DJ Drama Reflects On Returning To The XXL Freshman Cyphers [Video]

DJ Drama reflects on returning to the XXL Freshman cyphers ten years after the celebrated 2016 class and discusses what comes next.

A decade after helping shape the cyphers for XXL’s landmark 2016 Freshman Class, DJ Drama is back behind the turntables for the 2026 edition. His return connects two very different generations of rising rappers while giving this year’s rollout a direct link to one of the series’ most memorable eras.

In a new conversation with XXL, Drama reflects on the decade since the 2016 sessions and explains why staying connected to emerging artists has remained central to his career. Rather than treating the role as a nostalgia exercise, he sees the Freshman platform as another opportunity to understand where rap is moving and build relationships with voices still establishing themselves.

That perspective also shaped his recent conversation with G Herbo, which revisited the 2016 class from the artist’s side. Here, Drama offers the view from behind the boards and looks ahead to the work still in front of him.

Watch the full interview below.