It's Freshman 10 Time Again -- Start Choosing Your Favorite Up-And-Coming Local Rapper

By Ian S. Port Tue., Mar. 22 2011 at 9:03 AM

Ah, March. Music fiends flock to Austin. Men become obsessed with watching other men (who are still in college) flail wildly while trying to stuff an orange ball into a tiny hoop. And Bay Area rappers turn into glad-handing politicians, littering their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds with pleas, enjoinders, and invitations to fans to help them become one of the Freshman 10, an annual list of the hottest up-and-coming rhyme slayers in the Bay Area assembled by local hip-hop spinner DJ Amen and the Thizzler rap blog.

The idea comes from rap mag XXL, which recently put Berkeley's own Lil B on the cover of its national freshman class (this year's had 11 members). Last year, Amen opened up the local selection process to public nomination via Twitter, inviting a flurry of feedback that couldn't have been easy for judges weather. The 2010 list included S.F.'s DaVinci and Roach Gigz, plus Vallejo's Moe Green -- all people you've read about in SF Weekly. In 2011, with the campaign already raging on Twitter, it looks like Freshman 10 judges -- which include DJs, music bloggers, and "tastemakers," whatever those are -- will face another thorny, loud, and difficult selection process.

The nomination process is easy: Just tweet your favorite rapper's name or Twitter handle with the hashtag #BayAreaFreshman10 to @DJAmen3000 then wait for the list to come out in June. But while you're at it, we're curious: Tell us the names of those you think should make the list in the comments section below. We'll check 'em out, recall the list of local rappers whom we believe are awfully overlooked, and post a few picks of our own in a couple weeks.

The deadline for Freshman 10 nomination isn't yet clear, but search Twitter for the hashtag above and you'll see a rushing river of tweets. So who should make the list? Tell us below.

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Tags:

Bay Area Freshman 10, DJ Amen, hip-hop, KMEL, Thizzler

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DjAbbico408

it's all about Gigs510 this year ...dude melts mics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

TecVawn

Gigs510 no question!

Hilary Marty

I Nominate That Nigga Drizzle (facebook name Dat Boy Drizzle) as my choice for the Bay Area Freshmen 10 award. New to the rap scene, Drizzle is up and coming with a fresh new sound that he refers to as R&G, or rhythm and gangsta. His new video "You", off his mixtape Life Of A Stunna, was widely anticipated, and has recieved alot of positive feedback from the Bay Area as well as other areas. Life Of A Stunna just recently dropped, and is now available on itunes, is well on its way to becoming a hood classic. That Nigga Drizzles solo album Loyalty Before Royalty will be dropping this summer. If you are truely looking for local talent who has the ability to appeal to everyone and has a passion for music and a drive to succeed please dont wait any longer...go to youtube and search "You" from That Nigga Drizzle...I promise you wont be dissapointed. Thank you.

Mai Flower

I nominate That Nigga Drizzle. He Is Great.

925M.O.B

symba !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DanaDane707

@Driyp_Drop!!!!

Street Spirit

I definitely have to add myself to the list, It's a shameless plug.I'm my own campaign and my work is proving that.

My music is a blend of 2Pac mixed with Jesus Christ.I push "Afterlife Music."I've witnessed MANY MIRACLES, and SUPERNATURAL events.I believe I'm in my afterlife NOW.

"The Afterlife Initiation" is coming June 21, 2011.

I'm an 8th annual Independent Music Awards finalist for the Holy Hip Hop category.I earned 2nd place in the Billboard Magazine/Starmaker360 contest Rap/Hip Hop (March 2011). - Out of thousands of candidates!

I was listed as one of URB Magazine's next 1000 artists to watch (2008).

I've received favorable music reviews in national and online music publicationsSkope Magazine, Music Connection, Urban Steez- unsigned hype.

I'm working hard and building my base organically from the ground up.I think my accomplishments definitely should at least get a close look to earn a BAY AREA FRESHMEN spot this year.

Check my website and know I'm definitely playing my part to show you what making God look good is about. I market God and I do it in a playa fashion.

Be in the know and know I rep San Jose, California.

Street SpiritSan Jose, Californiawww.StreetSpiritMusic.comProfessional Angels Entertainmentwww.ProfessionalAngelsEntertainment