Over the last five years, a creative partnership has been quietly building between Golden State Warriors’ official DJ and producer, DJ D Sharp, and rising Oakland rapper Ian Kelly. Their artistic paths first crossed in 2020 when Kelly was featured on “Finders Keepers” from the Eastshore Highway album. Since then, their collaboration has grown into a shared mission to honor Oakland’s rich hip-hop legacy while carving out a fresh sound for today’s scene.
Both proudly claim East Oakland as home, drawing inspiration from the Bay Area legends they grew up watching. “My family is from Brookfield. I went to Brookfield Elementary,” D Sharp says. “It was wild—Dru Down used to walk down the street and E-A-Ski lived three doors down from me.” That deep-rooted connection to The Town drives their work and shapes their vision for hip-hop’s future.
While steeped in reverence for the Bay Area’s past, D Sharp and Kelly see themselves as key players in today’s evolving local rap landscape—a responsibility they wear with pride. Their June release, Concrete OCEAN, showcases this evolution, with both artists pushing boundaries lyrically and sonically.
Kelly has earned a dedicated following thanks to his mind-bending lyricism and raw reflections on the realities of growing up in Oakland. The album’s title is a clever fusion of psychology and poetry, inspired by the “OCEAN” acronym representing the Big Five personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. As the project took shape, Kelly realized each track expressed a different facet of his personality, weaving stories of identity, vulnerability and resilience.
“I feel like we’re on a concrete ocean,” Kelly says. “We’re all in these waves that we’re going through, but it’s still solidified on who we are.” The album emerges as both introspective and grounded—a layered portrait of growth and inner strength.
Kelly elaborates on the subtlety of the album’s concept: “The traits are hidden underneath each song—they’re there, but not in your face like, ‘Ah bro, you preaching to me.’ That was the goal.”
Among the standout tracks is “Too Easy,” which features vocal contributions from Kate Lamont and SundaY, along with a compelling guest verse from Dreebo. Kelly balances vulnerability and bravado with sharp lyricism over a soulful, head-nodding beat that invites multiple listens.
Replay value is one of the album’s strongest draws, offering a richness and depth that music critics say is being restored in hip-hop today. “That’s always the intentionality—to make something that could be timeless, and not just something that’s here for a moment,” Kelly says.
The duo’s sound deliberately blends Bay Area style and broader hip-hop influences. “I kind of want to bring a vibe like Rick Ross meets The Town,” Kelly says, describing their shared vision that merges West Coast energy, boom-bap elements and hometown pride—all grounded in emotional honesty.
As a producer, DJ D Sharp is equally passionate about putting Oakland talent on the global map. Rooted in pride and precision, their collaboration centers on lyrical excellence, strong production and lasting replay value.
“We want to bring the best in general,” D Sharp says. His goal for his label, Table Five Music Group, is to build a legacy that stands alongside hip-hop heavyweights like TDE. “Ian can hold his own against Kendricks, Joey Badasses and J Coles,” he asserts, “and I can hold my own against Hit-Boy, Madlib and Alchemist.”
For fans eager to experience the duo live, DJ D Sharp will perform at the inaugural SF Hip-Hop Festival on Saturday, July 19, while Ian Kelly shares the stage with Atlanta-based artist Will Hill at Brick & Mortar Music Hall on July 23.
Although Concrete OCEAN is a quick listen, it stands as a bold statement of identity, resilience and pride rooted in Oakland’s vibrant culture—carried forward unapologetically by two artists dedicated to elevating their hometown sound.
