tons of credit-boosting guest spots from Pusha-T, Kendrick Lamar, and a head-scratching cameo from Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump. How their collaboration—the propulsive, inspirational “The Last Hero”—isn’t tearing up the radio waves is anyone’s guess.

Updated 01/26/2012