The XXL Freshmen 2011 cover, always one to get people talking, more so for who didn’t make it than for who did, gave some (questionable) New York area love, after a tri-state shutout in 2010. Among this years honorees, Fred The Godson and Diggy Simmons. Conspicuously missing for theses covers, Vado.

We definitely feel that Fred The Godson has a certain flair, making something of an impressive transition from punchline-spitting battle rapper to song-creator, and should be kept in mind when making such lists. Diggy? Not necessarily so much. We like what he’s done, but feel it hasn’t quite been enough to warrant such recognition.

Regardless, Vado has made quite a name for himself in the last year or so, and would seem to be the type of cat XXL would have included. Some say Vado refused to be honored, in the spirit of the Drake/Nicki Minaj refusals a year earlier. In any event, the list, designed purely to get people to talk about it, remains a source of contention throughout the internet, as armchair rap quarterbacks continue to debate it.

Meanwhile, Fred The Godson and Vado release the Mills Miller-directed video for “Headbanger,” a Remo The Hitmaker produced joint that got our adrenaline pumping just a bit this morning. Check it out.