Last night XXL’s Freshman Class of 2012 took over Times Square’s Best Buy Theatre for a nonstop hip-hop marathon. Each rapper was giving a 15-minute flash of performance time, with the last two performers French Montana and Machine Gun Kelly allowed to indulge in longer sets. There was a bevy of surprise appearances, including Hopsin’s mentor Tech N9ne, Schoolboy Q with Danny Brown, and DJ Khaled and Red Café support for Frenchy, all hosted for hip-hop personalities Peter Rosenberg and Cypha Sounds. These up-close and personal shots from Hive photographer Loren Wohl affirm how diverse this freshman class really is; Iggy Azalea looked classy in high heel wedges and silver leggings, Macklemore brandished his neatly combed hair and a pink button down, Hopsin sported his trademark grey contacts and Danny Brown looked like a walking Adidas store. The best photo might be of Machine Gun Kelly, though, as he finished his set in boxers, banging his head on a cymbal drenched in water. Check it out the photos below:
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive
- Loren Wohl for MTV Hive













































