Work / Case 06 · Music · Editorial

Two classes.2.88M+ views.

We filmed the official cyphers and all of the behind-the-scenes content for XXL's 2025 and 2026 Freshman Classes, the yearly list of hip-hop's breakout rookies.

Client: XXL
Industry: Hip-hop media
What we did: Cypher filming · BTS content

The 2025 XXL Freshman Cypher with BabyChiefDoit, Ian, Lazer Dim 700, 1900Rugrat, Nino Paid and Loe Shimmy

The ask

Shoot the Freshman Class cyphers and the behind-the-scenes content for XXL's 2025 and 2026 classes.

What we made

Four official cyphers with 22 rookies, including Gelo, Ray Vaughn, Samara Cyn, Skrilla and Hurricane Wisdom, plus the BTS content from both shoots.

The result

The four cyphers have about 2.88 million views on XXL's YouTube channel, and they're still climbing.

( The part where we brag )

2.88M+

YouTube views on the four cyphers

Rookies on camera

Freshman Classes, 2025 and 2026

More cyphers

Watch on YouTube

2025 Cypher · Gelo, Ray Vaughn, Eem Triplin, Samara Cyn, YTB Fatt

2026 Cypher · Trap Dickey, YKNiece, Skrilla, Babyfxce E, Belly Gang Kushington

2026 Cypher · Chris Patrick, La Reezy, Sosocamo, Slayr, Miles Minnick, Hurricane Wisdom

( The takeaway )

Hip-hop's biggest rookie moment, shot by us two years running.

On set

Stills

Add BTS stills from the Freshman shoots

High-res still

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