It has been a busy 2018 for Dreamville Records. J. Cole’s K.O.D. set new streaming records upon release, in addition to garnering critical acclaim (including appearing on Ambrosia For Heads‘ midyear best-of list). Cozz released a strong sophomore in Effected, which features Kendrick Lamar, Curren$y, and Cole. Meanwhile, EarthGang released their second EP since joining the ‘Ville. February’s Royalty held court for many fans. However, among Cole’s talented and diverse roster, J.I.D. is making some critical inroads.

Since signing with Dreamville near the top of last year, the Georgia lyricist with the nasal delivery released The Never Story, an inclusion on AFH‘s Top 15 albums of 2017. Since then, the Spillage Village MC was named to 2018’s “Freshman” class by XXL magazine. As has become the tradition in recent years, the cover artist produces content for the 20-year-old Hip-Hop magazine.

J.I.D’s Monster Freestyle Shows There’s A New Contender For King Of The South (Video)

In a cypher video with “classmate” Ski Mask The Slump God, J.I.D. shows why he deserves advanced placement behind the mic device. The 27-year-old takes nearly all of the two-plus-minute video with a barrage of bars that reference Any Given Sunday, Purple Rain, and Odell Beckham, Jr.

“Lame ni**as, I gotta put it in layman’s terms / I’m finna’ murder you ni**as, you better spread the word / I bled word til’ my head would hurt / The first, it hurts to say that I said it first / I live life like a baby that was dead at birth / But came alive and f*cked the nurses,” begins the MC with emphasis and umph.

J.I.D.’s Video Is An Animated Cartoon Tribute. But The Raps Are Very Real.

In addition to J.I.D. and Ski Mask, also on this year’s list is Lil Pump, Smokepurpp, Stefflon Don, BlocBoy JB, YBN Nahmir, Wifisfuneral, and  Trippie Redd. The 10th spot winner is Lil Skies, who declined to appear.

The beat is produced by Sonny Digital (2 Chainz, Future, Tory Lanez).