Super Bowl LX Recap
During Super Bowl LX festivities across the San Francisco Bay Area, official Golden State Warriors DJ D-Sharp took center stage at a series of high-profile community and fan events celebrating the big game.
D-Sharp performed at the BAHC Live! Oakland Fan Zone & Super Bowl Watch Party alongside Chuy Gomez, J. Espinosa, and Big Von as part of the official Bay Area Host Committee community celebration. He also delivered headline DJ sets at Grand Finale Parties and other major weekend nightlife showcases, bringing high-energy music and entertainment to venues across the Bay Area.
From community watch parties to packed weekend celebrations, D-Sharp helped set the soundtrack for an unforgettable Super Bowl LX experience, connecting fans through music and showcasing the energy and culture of the Bay Area.
Golden State Warriors x Hennessy Spirit of Fatherhood
(Courtesy @afoyle3131/)
Fatherhood isn’t just about raising children—it’s about raising the standard.
As a former NBA player, I’ve experienced incredible moments on the court. But nothing compares to being a father to my two daughters. Fatherhood has taught me that our greatest legacy isn’t what we achieve—it’s who we become and how we show up for the people who depend on us.
I was honored to join Omar Martin,and DJ D Sharp, the Spirit of Fatherhood conversation to discuss a simple but powerful principle:
When fathers lead with love, presence, and purpose, families grow stronger, communities become healthier, and the next generation has a better chance to thrive.
Thank you to the Golden State Warriors, Hennessy, and Fathers to Founders for investing in fathers and creating space for these important conversations.
Being present is a gift. Leading with purpose is a choice. Fatherhood is a legacy.
#SpiritOfFatherhood #FathersToFounders #Fatherhood #Leadership #FamilyFirst DubNation Community Legacy Purpose
Alysa Liu’s homecoming celebration was hella Oakland
(Courtesy The Oaklandside)
More than 4,000 fans showed up downtown for the Olympic ice skating champion, including Oakland athletes and musicians.
Fans of Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu began lining up early on Thursday morning at Frank Ogawa Plaza to catch a glimpse of the ice skater who has become a global superstar. Almost every Bay Area sports team, from the Valkyries to the Roots, presented her with a custom jersey.
Mayor Barbara Lee presented Liu with a key to the city, shaped like an oak tree, made by artists at The Crucible, an artists hub and school in West Oakland. Liu is one of only a handful of locals who have received Oakland’s key, including D’Wayne Wiggins, the late founding member of the R&B soul band Tony! Toni! Toné!; Fredrika Newton, the widow of Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton; and rapper Mistah F.A.B.
When MC Sway Calloway asked Liu what one word describes Oakland, she said, “Soul” — and the crowd went wild.
Liu is the first U.S. woman in 24 years to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating. And she brought home two. The Oakland celebration began inside City Hall, in the council chambers, where Liu fielded questions from journalists and reflected on learning to navigate her newfound fame.
“Most people have been really respectful, so I’ve been grateful for that,” Liu said. “But, yeah, I gotta learn how to live my life and go on about my day without getting stopped too many times.”
Liu also shouted out her Chinese heritage, her Oakland upbringing, and the importance of representation in the Olympics.
“I love being half Chinese, and both my parents are actually full Chinese, so I was raised in a complete Chinese household,” she said. “It shaped a lot of who I am today.”
On the lawn in front of City Hall, Liu’s family, fans, and elected officials kept up the energy despite the unusually hot weather. Oakland’s D-Sharp, the official DJ of the Golden State Warriors, spun a setlist packed with Bay Area classics, including Mac Dre, the Jacka, P-Lo, LaRussell, and more.
The rally, organized by Lee’s office, the City of Oakland, and Visit Oakland, the city’s tourism bureau, and produced by Oakland Venue Management, brought out a range of Oakland personalities eager to celebrate the gold medal champ. According to Mayor Lee’s communications director, Justin Phillips, Liu didn’t want to know any details about the rally ahead of time.
Calloway, the longtime MTV News host and journalist, known locally for his radio days at 106 KMEL, infused his MC role with love for The Town.
“Ain’t nothing better in the world than Oakland, California,” Calloway told the crowd as he took the stage.
Sway did a rapid-fire Q&A with Liu so people in the crowd — and those who watched the livestream — could learn a little more about her. Liu said that hip-hop is the music that gets her going before getting on the ice. She talked about how much she loves eating at restaurants in Oakland Chinatown. She also said she loves the view of Oakland from the hills, and loves how many prodigies have come out of OSA.
“Oakland is so creative,” she said. “We got a lot of soul here, and there’s so many people that are so inspiring. We’re so grounded. My friend group here is just the best. And I love, I love this place.”
DJ D Sharp and Ian Kelly collab with pride and precision
(Courtesy East Bay Express)
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 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.
Ian Kelly & DJ D Sharp Drop Powerful New EP “Concrete Ocean”
(Courtesy SWAYS UNIVERSE)
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
Talkhouse Jock Jams with guest DJ D-Sharp
(Courtesy TALKHOUSE.COM)
This week we are taking our talents into the sporting realm. DBRP hosts Nate LeBlanc, Demone Carter and David Ma are joined for an interesting conversation with DJ D-Sharp, a Bay Area stalwart who has new music out now. However, he also has a “day job” as the in-arena DJ for the Golden State Warriors, the best basketball team in the world. We discuss his history as an in-demand tour DJ for many prominent acts including a long stint with one of our favorites, Blackalicious. We enjoyed chatting with D about his prominent DJ gigs, including playing for President Obama multiple times, as well as his front row seat to history as the man behind the wheels for so many major sports moments. Our hosts discuss “jock jams” aka the music that is played in arenas and stadiums all over the world, as well as some takes on what has been an odd Warriors season so far.
Billboard: What’s it Like to Be An NBA DJ
(Courtesy BILLBOARD)
DJs for 16 NBA teams talk about the pressures and glories of selecting the soundtracks for each season.
GOAPELE & DJ D SHARP ON SWAY
R&B Legend and Bay Area Queen Goapele stopped by Sway In The Morning to celebrate 20 years of her breakout album Closer, and her new upcoming album COLOURS.