Dupré "Doitall" Kelly of 90s rap group Lords of The Underground has defeated Chigozie Onyema for the West Ward seat on the Newark city council. Kelly, who had the backing of Mayor Ras Baraka won by 17 percentage points, 58.6% to 41.4%. This is Kelly's second run for public office after running for an at-large seat in 2018 where he finished 8,452 behind Councilman Eddie Osborne. Kelly also had the backing of disgraced former West Ward councilman Joe McCallum who was removed from his seat after he was charged with corruption.

"We'd rather have a 'Doitall' than a know-it-all," U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-10) said of Kelly. "Dupré has travelled the world, sold millions of records and has a formal education but above all that he has the love, compassion and understanding that the West Ward needs."

"I am what Hip-Hop looks like all grown up" said Kelly. "It's always been political. It's always talked about being oppressed, held back and being excluded from the mainstream." Citing the unsuccessful runs of Hip-Hop notables Luther "Luke" Cambell, Killer Mike and Scarface, the "Chief Rocka" M.C. said, "If I won, I'd be the first platinum-selling artist elected to a major seat in U.S. politics."

Kelly, along with Al'Terik "Mr. Funke" Wardick and Bruce "Lord Jazz" Colston comprised the Lords of The Underground. L.O.T.U.G. hit big with their 1993 album Here Come The Lords produced by Marley Marl and K-Def. The album peaked at number 66 on the Billboard 200 and featured five charting singles, including their biggest hit "Chief Rocka" which Complex placed 85th on their 100 Greatest Hip Hop Beats of All Time list in 2015. The group also released the albums Keepers of The Funk, Resurrection and House of Lords.