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Oompa
Birth nameLakiyra Williams
Born (1995-01-24) January 24, 1995 (age 29)
Roxbury, MA
Genres
Years active2016–present
Formerly ofHipStory
Websitewww.oompoutloud.com

Lakiyra Williams, known professionally as Oompa, is a rapper, poet, and vocalist from Roxbury, Massachusetts.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Childhood

[edit]

Oompa was put into foster care at six weeks old.[2] She grew up in Academy Homes, a low-income housing development near Jackson Square. When she was 5, she and her two biological sisters were adopted.[1]

Oompa started rapping in middle school, competing in battle rap in the cafeteria for lunch money. As a kid, she played basketball at Washington Park in Roxbury, where she was given the nickname, "Oompa Loompa" because she was short and speedy. This inspired her stage name.[3][4]

In high school, Oompa's sister, Nicky, died from lupus.[2]

Education

[edit]

Oompa attended Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, on a full ride scholarship.[2] She performed rap and poetry at open mics on campus and taught herself how to professionally record music in her college's computer lab.[1][5]

In 2009, when she was a freshman in college, Oompa's mom died, which she described in 2019 as "the hardest thing in my life, thus far." Her debut album "November 3rd" was named for the day her mom died, and features the track, "Dear Mama" in dedication. After her mother's death, Oompa took a leave of absence from school to care for her younger sister while she was still a minor. They struggled with food insecurity and homelessness.[2][4][6][5] Oompa returned to Bucknell later on, changed her major from mathematics, and earned an undergraduate degree in English and Education.[2]

Poetry career

[edit]

In 2016, Oompa won a spot on the Boston House Slam team. The team qualified for finals at the National Poetry Slam. She also coached a team of youth poets for Louder than a Bomb Massachusetts, who placed 5th in the state. In 2017, Oompa won the Women of the World Poetry Slam in Dallas, Texas.[7]

She has stated about her experience doing slam poetry, "A lot of slam was competition over who has the most important oppression and how awful things are. The truth is suffering is part of the human condition. We all hurt. It's not a competition."[2]

Music career

[edit]

In 2022, Oompa performed at Boston Calling Music Festival,[1] was accepted into The Recording Academy,[2][8] and was one of 12 artists selected to be a part of Pepsi Music Lab Academy class of 22–23'.[9][10][11] In 2023, Oompa performed at the Boston Celtics half-time performance at TD Garden,[3][12] and at Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy's inauguration.[13][14] In August 2023, Oompa's song, "Outta Patience", was featured in a Beats commercial starring Alessia Russo for the Women's World Cup.[15]

Oompa has won four Boston Music Awards.[16][17][18] She has performed with Jill Scott,[19] 2-Chainz,[20] Marc Rebillet,[21] Palehound,[22] and Brandi Carlile.[13][14]

Influences

[edit]

Oompa has cited Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, James Brown, Gospel music, and Black music across genres as her influences.[3]

Critical acclaim

[edit]

In 2016, Oompa joined HipStory (founded by Cliff Notez and Tim Hall), a Boston collective and multimedia production company that worked with her to record and release her first album, "November 3rd". A review from Sound of Boston called Oompa's rhymes "deadly" and referred to the project as "a deeply confessional collection of songs over smooth soul beats".[23] The album was listed as one of Allston Pudding's favorite albums of the year and DigBoston's Top 30 Local Albums of the year in 2016.[24][25]

In 2019, Oompa released the album, "Cleo", named for Queen Latifah's character in Set It Off.[26] WBUR commented, that the songs on "Cleo" "all benefit from Oompa's keen sense of melody, her knack for grabbing the ear with a certain phrase or rhythm and telling it something funny and incisive and memorable".[27] Telegram called the album captivating and viscerally inspiring.[28] Allston Pudding attended the album release and called the performance of "Cleo" "powerful from beginning to end".[29] With "Cleo", Oompa landed on NPR's Slingshot Artist to Watch list.[30]

In 2021, Oompa released the album, "Unbothered".[31] The Harvard Crimson characterized the album as, "personal, unapologetic, inspirational, and incredibly deserving of all the glowing receptions it will receive".[32] Vanyaland called the album, "a sacred space, the Boston's emcee commitment to herself — and her listeners — to cultivate a life worth living".[33] Galore Mag hailed Oompa as having "a cadence and energy akin to the legendary Missy Elliott and the poetic finesse of Noname".[34] The Three-Sixty Mag called "Unbothered", "an album brimming with gems".[35] Okayplayer named the project to their 15 New Hip-Hop & R&B Albums You Should Be Listening To list, and called the project, "an album riddled with self-reflective undertones and vibrant lyrics".[36]

Cultural impact

[edit]

Oompa is on the leadership council at The Record Co., a nonprofit that provides affordable rehearsal and recording space for Boston-based music makers.[37] Oompa partnered with the Somerville Arts Council to create Black, Brown & Queer Fest.[38] The Gumbo has praised Oompa's music for uplifting women.[39]

According to Boston, in 2022, "she was one of 12 people and organizations awarded $500,000 in workforce development contracts as part of a program established by the city's Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture. She's using the funding to establish Outlaud Entertainment, an artists' collective and incubator that will mentor five emerging artists over the course of fifteen months."[2]

Personal life

[edit]

In 2023, Oompa reconnected with her birth father, who was a popular R & B singer in the '90s.[2]

Awards

[edit]
  • Pepsi's Music Lab Class of '22-'23[11]
  • City of Boston, Workforce Development Contracts For Artists And Creative Workers, 2022[40]
  • City of Cambridge's Local Cultural Council Grants, 2022[41]
  • Live Artist of the Year, Boston Music Awards, 2022[17]
  • NPR Slingshot Artist to Watch, 2020[30]
  • Live Artist of the Year, Boston Music Awards, 2019[42]
  • The Boston Foundation Brother Thomas Fellow, 2019[43]
  • Unsigned Artist of the Year, Boston Music Awards, 2018[18]
  • 617Session Winner, Boston Music Awards, 2018[18]
  • Passim Awards Iguana Music Fund Grant Recipient, 2018[44]
  • Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion, 2017[7]
  • National Poetry Slam finalist, 2016[7]
  • Allston Pudding's favorite albums of the year, 2016[25]
  • DigBoston's Top 30 Local Albums of the year, 2016[24]

Discography

[edit]
Albums
Title Year Source
Unbothered 2021 [31]
Cleo 2019 [26]
November 3 2016 [45]
Singles
Title Year Source
"Think Too Much" 2023 [46]
"OUTTA PATIENCE" 2021 [47]
"LEBRON" 2021 [48]
"Go" 2021 [49]
"Closer" 2020 [50]
"By You" 2019 [51]
"Feel Like Cole" 2019 [52]
"Your Girl" 2016 [53]
Music videos
Title Year Source
"Think Too Much" 2023 [54]
"LEBRON" 2021 [55]
"Go" 2021 [56]
"Closer" 2020 [57]
"Feel Like Cole" 2019 [52]
"I Deserve That" 2018 [58]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Meet the local rapper set to perform at Boston Calling 2022". Boston.com. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Giacobbe, Alyssa (2023-05-25). "The Many Faces of Boston Rap Star Oompa". Boston Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  3. ^ a b c "10 Questions: Oompa Performs at Celtics Halftime Ahead of New Single Release". NBC Boston. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  4. ^ a b "On New Album, Oompa Defies The Tragic Story The World Wrote For Her". WBUR. 6 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  5. ^ a b CORCORAN, NINA (27 April 2018). "OOMPA: THE POETIC JUSTICE OF ROXBURY'S MOST POSITIVE RAPPER". Dig Bos. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  6. ^ Steinberg, Jared (2018-08-23). "Album Review: November 3rd by Oompa". Sound of Boston. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  7. ^ a b c Bruno, Jackie; Klein, Asher (27 July 2019). "Rapper and Poet Oompa Represents Boston's Roxbury Her Way". NBC Boston. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  8. ^ KENNEDY, DAKOTAH (2023-04-06). ""I'm Not On That Grammys Stage Yet, But It Feels One Step Closer"". Dig Bos. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  9. ^ Lee, Cydney (2022-10-20). "Pepsi Unveils Pepsi Music Lab, a Platform to Help Aspiring Artists Grow Their Careers". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  10. ^ Corrine, Amber (2022-10-20). "Pepsi Announces Music Lab Bootcamp For Next-Gen Music Artists". VIBE. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  11. ^ a b "Boston Thriving: Oompa joins Pepsi's Music Lab Class of '22–'23". Vanyaland. 2022-10-20. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  12. ^ Oompa's Celtics vs Warriors Halftime Takeover – 1/19/23, 24 January 2023, archived from the original on 2023-07-03, retrieved 2023-01-26
  13. ^ a b "Brandi Carlile, Oompa, and others to perform at Maura Healey inauguration". Vanyaland. 2023-01-03. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  14. ^ a b "Healey, Driscoll celebrate their historic firsts with basketball-themed 'Garden party'". News. 2023-01-06. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  15. ^ "Beats by Dre gamifies England star Alessia Russo's journey to the World Cup". Ad Age. 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  16. ^ "Boston Music Awards 2019". Boston Music Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  17. ^ a b "Hip-hop sweeps the major categories at the 2022 Boston Music Awards". WBUR. 15 December 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  18. ^ a b c "Boston Music Awards 2018". Boston Music Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  19. ^ "At the Gardner Museum, Jill Scott, Paloma Valenzuela, and Oompa Discuss Artistic Integrity". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  20. ^ Corley, Michael. "Grammy winning rapper 2 Chainz to perform at Salem State University". Wicked Local. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  21. ^ "Watch Oompa freestyle with Marc Rebillet at Royale in Boston". Vanyaland. 2021-09-07. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  22. ^ "Palehound + Oompa + Melissa Lozada-Olivia + Dazey and the Scouts". Omari Spears. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  23. ^ Steinberg, Jared (2018-08-23). "Album Review: November 3rd by Oompa". Sound of Boston. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  24. ^ a b CORCORAN, NINA (27 December 2016). "30 BEST LOCAL ALBUMS OF 2016". Dig Bos. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  25. ^ a b "Allston Pudding's Favorite Albums of 2016 [50–21]". Allston Pudding. 2016-12-19. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  26. ^ a b "With "CLEO," Oompa Pays Tribute to a Childhood Hero". Bandcamp Daily. 2019-08-20. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  27. ^ "On New Album, Oompa Defies The Tragic Story The World Wrote For Her". WBUR. 6 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  28. ^ Infante, Victor D. "Oompa steps up with captivating 'Cleo'". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  29. ^ Spears, Omari (2019-08-14). "Oompa Celebrates New Album "Cleo" at The Sinclair". Allston Pudding. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  30. ^ a b "2020 Slingshot Artists To Watch". NPR Music. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02.
  31. ^ a b Infante, Victor D. "Listen Up: Oompa takes listeners on personal journey with 'Unbothered'". Worcester Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  32. ^ "Album Review: Oompa's "Unbothered" Builds a Legacy of Joy | Arts | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  33. ^ "Interview: Oompa's new album 'Unbothered' plays like a promise". Vanyaland. 2021-10-01. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  34. ^ Barrott, Jenna (2021-10-19). "Oompa's New Album "UNBOTHERED" Unfurls a Journey of Self Discovery – And You're Invited For The Ride". Galore. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  35. ^ Hoang, Anh (2021-10-05). "OOMPA – UNBOTHERED". 360 MAGAZINE – GREEN | ART | MUSIC | DESIGN. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  36. ^ "15 New Hip-Hop & R&B Albums You Should Be Listening To (Week of October 1) – Okayplayer". www.okayplayer.com. 2021-10-01. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  37. ^ "'All We Need To Do Is Ask' — How The Record Co. Redefines What It Means To Serve A Community". Org. 2020-12-01. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  38. ^ "'Black, Brown & Queer Fest' in Union Square on August 24". City of Somerville. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  39. ^ "Inherent Exclusion: On Loving Hip-Hop As A Black Queer Woman". The Gumbo. 15 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  40. ^ "$500,000 Awarded in Workforce Development Contracts for Artists and Creative Workers". Boston.gov. 2022-06-30. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  41. ^ "$117,856 for Local Cultural Council Grants to 31 Cambridge Projects". City of Cambridge. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  42. ^ "Boston Music Awards 2019". Boston Music Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  43. ^ "Twelve Greater Boston artists named Brother Thomas Fellows for 2019". The Boston Foundation. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  44. ^ "Iguana Music Fund". Passim. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  45. ^ Gagnon, Tim (2016-11-04). "PREMIERE: Oompa's "November 3rd"". Allston Pudding. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  46. ^ "Oompa swears she won't 'think too much' anymore". Vanyaland. 2023-02-03. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  47. ^ Monique, Keish (2021-09-17). "PREMIERE – Oompa Is Running "OUTTA PATIENCE", But Kicks It With Us (Interview) » Hype Off Life". Hype Off Life. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  48. ^ "PREMIERE: Oompa Celebrates "Feeling Like a Bad Bitch" With "Lebron"". Audiofemme. 2021-08-12. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  49. ^ "Oompa zips through sticky-sweet R&B with Dan DeCristofaro on 'Go'". Vanyaland. 2021-07-09. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  50. ^ "Oompa summons cleansing relief with new single 'Closer'". Vanyaland. 2020-11-09. Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  51. ^ "Listen To Oompa Go To Therapy On Her New Track, 'By You'". WBUR. 4 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  52. ^ a b Infante, Victor D. "Oompa delivers layered, defiant 'Feel Like Cole'". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  53. ^ Infante, Victor D. "Boston's Oompa puts spin on R&B with 'Your Girl'". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  54. ^ "Oompa Opens Up on "Think Too Much"". 2023-02-04. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  55. ^ "PREMIERE: Oompa Celebrates "Feeling Like a Bad Bitch" With "Lebron"". Audiofemme. 2021-08-12. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  56. ^ "Oompa – 'GO' ft. Dan DeCristofaro (OMV)". Sensei. 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  57. ^ "Oompa summons cleansing relief with new single 'Closer'". Vanyaland. 2020-11-09. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  58. ^ "Oompa teaches the value of taking up space in 'I Deserve That'". Vanyaland. 2018-07-02. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
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