In 1998-1999, Koné toured Europe with the National Ballet of Burkina Faso Manding Kalou. The following year Manding Kalou recruited Dramane as lead soloist for another European tour. Following the second tour, Koné set his sights on travel to the United States, for a visit with his elder brother Mamadou Koné, also a well-known master drummer and griot. Visiting the U.S. to perform and teach, the Koné brothers found warm welcomes and decided to stay and relocated permanently (both are fluent in English, French, and African languages, and soon became U.S. citizens). After an extensive tour of Europe with Manding Kalou in 1999, when Dramane returned to America, Dramane formed his own performance group Djelia Kadi there. Dramane later relocated to Santa Monica, and Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, where he still resides.

Dramane formed his group Djelia Kadi in 2001 with djembefolas, balafon and dununfola players, and African dancers and acrobats. The group's initial raison d'être was as an educational seminar, as Koné taught each of the members their parts and basic west African rhythms and playing techniques on djembe, dunun and balafon. Soon it evolved into a musical/entertainment performance and recording ensemble. Djelia Kadi's 2002-2003 self-titled recording Djelia Kadi (in English: It's Good to be a Griot) features 8 tracks including Dramane's arrangements of such west African drumming classics as Djelidon and Mendiani as well as several of his originals featuring himself on balafon and lead djembe. Following the release of the first CD, Dramane continued to perform as a soloist and with various incarnations of his Djelia Kadi ensemble in the Bay Area (San Francisco).

In summer 2005, Koné performed as part of a multi-cultural group at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, and following that performance he stayed on for several weeks at a hotel and with American friends residing in southern California. During his stay he visited the tourist sites of Hollywood and became enamored with U.S. west coast film culture. "I love Hollywood, and I love America very much," he says. Koné also loves to laugh (his intense shrieking laughter is stunning). He also loves to entertain and make others laugh heartily. A lifelong fan of pop idol Michael Jackson, Dramane had a favorite photo of himself taken pointing to Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame altered in Adobe Photoshop® as if to insinuate that Dramane Koné's star will also rise to great heights and that his place in music history will also be one of adulation and global notoriety. When musicians get such crazy ideas in their heads, it's no simple matter to talk them out of their dreams! Ambitions are plentiful in this master drummer's world. Koné relishes his moments in the limelight and says that as a griot he is called to bring love and music to people.

Dramane is also an active music teacher in and around southern California. He joined corporate culture-enhancement 'organizational spirit energizer' service Drum Café West (California) in 2006 and continues to entertain and perform at corporate and special events year-round in the U.S. and abroad. Highlights of the many Drum Cafe performances include an impromptu jam session with piano/composer legend Herbie Hancock and a nightclub date at Santa Barbara's Soho Restaurant & Music Club performing with percussion luminary Luis Conte.

In 2010, Koné appeared in a FIFA World Cup TV ad with Colombian Latin/pop superstar Shakira. Later that year, Dramane was lead drummer with Drum Cafe performing at G'Day USA 2010 - Black Tie Dinner Los Angeles

In 2013, Koné studio musican and lead drummer with Stevie Wonder in Los Angeles.

In 2014, Dramane formed Djembe Fusion drum ensemble in Orange County, California, led by Dramane and consisting of members David Hilal, Doug Oliver, Lin Marelic, Olga Mordovchenko, and Jerry Bloch, and in 2015 added Mike Robbins on dununs.

in August 2017, Dramane played percussions for the Black Panther movie soundtrack. Also in 2017, Dramane performed for Oprah Winfrey and filmed a SuperSoul Session at Royce Hall at UCLA, entitled "Do You Speak Djembe?"

January 1, 2018 Dramane was lead drummer for the Dole float at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, which won the Grand Marshal award.