Oakland’s Ian Kelly & DJ D Sharp Drop Powerful New EP “Concrete Ocean”- A Deep Dive into Growth, Grit & Oakland Soul

Oakland’s own Ian Kelly and Golden State Warriors’ official DJ and producer DJ D Sharp link again for a new project that hits deeper than just bars and beats. Concrete Ocean, their brand-new collaborative EP, is out now and packed with raw stories, elevated production, and real Oakland soul.

The project brings together a heavy lineup of features including Bay Area mainstay IamSu!, Brownie Blendz, Kate Lamont, Dreebo, and trusted collaborators Roux Shankle and SundaY. Together, they create a soundscape that’s as honest as it is powerful—a journey of self-awareness, resilience, and hometown pride.

“This whole project is personal,” says Ian Kelly. “The title Concrete Ocean comes from my experience growing up in Oakland. It’s inspired by the Big Five personality traits—how we move through the world as real people with real struggles. It’s not textbook; it’s lived.”

While the tracks don’t name each trait outright, the energy throughout the EP reflects those core elements—openness, growth, pressure, vulnerability, and survival. Concrete stands for the grit and toughness that comes with navigating hard realities. Ocean speaks to emotional depth, adaptability, and the waves we all ride trying to stay afloat. Take a deep dive and get into this EP available now on DSP’S HERE