Denzel Kennedy Shares the 5 Rappers Who Shaped His Sound

Brisbane-based hip hop artist Denzel Kennedy is fast becoming one of Australia’s most exciting new voices. Fresh off the release of his ambitious and deeply personal album The Lucky Ones, the Indigenous Australian rapper opens up about the five hip hop icons who have inspired his music the most.

Today, Kennedy breaks down the artists who influenced his flow, his storytelling, and his approach to lyricism—everyone from Joey Bada$$ and J. Cole, to Smino and Tobi Lou. With a style that blends clever pop culture references with emotional depth, Kennedy’s music reflects a new wave of thoughtful, genre-defying Australian hip hop.

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From high school headphones to festival stages, these five rappers helped shape the sound and soul of The Lucky Ones—an album that’s already turning heads.

Joey Bada$$ – Favourite Track: Killuminati ft. Capital Steez

Joey has been a huge inspiration. His lyrics have always been the key for me. I remember listening to him in high school thinking how cool it was to hear pop- culture references in a rap track that was just so clever and nuanced. Super dope flow and definitely a rapper that’s inspire a lot of my writing.

J Cole – Favourite Track: GOMD

It almost feels like cheating to say J. Cole is an inspiration. Obviously one of the greats. I’ve always appreciated the way he makes any song he features on better and that his lyrics while calculating and about real shit can sometimes be said in a way that makes it light. Flawless artist.

Capital Steez – Favourite Track: Capital STEEZ

Steez is part of that pro-era, Joey Bada$$ style of music that made me want to get into rapping. Clever lines. Pop-culture references. I’ve always felt like listening to a Steez track where he talks about himself could’ve been written about me as well. Maybe not so much as an artist, but the person Steez projected himself to be is someone I found I had a lot of similarities to.

Smino – Favourite Track: Ricky Millions

VIBES. Is everything I can say about Smino. I’ve been listening to him for the better part of a decade and the old tracks I used to run back then are still in my playlists today. Like Steez and Joey, Smino references a lot of pop-culture is his own unique way and creates music that I always try to play at the function.

Tobi Lou – Favourite Track: Meaningless

Tobi Lou is weird and unapologetically himself. This has been a massive inspiration for me to be comfortable writing lyrics that I LIKE and not just focus on what might sound good for the audience to hear. I think Tobi has been the biggest inspiration for me to just forget everything else and talk the way I would in any conversation on my tracks.