In 2014, rapper and model 25toLife beat the odds when he survived being shot in the head. The incident caused a ripple effect that led the then 25-year-old to relocate to Phoenix, Ariz., where he spent time alone figuring out life after his near-death experience.
In his solitude, 25to Life processed what happened through journal entries and song lyrics, igniting a creative frenzy that’s landed him in this year’s Freshman Class, an annual, handpicked list of must-watch urban music acts emerging from St. Louis. The 10 members of this year’s Freshman Class XIX will perform on Oct.
26 at the Red Flag. “To see my name on a credible list ..
. that’s a pleasure,” the rapper says. “I’m thankful, and it just means the work has been noticed.
I’m doing something right.” The list was originally curated by SLUM Fest co-founder Robert Ford starting back in 2012. He noticed that talented local rap acts were unable to get proper exposure for their brands.
Ford says the Freshman Class was created as a platform to shine a light on new artists and, hopefully, help generate buzz locally. “My intention behind the Freshman Class was to put on a showcase that spotlighted some up-and-coming artists that were on the cusp of doing great things in the city,” Ford says. This year marks the return of the list after organizers skipped creating it in 2023 due to issues securing a venue for the showcase.
Ford wasn’t involved in selecting this year’s list. Instead, he passed the re.