BORN IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, DOM KENNEDY (BORN DOMINIC HUNN) IS AN ARTIST WITH A FIERCELY INDEPENDENT STREAK. WITH A STYLE THAT PAIRS SIMPLE LYRICISM WITH A KNACK FOR NARRATION, KENNEDY TOOK INSPIRATION FROM RAP LEGENDS SUCH AS DJ QUIK, 2PAC AND THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. KENNEDY MADE HIS DEBUT IN 2008 WITH 25TH HOUR, FROM THE WESTSIDE WITH LOVE IN 2010, AND THE ORIGINAL DOM KENNEDY IN 2011. BY THIS POINT, HE HAD BEGUN TOURING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY, PLAYING A SHOW IN DJIBOUTI, AFRICA. NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND A FAIR DEAL TO SUIT HIM, THE TALENTED MC INSTEAD STARTED HIS OWN LABEL, THE OPM COMPANY, WHICH HE HAS USED TO RELEASE HIS OWN ALBUMS AS WELL AS FOR OTHERS. FROM THE WESTSIDE WITH LOVE II ARRIVED IN 2011 AND WAS A SUCCESS, HITTING THE TOP 100 OF THE BILLBOARD 200 ALBUM CHART. KENNEDY TOURED THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND EUROPE IN 2012, AND RELEASED THE YELLOW ALBUM WITH THE LEAD SINGLE "MY TYPE OF PARTY", THIS MIXTAPE IS REGUARDED AS AN ALL TIME FAVORITE WORLDWIDE. 2013 SAW THE RELEASE OF HIS SECOND PROPER ALBUM GET HOME SAFELY BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THE ALBUM PROVED TO BE AN EVEN BIGGER SUCCESS, HITTING THE TOP 25 AND EARNING CRICITAL ACCLAIM. HIS THIRD EFFORT, BY DOM KENNEDY, WAS ISSUED IN 2015 AND FEATURED PRODUCTION BY JAKE ONE, J.LBS AND DJ DAHI, AMONG OTHERS. THE FOLLOWING FALL, HE RELEASED LOS ANGELES IS NOT FOR SALE, VOL 1. WITH A BEGINNING STORY FOR THE AGES ONLY TIME WILL TELL THE TRUE OUTCOME. FROM KENNEDY HIMSELF, "MY MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT EVOLUTION, RESULTS MAY VARY BUT I HAVE TRIED TO REMAIN RESPONSIBLE TO WHAT I WAS FEELING AT THE TIME. I WOULDN'T HAVE LASTED ANY AMOUNT OF TIME WITHOUT THE FANS SO I THANK THEM. OPM TILL IT'S OVER."

This is a political podcast made by creatives. Which also makes it about beliefs, culture, and ideas. It’s recorded in Charleston SC, so it’s about that too.

Benny Starr is a hip hop artist from Pineville, SC. He is also a speaker, writer, community advocate and, as of recently, student.

Elliott A. Smith is an artist and musician from Florida, with long family ties to the lowcountry. He is also an attorney, who practiced for about five years, before turning back to music and art and using his legal background for projects like this.

Benny and Elliott met in 2015 by way of a musical collaboration.

Aley Arion Live is following