Ian’s XXL Freshman Freestyle Sparks Mixed Reactions Online
Ian’s long-awaited “XXL Freshman Freestyle” has finally dropped—and true to expectations, the performance is splitting hip-hop fans right down the middle. The 2025 Freshman class standout kicked off his freestyle with the line:
“Walk in that btch like, ‘How the hell y’all doing? How y’all feeling today?’ / Ready to turn myself in down at the station, I made a killing today.”*
Since hitting XXL’s YouTube channel, the clip has ignited a wave of hot takes, think pieces, and classic comment-section chaos. Some fans came with jokes, dismissing the performance as overhyped. “Real talk I thought this freestyle was gonna be ass but if you listen to what he’s saying he’s actually spitting some garbage,” one viewer quipped. Another wrote, “Everyone hyping it but it went from a trash preview to a mid freestyle lmao. Ya give him too much credit.”
Still, others rushed to Ian’s defense, arguing that he’s being unfairly judged. “This was actually fire y’all was hating before hearing the full freestyle,” one supporter noted. Another pointed out the double standards fans often hold: “Ian is just as good as many rappers in his class. Y’all need to stop pretending like you suddenly care about ‘lyrics’ and ‘rhyme schemes’ if Carti is your favorite rapper.”
The divisive response isn’t surprising, especially considering how polarizing the annual XXL Freshman Cyphers and freestyles tend to be. Every year, new talent is thrown into the spotlight, and fans don’t hold back with their opinions.
Ian, for his part, is taking it all in stride. In his interview with XXL, he cited the 2016 Freshman Class—which featured legends-in-the-making like 21 Savage, Lil Uzi Vert, Kodak Black, and Denzel Curry—as a key moment that shaped his aspirations. “This is like, to me, it feels like a very legendary thing in hip-hop. So, I’m honored, first of all, to be able to be here and do this,” he said. “Just excited because I like a lot of the people who also showed up here. It’s a really beautiful thing to be a part of for me.”
He added: “[The 2016 XXL Freshman Class] was massive for me because I listened to all of them. Really just SoundCloud stuff. I feel that’s a legendary one.”
The 2025 XXL Freshman Class has definitely raised eyebrows with its unique lineup, featuring rising names like 1900Rugrat, BabyChiefDoIt, EBK Jaaybo, Eem Triplin, GELO (yes, LiAngelo Ball), LAZER DIM 700, Loe Shimmy, Nino Paid, Ray Vaughn, Samara Cyn, and YTB Fatt. With such a diverse roster, each artist’s freestyle has become a moment of internet conversation—and in Ian’s case, a test of whether raw bars or internet expectations carry more weight.
Whether you think Ian’s freestyle was undercooked or misunderstood, one thing is clear: he’s got people talking. And in the world of emerging rap talent, that’s half the battle.
