By Ogova Ondego
Published July 20, 2008
Kelda Williams may have taken her first giant step in modelling at the age of five and won in a talent show at 12, but little did she know that she would be one of those people who would have to re-define hip hop music a couple of years later. OGOVA ONDEGO writes.
Barely 12 years later (she is 25), Williams has Diva, an 18-track album that was released in 2007. She also hosts her own reality television show on the challenges of female hip hop artists that screens to an estimated 2.7 million viewers in the Bay Area, USA. Dubbed DivaTV, the show represents what Williams refers to as “a current and broad perspective of hip hop culture”.
DivaTV is also available on 28 public access and internet stations, something that further broadens her fan base and makes people look up to her as a role model.
An artist who belongs to what critics could refer to as the ‘hip hop, fm radio, blogging” generation, Williams uses the internet to advance her cause. She is on Itunes, youtube and myspace besides her own websites.
Williams, whose recording label is titled Keldamuzik, is about to shoot her fourth music video called The Biz I’m in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, USA, says she is “bringing a dynamic look and sound to a game that has been watered down of late”.
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She hopes to “set herself apart from the run of the mill acts that have flooded the market” through the lyrical ability she honed through writing poetry and rapping in high school.
According to her publicist, Wendy Bell, Williams has just signed a deal with a cultural mall that will provide video distribution for her well loved Mr. Right video.
But then what is surprising for a girl who was exposed to showbiz before she went to preschool?
Born in San Jose, California, Williams started on her showbiz career journey as a 5-year-old, being in modeling shows, acting classes, and print work.
As she grew up, she attended college and majored in communications.
Williams used the skills she learnt in communications towards her music; she is said to have started writing many stories that she read to herself and would read them in front of her class.
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“She always felt that the best way of expressing herself in music was through rapping, because she loves public speaking and talking before a live audience.”
Among the artists who have influenced Williams are Da Brat, Left Eye, E-40, and Luniz.
Though it is a joy to listen to the entire Diva album, the tracks that stand out for me include Watch Ya Mouth, Mr Right, and The Juice.
