Kaly Ocho, the stage name of Joel Elías Arias Martínez, is a Dominican singer, songwriter and rapper born on November 18, 1999, in Buenos Aires de Herrera, Santo Domingo Oeste. Also known as «La Bola Negra del Juego», he developed his dembow career through songs including «La Cartiele», «Piri Bambam» and «Bocina Bom».

Herrera and early music

His interest in music began in adolescence, when he gathered with other young people in his neighborhood to freestyle. In his Spotify biography, he recounts surviving a gunshot wound in July 2020 and describes the experience as a turning point that led him to pursue music full time. In April 2021 he presented «La Cartiele» and built a working team with his mother as manager. His stage name and nickname refer to the black number-eight ball in pool.

«Piri Bambam» and «Máquina de Dinero»

In 2021 he released «Piri Bambam», which references the chorus of Selena's «Bidi Bidi Bom Bom». «Remezcla» placed it ninth in its selection of the year's ten best dembow songs. In 2022 he released «Bocina Bom» and appeared on «Máquina de Dinero» with El Alfa, French Montana and Braulio Fogón. The collaboration featured on «Sabiduría» and had a video directed by Anyelo Santiago, filmed in Santo Domingo's 27 de Febrero neighborhood.

An ongoing collaborative repertoire

DJ Kiko El De Lo Alka has been a recurring collaborator. Both artists are credited on the 2022 release «No Hay» and later singles such as «Machucala» and «De Eso» in 2026. His songs combine dembow rhythms with rap phrasing and hooks drawing on Dominican popular speech.

From «888» to later releases

On August 28, 2024, he released «888», an eleven-song album containing «Enrola», «Wou Wow», «Colapso» and «Moviendo Los Cosos». January 2026 brought «El Sampler Soy Yo», a seven-track collection. During that year he continued sharing videos and collaborations on his channel, including «Volando» and «Otra noche».

Legacy

His career connects neighborhood freestyling in Herrera with dembow's digital circulation. The editorial recognition of «Piri Bambam» and his appearance on «Máquina de Dinero» mark two documented moments of wider exposure in a career built through singles, videos and collaboration with other performers and producers.