10 Things You Should Know About Dom Kennedy

The MC comes from the westside with love.

New Generation - Dom “Dominic Hunn” Kennedy is more than just the latest rapper from Los Angeles to crop up, he's part of the new generation of Westside spittas.(Photo: Other People's Money Records)

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New Generation - Dom “Dominic Hunn” Kennedy is more than just the latest rapper from Los Angeles to crop up, he's part of the new generation of Westside spittas.(Photo: Other People's Money Records)

Talented Roots - Kennedy hails from Leimert Park, California, an area of L.A. traditionally recognized as the black arts center of the city. Leimert is also the hometown of rapper Ice Cube, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and iconic hood filmmaker John Singleton.(Photo: Other People's Money Records)

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Talented Roots - Kennedy hails from Leimert Park, California, an area of L.A. traditionally recognized as the black arts center of the city. Leimert is also the hometown of rapper Ice Cube, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and iconic hood filmmaker John Singleton.(Photo: Other People's Money Records)

Baller - Dom attended Santa Monica High School across town and played on the schools' baseball team.  (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

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Baller - Dom attended Santa Monica High School across town and played on the schools' baseball team.  (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

Fresh in the Game - Dom Kennedy started his rap career in 2008, on the dorm room floor of his cousin Jason Madison, a film student at L.A's Loyola Marymount University. (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

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Fresh in the Game - Dom Kennedy started his rap career in 2008, on the dorm room floor of his cousin Jason Madison, a film student at L.A's Loyola Marymount University. (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

Attention Grabber - Although 2010’s From the Westside With Love was his most critically acclaimed album, the project was preceded by 25th Hour (2008), Future Street/Drug Sounds (2009) and Best After Bobby (2009).(Photo: Flickr.com/MindBonics)

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Attention Grabber - Although 2010’s From the Westside With Love was his most critically acclaimed album, the project was preceded by 25th Hour (2008), Future Street/Drug Sounds (2009) and Best After Bobby (2009).(Photo: Flickr.com/MindBonics)

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Self-Titled - Following the release of From the Westside with Love, Dom put out another free mixtape, The Original Dom Kennedy (2011) and From the Westside With Love II (2011) which was sold on iTunes.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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Self-Titled - Following the release of From the Westside with Love, Dom put out another free mixtape, The Original Dom Kennedy (2011) and From the Westside With Love II (2011) which was sold on iTunes.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

Cali Swag - Kennedy’s music is heavily influenced by the traditional sound of west coast rap. For instance, “On the Way Home” a track off The Original Dom Kennedy mixtape produced by his DJ DrewBird, is heavily influenced by Cali classics “On a Sunday Afternoon” by A Lighter Shade of Brown and “Summertime in the LBC” by Dove Shack. (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

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Cali Swag - Kennedy’s music is heavily influenced by the traditional sound of west coast rap. For instance, “On the Way Home” a track off The Original Dom Kennedy mixtape produced by his DJ DrewBird, is heavily influenced by Cali classics “On a Sunday Afternoon” by A Lighter Shade of Brown and “Summertime in the LBC” by Dove Shack. (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

Back to the Motherland - Since his popularity has grown, Dom was invited to do a show in Dijibouti, Africa earlier this year. It was the rapper's first time visiting the continent. (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

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Back to the Motherland - Since his popularity has grown, Dom was invited to do a show in Dijibouti, Africa earlier this year. It was the rapper's first time visiting the continent. (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

Business Move - This year also saw the creation of OpM, which Kennedy describes as the main vessel for handling “the business of Dom Kennedy.” An acronym for “Other People’s Money,” Dom is focused on incorporating the company into his brand. (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

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Business Move - This year also saw the creation of OpM, which Kennedy describes as the main vessel for handling “the business of Dom Kennedy.” An acronym for “Other People’s Money,” Dom is focused on incorporating the company into his brand. (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

Straight Up Menace - As one of his favorite films, Kennedy often name checks The Hughes’s Brothers Menace II Society in his music. The film, a black pop culture classic, depicts the coming of age of a black man raised in Watts, California in the early 90s. (Photo: Other People's Money Records)

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Straight Up Menace - As one of his favorite films, Kennedy often name checks The Hughes’s Brothers Menace II Society in his music. The film, a black pop culture classic, depicts the coming of age of a black man raised in Watts, California in the early 90s. (Photo: Other People's Money Records)