XXL Freshmen '12 Cover Unveiled, Azealia Banks Calls Out Featured Freshman

As anticipated each year around this time, XXL Magazine has unveiled its latest batch of hip-hop newcomers, dubbed "2012 Freshmen Class," ranging from "Tony Montana" rapper Future to "Letter to My Son" hitmaker Don Trip.

Cleveland rapper Machine Gun Kelly also graces the cover alongside fellow Bad Boy Records artist French Montana.

It's that time of year again -- XXL has officially revealed its list of the top hip hop "freshmen" of 2012, honoring fresh new talent poised to make a mark on the industry. The list has grown in popularity and garnered heated anticipation each year since its introduction in 2007. This year #XXLFreshmen2012 shot to the top of Twitter's worldwide trending topics within minutes of the announcement. The XXL Freshmen Class of 2012 is: Future, Kid Ink, Danny Brown, French Montana, Roscoe Dash, Macklemore, Don Trip, Machine Gun Kelly, Hopsin and Iggy Azalea. (BET)

XXL's list has already ruffled the feathers of music newcomer Azealia Banks who publicly took aim at Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.

"Iggy Azalea on the XXL freshman list is all wrong," remarked Banks on Twitter. "How can you endorse a white woman who called herself a 'runaway slave master'?" She continued, "Sorry guys. But I'm pro black girl. I'm not anti white girl, but I'm also not here for any1 outside of my culture trying to trivialize very serious aspects of it." Iggy, who is affiliated with T.I.'s Grand Hustle family, did not personally address the comments, but did respond to her critics. "You can't block my blessings! Today I'm celebrating! Get with it or kick rocks!" she tweeted. "First female freshman. Ever. Period. Thanks world! I used to stick XXL on my bedroom door, now I'm on the cover. Life is great." (Rap-Up)

In December, an alleged list of XXL's Freshmen '12 class hit the Internet.

Rockie Fresh; Jon Conner; Chip tha Ripper; Future; Gerald Walker; Donny Goines; Dom Kennedy; Marvo; Stalley; Neak; Streetz n Young Dueces; Kid Daytona; Kreayshawn; Say it aint Tone; XV; Tory Lanes; Moe Green. (Boxden)

Last year's 2011 Freshmen included Diggy Simmons and G.O.O.D. Music's Cyhi The Prynce.

Since you all can't wait anymore here is the official XXL 2011 Freshmen cover. More information tomorrow. 2011's Freshmen Class featuring: Meek Mill, Big K.R.I.T., Cyhi The Prynce, Lil Twist, Yelawolf, Fred The Godson, Mac Miller, YG, Lil B, Kendrick Lamar, Diggy Simmons. (XXL Mag)