He began playing the piano at the age of 2 and by middle school mastered the flute. He attended Riverdale Country School and then Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music. He then returned to New York City. Through networking and word of mouth, Kelly met as many producers as he could, and by 2002 had written a song that ended up a compilation by A Bathing Ape. “It was a lucky break,” he said. “It boosted my confidence.”