DOM KENNEDY’s breezy, irreverent punchlines are the staple of his signature rap style, one admired by West Coast legends, established and in-the-making. Born Dominic Ross Hunn in L.A. in 1984, the MC independently released his first mixtapes in the late 2000s, colored by his experiences growing up in Leimert Park and influenced heavily by the locale-driven rhymes of The Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, 2Pac, and Outkast. In 2011, KENNEDY released his debut album, From the Westside With Love, II, which was led by the personable but flippant standouts “When I Come Around” and “Grind’n.” His sophomore effort, Get Home Safely from 2013, found him homing in on the laidback approach that made him a beloved figure in hip-hop, especially on tracks like the undulating, braggadocious “Still Callin” featuring fellow L.A. artist TeeFLii. KENNEDY would cement his lyrical lightheartedness in collaborations with entrepreneurial rapper Nipsey Hussle, including 2013’s elastic, revelatory “Checc Me Out.” In 2020, he dropped Rap N Roll, an album that centered itself around the simplistic, contemplative “Saint Ermias,” a tribute to the late Hussle that brought out KENNEDY’s more serious side. KENNEDY’s calling card is staying relaxed enough to settle into the vibes of his hometown, while also using his affable personality and thought-provoking wordplay to propel himself to the mainstream.