It’s here, folks. After its debut last night on 106 & Park by DJ Drama, fans, hip-hop heads and industry folks can finally dissect and discuss XXL’s annual Freshman Class: Chance the Rapper, Rich Homie Quan, Isaiah Rashad, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Durk, Kevin Gates, Troy Ave, Vic Mensa, Lil Bibby, Jon Connor, Jarren Benton and August Alsina. Or as they dubbed them, the Dirty Dozen.

We caught with XXL magazine EIC Vanessa Satten, the lady-in-charge of cultivating this list alongside her XXL staff, to shed light on how this platform for rising MCs is built. From the outside peering in, the pressure to present a snapshot of the culture’s most promising artists seems turnt to high levels, but what seems to be Satten’s mantra after it’s all said and done? “No regrets.” –Niki McGloster (@missjournalism)