Rich Amiri Explains XXL Freshman Freestyle Snub After Being Aired Out by Magazine

Rich Amiri, a rising Boston rapper included in XXL’s 2024 Freshman class, has stirred up controversy by admitting that he decided against participating in the magazine’s Freshman freestyle series. While the rest of the group, including artists like Cash Cobain and 4Batz, delivered their freestyles, Rich Amiri was notably absent.

XXL’s editor-in-chief, Vanessa Satten, revealed in the latest issue that an unnamed artist got cold feet over the cypher and left the shoot just minutes before filming was set to begin. Satten described the artist’s departure as “pathetic” and criticized the way it was handled, calling it a “ruthless way to conduct business.”

Despite the drama, XXL decided to keep the artist in the Freshman class after receiving an apology from the artist’s manager. However, Rich Amiri later confirmed on social media that he was the one who walked out, disputing XXL’s version of events.

The 2024 Freshman class faced further scrutiny when Cash Cobain, another member of the group, apologized for his freestyle performance, stating that it did not reflect his true artistry. Cobain admitted that he had not prepared for the freestyle and simply showed up unprepared.

The controversy surrounding the XXL Freshman class of 2024 has sparked discussions about the pressure artists face to deliver in high-profile settings, such as freestyle cyphers. Despite the setbacks, the Freshman class continues to make headlines, with fans eagerly awaiting the release of Cash Cobain’s freestyle.