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Key Takeaways:

• Ray Vaughn responded to backlash over the 2025 XXL Freshman Class with an Instagram put up.
• The TDE rapper referred to as out critics straight on Instagram, utilizing daring language to close down the hate.
• The category contains names like GELO, Samara Cyn, Loe Shimmy, and extra.

Ray Vaughn has one thing to get off his chest. On Tuesday (June 24), the Lengthy Seaside rapper jumped on social media to defend himself and the remainder of XXL’s 2025 Freshman Class after the lineup dropped to lukewarm reception.

“A few of you n**fuel within the feedback, y’all n**fuel couldn’t make freshman after eighth grade, not to mention a freshman checklist with y’all f**king raps,” Vaughn stated on his Instagram Stories. He continued, “Simply congratulate the n**fuel who [are] on it and transfer the f**ok on earlier than I’m going in your web page and discover your lil’ girlfriend, present my star energy, and put her by way of a f**king mattress off of six Pink Bulls and a honey pack.”

Of everybody who made 2025’s Freshman Class, Vaughn would possibly simply be essentially the most deserving. He’s signed to Prime Dawg Leisure — house to XXL alums like ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Isaiah Rashad — and not too long ago went toe-to-toe with Joey Badass. The Blame Summer season. artist helped reignite some real pleasure in rap, particularly following final 12 months’s Lamar-Drake beef, with diss tracks like “H** Period” and “Golden Eye.”

Different acquainted faces on this 12 months’s checklist included GELO (aka LiAngelo Ball), who skyrocketed in reputation musically with “Tweaker.” He is since saved the momentum going by signing with Def Jam and dropping tracks like “Can You Please” and “Legislation N Order.” All three songs are anticipated to seem on his debut album, League Of My Personal, dropping this Friday (June 27).

Additionally featured are Samara Cyn and LAZER DIM 700, each of whom have been beforehand talked about in Rap-Up’s Must-Watch “On The Radar” Freestyles list. Rounding out the category are artists like Drake-cosigned Loe Shimmy, YTB Fatt, BabyChiefDoit, and Nino Paid. Take a look at the total lineup under.