Revisiting The 2011 XXL Freshmen –
Their Success & Where Are They Now?
Lil Twist
This dude opened for Lil Wayne at the young age of 12. That was in 2005. 2005 was when Lil Wayne dropped Tha Carter 2, one of the most underrated rap albums this turn of the century. Yes, that’s an incredibly big deal. Twist has since worked with Justin Bieber, 2 Chainz and Miley Cyrus among others. His association with Bieber have both helped and hurt his career as he has opened several tours for the singer, but he was also arrested in 2013 while driving the singer’s car.
Where are they now?
His first official album, Bad Decisions, is yet to be released though he has had a part in Young Money’s compilation albums We Are Young Money and the follow-up Young Money: Rise of an Empire. The album will probably never see the light of day at this point. Twist also has a pending case for a alleged home invasion and robbery stemming from 2015. If convicted he could have faced 25 years to life.
The rapper was originally sentenced to one year in prison after pleading no contest to six charges. Lil Twist was able to get out early as he only served time for seven and half weeks of his one-year sentence.
Diggy Simmons
The youngest member of the class. At the ripe age of 17 years old Diggy released his debut LP Unexpected Arrival in 2012 and it peaked at number 2 on the US Rap Albums Billboard chart. The album gained solid reception due to “his lyrical skills coming off as that of a seasoned veteran.” (XXL) Of course Diggy is the son of Hip-Hop legend Rev Run and was first introduced to the world via MTV’s Run’s House. When Atlantic Records signed him, he was releasing mixtapes and singles buzzing with a young audience, but impressing older listeners as well.
Where are they now?
In 2015 he released the song “Fakin” ft. Ty Dolla $ign and Omarion. In July 2016 he released another track titled, “Feel Like” via his soundcloud.
In 2018 returned to mainstream spotlight as a co-star in the hit TV show Grown-ish. The breakout role helped Diggy return to music. In 2019, Diggy released his sophomore album Lighten Up, seven years after his debut. The 8 song project helped show the growth and maturity of the now 23 year old artist.
Yelawolf
Signing a contract with Shady Records resulted in Yelawolf releasing his major label debut, Radioactive in the same year as the cover in 2011. Radioactive charted at 27 on the Billboard 200, underperforming even with the help of Eminem and a while Shady 2.0 marketing push also tied with Slaughterhouse. He later released a sequel to his mixtape entitled Trunk Muzik Returns, and in 2015 released his second album, Love Story.
Where are they now?
His third album, Trial By Fire was released back in 2017.
He’s still repping Alabama and eating. In March 2019 he released the album, Trunk Muzik III. It was his last album with Shady Records/Interscope. Currently he is an independent artist on his own label, Slumerican Records. Also signed to the label are DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia and Bubba Sparxxx.
Last checked, he is still dating longtime girlfriend, Fefe Dobson.
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