If you're an up-and-coming rapper, a stepping stone to your career is the XXL Freshman list. The annual list foreshadows who'll be running the rap game in the coming years. Kendrick Lamar, Future, Kid Cudi and more have graced the cover and the years that followed have been nothing short of successful for them. However, it isn't the end all, be all of hip hop. Many other rappers have built a solid foundation for their career without the publication's approval, like A$AP Rocky and Young Thug. Today, Famous Dex and Reggie Mills link up for an ode to the 2018 XXL Freshman list.
"XXL" is the first single from Famous Dex and Reggie Mills off of their upcoming DexterReggie EP. The two artists link up for a spaced out banger produced by Da Architectz. The producers take a page out of Kanye West's "Stronger" and sample of Daft Punk's "One More Time." It's not what to usually expect from the two but they prove that they're versatile artists.
It's an interesting concept for a song. While Mills is still an up-and-coming artist, many expected Dex to land on the 2017 XXL Freshmen list. However, XXL's editor-in-chief told the Breakfast Club that a video of Dex getting into an altercation with his former girlfriend played a factor in his omission from the list. Nonetheless, this song is an indication that he's still gunning for the 2018 cover.
Famous Dex and Mills have been working together since the summer of 2016 after Dex invited Mills on tour with him. Both Mills and Dex gave us some exclusive insight to the collaboration.
"I met Dex at a show in New York right when 'Drip For My Walk' was blowing up. We both had high energy when we were performing and vibed off that. He liked my energy so his team booked me to perform on his Ohh Mann Godd Damm tour." Mills says
While Dex's career has been blossoming throughout 2016 and 2017, he told us that they built a chemistry after hitting the road together.
"Me and reggie move like bosses on the road. We've been wave bros ever since. Reggie's the new wave, i'm new wave. this project is for the kids who wanna boss up and have fun doing it uh dexterrrr!" Dex told us.
"XXL" is a testament to both Dex and Reggie's chemistry on wax. With DexterReggie slated to drop on October 27th, "XXL" should draw you into their world.
Quotable Lyrics
She pull up to give me tail
She got that throat like Adele
2018, I got XXL
Come in my way you see shells