Here’s your definitive auditory guide to XXL’s 2014 Freshmen list, presented by DJ Drama in mixtape form. Everyone dropped off original new music, so now you can really decide for yourself who deserved to make the list or not. New tracks from the entire team, with a little extra help from 2 Chainz, Fabolous and Lloyd Banks.

XXL: “Ever since we unveiled the cover of the XXL 2014 Freshmen issue last month, we’ve been rolling out a ton of freestyles, behind the scenes photos, interviews, videos, and plenty more with our class of 12 guys. But now that we’ve got a slew of stories and links for you to check out, it’s time to get down to the Freshmen Cyphers, one of the most anticipated aspects of the cover shoot.

This year, we’ve got an additional three cyphers for everyone to enjoy, and we’ll be rolling them out all week. The first features Chance The Rapper, Isaiah Rashad, Vic Mensa, August Alsina, and Kevin Gates, and is as entertaining visually as it is lyrically. Check out the video above, compare it with some of last year’s Cyphers right here, and let us know what you think in the comments.”

XXL Editor Vanessa Satten in the hot seat with the Hot 97 Morning Show about R&B singer August Alsina being included on the list.

Kev tells us: “I got on the phone with the XXL boss lady Vanessa Statten! With the release of the XXL Freshman Class there were alot of questions I had about some folks who I felt might have got snubbed (Rittz, G-Eazy,IAMSU!, Etc.), and some of the reasoning behind those snubs. Plus of course we speak on the inclusion of 2 R&B artists on this years cover (Ty Dolla $ign & August Alsina).”