The modern state of Los Angeles Hip Hop was practically shaped by a 2009-2010 renaissance where the stars aligned to give rise to a wave of alternative acts that grew up with first-hand accounts of Death Row’s legendary cultural sweep. All hungry with their own dreams of impacting today’s generation, Top Dawg Entertainment’s Black Hippy crew, YG, Nipsey Hussle, Odd Future, Pac Div, U-N-I, Overdoz, and Hit-Boy are amongst those from this new era to make a mark matching captivating art with the internet buzz that stems from word of mouth.
Perhaps the most exciting of this new elite’s infancy, Dom Kennedy was positioned to be a breakout sensation as the quintessential inverse of gangster rap. With attributes matching a hungrier Drake (as their careers took off around the same time), his album From The Westside With Love in particular was chock full of heart, poise, self-awareness, charisma, and braggadocio that would give the old head at the barber shop fond memories of playing the field, along with a knack for macking that younger men aspired towards. While never an expert lyricist, Dom earned a due pass on the merits of his voice and technical control over production that ran in perfect synchronization with L.A.’s nine-month warm climate. In more recent years, public consensus has amounted to even his staunchest supporters noting a decline, with Los Angeles Is Not For Sale Vol. 1 being released to an audience of now mildly hopeful skeptics.
Still stumbling over himself trying to find inspiration and failing to reclaim his magic, Los Angeles Is Not For Sale extends Dom Kennedy’s artistic downward spiral for another year. Making this his fourth consecutive release (counting free mixtapes) in as many years where the output ranges from mediocre to piss poor, it seems he’s fallen under an ongoing bad spell or lost all desire to fulfill his former potential. The opener, “Let The Money Burn” has a sleepy bounce that only exacerbates Dom’s trademark simplicity and currently perceived ambivalence. Here Leimert Park’s once lively hero uses his most deadpan tone letting us in on a secret we’ve hoped he would never confirm, rhyming “I don’t fuck with rap/it’s only temporary like a fix a flat.” Luckily, he and the song’s producer (frequent collaborator) J. LBS go on to find more agreeable chemistry on the floaty “Dominic Pt. 2” as well as “We Still On Top” where rattling percussion and pretty keys distract from the more questionable experiments with flowing.
Having strayed so far from what pleases his crowd in such a short time, Dom Kennedy presently makes it difficult to tell whether his biggest issue is the shift to duller vocals or the actual delivery itself. Known for linear almost mathematically calculated approaches to writing, “T P O” defies conventional expectations, as he’s torn between riding the beat sensibly and cramming too many words into what were already mediocre bars. Managing to slow down on “In Other Words,” so little thought is placed into his couplets that it wouldn’t be a surprise if he freestyled whatever came to mind. By far the highlight of the album, “California” feels so authentically vintage that it may as well have been recorded in an earlier phase of his career. Produced by Polyester (considered by many to bring the best performances from Dom), this glimpse of perfection is immediately compromised by “The 76” where excessive accentuated pauses on the hook (“Turn the streets, any given day, to a drag strip/I’m the one, always looking, clean in the parking lot”) kill what would have otherwise been a vibe suitable for cruising.
Formerly a patron saint for Los Angeles’ Westside, Dom Kennedy is stuck at a standstill having gone from dropping regional classics to leaving fans in utter disbelief with jokes about how far he’s fallen off. While he claims that Los Angeles Is Not For Sale Vol. 1. is his most complete work to date, the project further damages his good standing as “When Im Missing U” is one of numerous examples that are too mellow to muster up interest. If we’re to give benefit of the doubt, a possible conclusion is that his increasingly subdued and disjointed style is a floundering attempt at reinvention. But with a possibly already recorded sequel on deck for early 2017, Dom may need to consider going back to the drawing board and prioritizing the talent that’s dwindled in correlation to his voice becoming deeper with age.
Coming from a Dom Fan…. This was a disappointment!
Damn fam. This review is the No Vaseline of music reviews lol Scathing.
They say Cole makes sleep raps but this man can put a damn Elephant in a coma. zzzzzzZzzzzzzZzzzzz
I feel it was one of his best albums
DX hatin
You can’t be serious….
This shit is straight!!
I haven’t heard it yet but it has to be good if DX rates it so low.
I love doms music but everything since “Get Home Safely” has been trash. I do like the EP he put out with Hit Boy, he should’ve made that his length album.
I agree the hitboy shit went hard. The Dom Kennedy Album wasn’t bad.
Perspective from a fan of Dom Kennedy: After hearing this project & a lot of negative feedbacks from Dom’s fans, I also thought it was probably his weakest effort. But then I thought again & I came to the conclusion that Dom never released an undisputed classic but he always provided us with a few good tracks that we can enjoy for some time. This album is the same, track 6 to 9 will most def be on my playlist for a certain period.
This is the most saddest shit Ive read in a long time Damn Dom WTF. I actually play this album everyday trying to find cuts I like. The highlights for this album. TPO basic but listen worthy,California (Best track), Johnny Bench goes in. 323 Go Crazy is the classic Dom Vibe. I still have faith in him tho but I think he needs to step it up. I want to see him Win.
Ey maybe not his best album, but production was consistent…
The thing that makes Dom a good rapper is he says the coolest shit in a straight up way. People dig Dom cause they can relate to him and what he sayin, if you cant relate then you probably wont be diggin his music. Let the haters hate, do your thing DOM. He aint rappin for the niggas cryin on twitter
I’m a fan of Dom and the production wasn’t the issue. He sounded like he was falling asleep on every song. His flow delivery sucked. Listen to WSWL and compare his delivery it’s so different, but his voice is the same which is weird.
im a huge dom fan too… bummer of an album. not giving up on him yet tho. like ppl below said, his EP with Hit Boy was fireee
I feel like album was decent better By Dom Kennedy but i miss the days where Dom ,Kendrick,School Boy , curren$y ,nipsey ,stally, big krit would all be featured and work together what happened to that???????
I believe this album is great. His lyrics feel like they ride the music and deliver a meaning to those who live in a world like Dom’s. Sound wise it is very appealing to the ears, it is moving, the album is just great.
im a fan of Dom but i only liked the first half of this album and mainly because of the beats.He really needs to step his flow game up, o therwise he gonn end up like the nigga Consequence or Skyzoo or Jon Connor . (big talent lost in weak projects)
I really don’t know what niggas are listening to…I think the Lil’ Yachty’s of the world skewed yall view of what music can/does sound like…it’s cool to rap like that but other rappers flow different, have different rhyme schemes and delivery. Different doesn’t mean trash…I think dudes have to expand. this album is cool to me, I thought the last one was worse the one that was lazy to be honest. I think the production, flow and everything is on point. Again, not fast, mumble rap and trap beats, west coast cool shit…maybe yall would’ve appreciated it if it dropped in the summer….Dom did his thing on this though
Exactly dog By Dom Kennedy sucked! This album been on repeat since December 23rd
This article is stupid, real Dom Kennedy fans appreciate this album
These comments are interesting before I state my opinion thanks for all yours.
This album was my first experience with Don Kennedy, and I thoroughly enjoyed this album. The first track was literally in repeat for hours at one point. The first half of this album is legendary to me. I understand Don Kennedy how a lot of J Cole fans feel towards Cole, and I completely understand the complaints given, but I love the things Dom says. When he spoke about going to that gurl’s house and then getting kicked out by her mom that reminded me of all the times that happened to me especially the going to see when she’s really far. TPO was the most unique track in the listing to me. Though it was more because Dom actually kept a reasonable rhythm and consistent flow, he was funny in the song to me.
There’s like 7 references to sagging in this album and they all made me grin. It took me back. This whole album is just memory after memory and Dom combines storytelling, bragging, and humbling rhymes. It’s interesting. He’s broad but shallow, and honest. I really feel the honesty, UNLIKE J Cole it’s not cringe worthy or possibly corny. Yes, he is simple, but usually the beats pick up the slack for him. The worst song on the album in my opinion was passcode. That was just not creative or personal, but still honest and the beat was cool. Really poppy. Sounds like it could’ve came from other artists. Not like someone else wrote, but that anyone could’ve made this song.
If this is considered bad for Dom Kennedy’s standards then I’m glad to have a nice discography to sift through.
Listen to the get home safe album…and you will hear the real DOM
The thing about Dom is he’s just a cool cat with a vibe. He makes music that you can cruise to while reminiscing on life and he makes music that make you want to get fresh and cool out with your girl or homeboys. This isn’t his best project but certain songs like 323 Go Crazy was enough for me to catch a vibe. Only rappers in history to be this cool is probably Fab. Jay and Nas are cool as well. But Dom and Fab just seem hella smooth.
its ight
When I think ‘west coast’ I either expect gangsta rap or a mixture of vibes (luxurious pimpin mixed with chronic and Hennessy). This project definitely delivered with vibes, with a kinda young and refreshing feel to it.