If there's one thing lists are good for, it's starting arguments. This is true for just about any style of music, but it goes double for hip-hop, a genre whose diehards don't mince words. No wonder XXL's just-announced Freshman Class of 2012 -- as well as the accompanying magazine cover, seen below -- is already causing such a stink online.

This year's roll call of artists -- already-buzzed-about MCs the venerable rap mag thinks will get even bigger in 2012 -- contains XXL's first-ever female selection, Iggy Azalea, and her inclusion has prompted some angry tweets from fellow female rhymer Azealia Banks.

"Iggy Azalea on the XXL freshman list is all wrong," the Harlem rapper-singer tweeted.

Rather than simply being jealous, Azealia has what some might consider a legitimate reason for speaking out against the up-and-comer.

XXL Magazine
XXL Magazine
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"How can you endorse a white woman who called herself a "runaway slave master " ?" Banks tweeted.

It's a reference to the song 'D.R.U.G.S.,' on which Iggy raps, "When the relay starts I'm a runaway slave-master/ S---ing on the past, gotta spit like a pastor.'

Rounding out XXL's list are Machine Gun Kelly, Danny Brown, Kid Ink, Future, Roscoe Dash, Hopsin, Macklemore, Don Trip and last but not least, the man who opted, for some reason, to rock a bear's head on the cover, French Montana.

French's wardrobe choice is just one reason the cover is bonkers and warrants a close look. That's another thing these lists are good for: selling magazines.

Watch 'Learn About the History of Rap'

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Learn About the History of Rap



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