Ice Spice Declined XXL Freshman Cover Due To Scheduling Conflicts, Source Says

BYCaroline Fisher2.6K Views
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2023 Governors Ball Music Festival
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Ice Spice performs during the 2023 Governors Ball Music Festival at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 09, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Ice Spice was just too busy.

XXL recently revealed their Freshman class of 2023, and fans were quick to wonder why Ice Spice wasn't included. According to sources, the viral Bronx drill rapper did have the opportunity to be a part of this year's Freshman class, but she declined. They claim that she turned the cover down due to her busy schedule. As she's been releasing various ultra-successful hits as of late, it's clear that the young rapper would have been a shoe-in for the cover. However, seeing as though she's taking over this year's festival season, it's understandable that she's working with an incredibly busy schedule.

Ice Spice is in high demand, blowing up this year for her work alongside Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, and Pinkpantheress. She recently hit over one billion streams on Spotify, unsurprising considering the magnitude of her success in such a short time. The Bronx icon also has more songs on the Billboard Hot 100 than any other artist in 2023. In her Billboard cover story last month, her manager, James Rosemond Jr., revealed that she has herself to thank. "No one on the label side touches the music,” he claims, “There is no traditional A&R with her. No one’s picking beats, no one’s saying, ‘Do this, do that.’ It’s all her. We’re on her schedule.

XXL's Freshman Class Of 2023

Members of XXL's Freshman class of 2023 include GloRilla, Lola Brooke, Rob49, Fridayy, 2Rare, SleazyWorld Go, and more. Each member has managed to make a major impact on the world of hip hop in the early stages of their careers. They've garnered attention and dedicated fanbases for their high-profile collabs and distinct sounds.

This year's Freshman issue will be available on July 18, and will also feature interviews with Boosie Badazz, Lil Baby, NLE Choppa, and more. Over the next few weeks XXL will be releasing interviews, cyphers, freestyles, and more highlighting each artist. The class of 2023's cyphers will also be produced by Pi’erre Bourne.

About The Author
Caroline Fisher is a News Writer at HotNewHipHop from Chicago, Illinois. She started at HNHH this year, and has since spent her time writing about all that is newsworthy in the world of hip-hop. With a drive for hunting down the hottest stories, she enjoys documenting new developments in culture and entertainment. She also has an appreciation for hip-hop and seeks to cover the most important trends and shifts. She has a Bachelor of Arts which she received at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Having graduated in 2022, she majored in English with a concentration in Media, Rhetoric and Cultural Studies. Specializing all things music, pop culture and entertainment, some of her favorite musical artists include Snoop Dogg, OutKast, and Nicki Minaj. When she’s not writing about music she’s also a fan of attending shows, watching the latest movies, staying up-to-date with current events, photography, and poetry.
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