Dom Kennedy is rapping like it's the blog era again.
Judas And The Black Messiah: The Inspired Album, the Judas And The Black Messiah soundtrack, released simultaneously with the film Friday. The 22-track effort is a who's who of features. There's Jay-Z, Nas, Nipsey Hussle, Black Thought, Hit-Boy, Lil Durk, G
Herbo. And that's just on the fist half of the soundtrack. On Track 16, Kennedy shines solo on the track "Respect My Mind." Hit-Boy and Kennedy's longtime business partner Archie Davis executive produced the soundtrack as well.
Produced by Mike & Keys, Kennedy exclaims on the chorus that he's a "Westside factor" before going on a 16-plus bar lyrical tirade. The laidback rapper reflects on where he is in his life, acknowledges his ascent since starting out, and laments that "people doubtin'" him. "They don't want me to speak on our legacy / Rather see me strung out on methamphetamine / Realistically speakin', I'm what they'll never be / Metaphorically speakn', I'm feelin' heavenly," he raps.
Kennedy caught attention during the blog era with his mixtapes Best After Bobby, The Original Dom Kennedy, and From The Westside With Love 2. His catchy "My Type Of Party" track on the Yellow Album, which included a Rick Ross feature, elevated Kennedy to the mainstream's peripheral. The Los Angeles-based rapper cemented his legacy with his next two releases, Get Home Safely and By Dom Kennedy, each peaking at No. 23 on the Billboard 200. In 2017, he teamed up with Hit-Boy to form Half-A-Mil. The duo's released three EPs and two albums since. Kennedy's last solo release was Rap N Roll in September.
Listen to "Respect My Mind" below.