The melancholy flows of Dom Kennedy and Hit-Boys fresh beats align in the Half-A-Mil 2 EP. The mixtape flows like a Cali ocean breeze, refreshing the listener throughout the track list. After all, Hit-Boy is the Grammy winning producer behind, “N*ggas in Paris,” Jay-z and Kanye West, “Drop The World” a Lil Wayne and Eminem collaboration, and the G.O.O.D. Music, “Clique” hit record. Hit-Boy is a new era beat maker representing Fontana, California. He’s the creator of Surf Club a new ensemble of hot producers, and his indie brand, Hits Since ’87. Dom Kennedy is one of the hottest recent rappers to emerge from Los Angeles, California.
Predominately independent in all business, his brand is OPM or “Other People’s Money”. Kennedy has stated in interviews that he turned down an Interscope major deal to remain independent and cement his own legacy in rap music. In a Forbes interview in 2013, he had this comment about music, “All great songs are about the same things. Love, friendship, pain, poverty. It’s not so much what’s going on today, it’s what’s been happening forever. Dom Kennedy makes universal music. He’s about the good life, and the real issues.
“Big Tyme”, the intro track is an example of authentic story-telling with heavy fashion metaphors. Both artist initiate tales of chilling in the city with women and liquor. The unique undertone sound is “As the World Turns” theme song. The 90’s party track, “Green Light” has layers that create a wave of euphoria. “Tupac” samples the classics, “What You Would Do For Love” the instrumental keys, recreate numerous Tupac hits on multiple levels. Dom Kennedy has the relaxed bars that make him, a rare Cali rapper, but his movement is similar to Mac Dre. “Avirex Leathers” is a remake of ASAP Rocky’s “WavyBone” a direct sample of Raekwon and Ghostface, “Heaven and Hell.” The OG R&B track is Syl Johnson, “Could I Be Falling In Love.” Now 20 years after, Biggie Smalls death you see his influence on West Coast rappers. In the 90’s the West Coast was only appreciated by a selected few of East Coast hip hop heads, however now the borders have merged coasts. “Ski Mask Way” uses the Easy Mo Bee, 1994 Badboy sample of Biggie’s rhymes in “Flava In Ya Ear.” Dom Kennedy boastfully rhymes the lavish smooth flows, Biggie inspired. “Top Floor” is a wavy track, with Hit-Boy using his vocals to sing about penthouse playboy lifestyle. Independent is a lucrative business with Kennedy netting close to a mill last year. Life is good for Dom Kennedy and the sky is the limit.
J. Sneakerwire Harris
IG: @sneakerwire
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