From Average To Classic

Domo Genesis and the Alchemist featuring Smoke DZA “Power Ballad”

Domo Genesis is a strong rapper, but he’s probably doomed to be forever overshadowed by the more charismatic and/or controversial members of the Odd Future crew. This is a common plight in hip-hop – just look to Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa in the Wu-Tang Clan as a rough analog – and it’s even more common on sports teams and most offices. Like Earl Sweathshirt and Frank Ocean, Domo has made a significant artistic leap this year, but compared to those guys’ breakthroughs, it’s kinda minor. There’s nothing jaw dropping on his Alchemist-produced mixtape No Idols, but his skills have improved considerably, and he’s found a musical context that flatters the tone of his voice and the particular cadences of his rhymes. “Power Ballad” is the standout; he sounds like a harder, more verbally nimble version of Drake framed by a looped lead guitar lick that sounds like it could be lifted from a particularly corny Cinemax skin flick.

Get the mixtape for free from DatPiff.