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Draft:Class of 95

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Class of 95
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 11, 2024
GenreWest Coast hip-hop
Length62:52
LabelThe Other People's Money Company
Producer
  • Polyseter the Saint
  • TROY NōKA
  • Tre Fresh
  • Al B Smoov
  • Big Duke
Dom Kennedy chronology
I Love Stocker
(2023)
Class of 95
(2024)

Class of 95 is the tenth studio album by American rapper Dom Kennedy, released on October 11, 2024, by The Other People's Money Company.[1] The album's features include Troy NōKA, Polyester the Saint, Niko G4, Talk2Strangers, Indica, and Allyn.[1]

Music

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Steve Juon of RapReviews observed while reviewing Class of 95 that Dom Kennedy took influence from the sound and style of mid-1990s hip-hop.[2] The production, handled by contributors such as Tre Fresh, Big Duke, and Polyester the Saint, blends soulful melodies with a laid-back rhythm, creating a cohesive sound throughout the album.[2] Juon notes that the hour-long runtime and lack of excessive guest features highlight Dom Kennedy's presence as the focal point of the record.[2]

Lyrics and themes

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Steve Juon describes Dom Kennedy's lyricism on Class of 95 as straightforward and impactful, focusing on storytelling, confidence, and personal reflection.[2] Tracks like "Gallery" and "Promise" explore themes of resilience, self-worth, and relationships, with Kennedy using a conversational tone to connect with listeners.[2] Juon also notes that Kennedy is "not a singer, crooner, or an AutoTuner", and while it may seem strange to call a rapper who simply raps "old school", he finds Kennedy's approach "delightfully old school" on tracks like the Tre Fresh-produced "Promise".[2] Juon also observes that Kennedy's "vocal pitch ranges between Kendrick Lamar and Suga Free", highlighting a laid-back yet confident attitude and noting that his words can be "surprisingly uplifting".[2] The album also reflects Kennedy's connection to his roots in Leimert Park, Los Angeles, and his independent music career.[2]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
RapReviews8.5/10[2]

Steve Juon of RapReviews gave Class of 95 a positive review, describing it as "an incredibly solid hour of music".[2] Juon acknowledges that calling an album Class of 95 "builds up expectations going in", due to the many classic hip-hop albums from 1995 that the title references.[2] While he stops short of declaring that the album is better to those classics, he expresses that it is "worthy of the peers its title references" and can "go in rotation with them and not be automatically skipped".[2] Juon concluded in his review: "Mr. Hunn is exactly what I want—a rapper who is good at rapping and has something to say when he raps."[2] In a review of recent releases that included Class of 95, Aaron Williams of Uproxx described Dom Kennedy as "doing a West LA version of what Currensy does".[3] He noted that "It may not be for everybody, but it's definitely for us, especially as long as the sun is shining in Southern California."[3]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Dominic Hunn except where noted.

Class of 95 track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Rich Kids" 
  • Polyester the Saint
2:30
2."Leanin" 
  • Polyester the Saint
3:12
3."Legendary" 
  • Tre Fresh
3:30
4."Casablanca" (featuring TROY NōKA and Polyester the Saint)
  • Hunn
  • TROY NōKA
  • Polyester the Saint
  • TROY NōKA and Polyester the Saint
3:22
5."Slauson Phil" 
  • Al B Smoov
3:11
6."Nowornever" (featuring TROY NōKA)
  • Hunn
  • TROY NōKA
  • Polyester the Saint
3:09
7."Attention" (featuring Allyn)
  • Hunn
  • Allyn
  • Polyester the Saint
4:22
8."Baby James Intermission" 
  • Polyester the Saint
3:19
9."Miracle on 43rd" 
  • Polyester the Saint
4:45
10."Rollin" 
  • TROY NōKA
  • Polyester the Saint
3:27
11."Celine" 
  • Polyester the Saint
3:34
12."Independent" (featuring Allyn)
  • Hunn
  • Allyn
  • Polyester the Saint
2:55
13."Loved" 
  • Big Duke
2:32
14."Promise" (featuring Niko G4 and Indica)
  • Hunn
  • Niko G4
  • Indica
  • Tre Fresh
4:03
15."Emergency" (featuring Talk2Strangers)
  • Hunn
  • Talk2Strangers
  • Polyester the Saint
2:15
16."Gallery" Big Duke3:24
17."Lonely Hearts" (featuring Talk2Strangers)
  • Hunn
  • Talk2Strangers
Polyester the Saint3:18
18."Class of 95" Polyester the Saint2:30
19."Sketches from Westlake" 
  • TROY NōKA
  • Polyester the Saint
  • Big Duke
3:34
Total length:62:52

References

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  1. ^ a b Moore, Sam (October 11, 2024). "New Music Friday: New Albums From GloRilla, Rod Wave, BigXThaPlug & More". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Juon, Steve 'Flash' (October 29, 2024). "Dom Kennedy :: Class of 95 – RapReviews". RapReviews. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Williams, Aaron (October 14, 2024). "The Best New Hip-Hop This Week". Uproxx. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.