Ian Roasted Online for His Viral XXL Freshman Freestyle

Ian, one of XXL’s 2025 Freshman class, is facing backlash after his recent XXL freestyle dropped—and the internet isn’t holding back.

His performance sparked a wave of criticism under the video, with one fan sarcastically noting that “if you listen to what he's saying he's actually spitting some garbage.” Others trashed the hype, calling it “mid” despite all the pre-release buzz.

Over on Reddit’s r/rap, opinions are mixed. A user admitted the freshman lineup has moments of promise but was unimpressed with Ian’s part, calling it “definitely not trash but... heard that style of rapping 10,000 times already.” ed him favorably to others in the class, saying, “Ian is just as good as many rappers in his class.” That show of support was echoed by TikTok, where clips of the freestyle have racked up hundreds of thousands of views and likes—some calling it “one of the best XXL freestyles ever.”

What’s clear: expectations around the XXL Freshman cyphers are sky-high, and not everyone is impressed yet. Ian’s freestyle has become a lightning rod for debate—sparking conversations about originality, lyrical skill, and what fans expect from breakout artists.

Whether he was clowned or celebrated, Ian is at the center of a larger cultural moment. With the full class pushing into the spotlight, this moment feels less like a final verdict and more like the beginning of a career with plenty of room to grow.