TRUTH ON BEING AN XXL FRESHMAN: “My publicist had introduced it to me and was like, ‘Hey, there’s XXL. They wanna have an interview with you, and that doesn’t imply that you simply acquired a spot, they only need to speak to you and stuff.’ And I used to be like, Oh Lord, is it my time? What’s taking place? I feel XXL is a scary factor, as a result of it’s a really widespread platform. So, I feel there’s numerous love that might come from it and numerous alternative that might come from it. However on the flip facet, there may be numerous ridicule that might come from it as nicely.

And so, being somebody who didn’t suppose I used to be gonna get right here with my music and was actually simply following success and attempting to do issues that I beloved, after which ended up in a extremely great spot, it’s like, how do I wanna deal with my music? ’Trigger that is my freedom time. Do I need to deal with it as like a contest or one thing that makes me really feel perhaps anxious, or that might put me in a spot the place I is likely to be on a chopping block for those who gained’t deal with me with care, or that sort of factor?

There was numerous considering on if I actually needed to do it or not. The place do I go away illustration for folks like me if I don’t do it, you realize what I’m saying? But in addition, is that this going be the factor that stops me in my tracks? I didn’t wanna not take it out of concern.

I maintain myself to a excessive normal. So, like coming right here, I didn’t need to simply d**ok round, you realize what I’m saying? I additionally thought there could have been different ladies right here, however now figuring out that I’m the one lady right here, it’s like, Rattling, I can’t stroll out of it now. I’ve to be the illustration of what that is. I’d contemplate myself on the aware facet of rap. So, I really feel like that illustration, I needed that to be right here as nicely.

Even when you weren’t in search of it, [XXL Freshman] was at all times a giant factor when the quilt dropped. Probability The Rapper and Vic Mensa in 2014 [is a class I paid attention to], as a result of I’m simply such an enormous fan of Isaiah Rashad, [who was also on the cover]. I used to be a giant fan of Probability The Rapper, too.

I attempt to make music for the very terribly abnormal individual. That may simply really feel associated to, and like, I’m not the baddest bi**h, I’m not the f**king this, I’m not the that, like, I’m quirky as hell and I’m gonna get nervous. I’m fly, too, nevertheless it’s similar to, I’m a standard bi**h. I’ve regular f**king emotions. And like, right here they’re, and y’all in all probability really feel that approach, too.

I feel [my fans] would anticipate [me on the cover], actually. I really feel like I’ve had a extremely wonderful 12 months. And I feel lots of people are checking for me. And the expansion has been exponential. So, I really feel just like the followers are gonna be searching for it. I hope I do them justice, although.”—Georgette Cline