Meba Ofilia is an Indian rapper, singer, and songwriter. She is famous for her single track, “Done Talking,” released in 2018. The song featured Shillong-based rapper Big Ri, a member of Indian hip-hop duo Khasi Bloodz. The music video of the song gained more than 1 million views on YouTube.
Wiki/Biography
Meba Ofilia was born on 2 May 1994 (age 28 years; as of 2022) in Shillong, Meghalaya. Her zodiac sign is Taurus. She studied English literature at St. Anthony’s College in Shillong. In childhood, she began listening to Destiny’s Child’s songs on TV. Later, she was introduced to other musical artists with the help of YouTube. Her family is very conservative and wanted her to become a lawyer, but she dropped out of it in the final year without telling her parents. She wanted to do music as her hobby, but later, she decided to pursue it as a full-time career.
A childhood photo of Meba with her mother
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 4″
Weight (approx.): 55 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Figure Measurements (approx.): 32-28-34
Family
Meba Ofilia belongs to a family in Shillong, Meghalaya.
Parents & Siblings
Her father’s name is Paul Khongjee, and her mother’s name is Mita Khongjee. She has two brothers named Shemkupar Daryll Rynjah and Gerald Khongjee.
Meba with her parents and brothers
Career
Rapper
After debuting with the song “Done Talking” in 2018, she released her second song, “The Journey,” featuring Big Ri on 28 May 2020.
In January 2021, her song, “Lady Bizz,” was featured on “Shesaid.so,” which is a global independent community of women, gender minorities, and allies in the music industry, on the occasion of International Women’s Day. In February 2021, she was featured in the song “Hooked” by Shah Rule. She wrote the lyrics of her part in the song and also contributed to composing the song. In April 2021, Meba released the song “With Pleasure” in collaboration with Big Ri on her YouTube channel. On 21 June 2021, Raja Kumari released the song “Rani Cypher” on her YouTube Channel; the song featured three other female rappers including SIRI, Meba Ofilia, and Dee MC; the music video gained more than 2 million views.
Poster of the song ‘Rani Cypher’
On 22 February 2022, Hershey’s, which is a chocolate manufacturing company, released an anthem titled ‘Celebrating Sheroes’ with the hashtag #HerShe in collaboration with Meba Ofilia and Raja Kumari to celebrate International Women’s Day; it earned more than three million views in four months. In April 2022, Meba rapped in the song “All Stars” along with other Northeastern rappers. Shillong-based independent hip-hop label, MOX, released this song to bring all the Northeastern hip-hop artists together and celebrate their contribution to promoting hip-hop in the Northeast.
Coming soon poster of the song ‘All Stars’
Singer
In October 2019, she released the song “Real” on her YouTube channel; She composed, sang, and wrote the lyrics of the song by herself. In 2020, she featured in the song “My Time” by Andrea Tariang. In 2021, Meba featured on the song called “4 Aces,” alongside D’Bok, by Leo Boys. She became a part of Meghalaya Tourism’s musical project in 2021 under which she sang the song “Golden” and also shot its official music video with the theme called “The Sounds of Meghalaya” to promote Meghalaya Tourism. She wrote the lyrics of the song by herself.
Meba singing in the poster of the song ‘Golden’
Awards
- Won European Music Award for Best Indian Act for the song “Done Talking” in 2018
Favourites
- Singer (s): Internet, J Cole, Salt-N Pepa, SWV, Da Brat, H.E.R, Oh Wonder, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Celine Dion
Facts/Trivia
- On 19 November 2021, she performed at Me-Gong Festival alongside the Da Suraka band.
- She performed at Levi’s 501 Day in 2019 held at Mumbai’s Famous Studios.
- Meba likes to make cover songs. She has covered some songs including “In My Head” by Tori Kelly, “Imagine” by John Lennon, and more.
- On being asked about the artists that influenced her work, she said,
Alicia Keys, with her raw vocals. Beyoncé, whose effortless stage performance and personality is out of this world. Lauryn Hill’s versatility and honesty with respect to her craft is close to perfect. Her The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill spoke truth to me as few others could.”
- On being asked about what kind of challenges a woman has to face in the hip-hop industry, she replied,
The kind of company I keep, they just treat me as another individual. I’ve not faced any discrimination, because I’m not really the kind to go out so much. My circle is quite small, and all men: my bandmates, Khasi Bloodz, are all men. I was surrounded by boys during my childhood, too. I have two brothers, and on my dad’s side there are his nephews. On my mum’s side there are women, but they’re all older than me, way older. I spent my childhood climbing trees, doing sports, playing outdoors, running, jumping.”
- In an interview, when she was asked about where she sees herself in 5 years, she replied,
I have no idea, but I just want to be consistent with my work. You don’t know what’s going to happen. Of course I have plans, but at the same time I’m prepared for whenever I fall. I have a management team who tell me, ‘OK that isn’t you, you’re not supposed to do this, go back to where you were.’ Obviously, I’m not trying to stay in my comfort zone forever. I want to experience and cross boundaries, but I should know where I stand as an individual, as a sister, as a woman.”
- In an interview, she shared her songwriting process, and said,
I write music that is very personal, so I think feel like I’m putting myself out there for people. I also try to appeal to what people are feeling, or to give them company. So if one person out there is feeling the way I feel, then its good enough for me. I write a lot about love. I’m at an age where I’m going through experiences with relationships. The idea of love I put in my songwriting is very general. It could mean sibling love, it can mean parental kind of love, boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, husband, wife. And there are a few songs that are directed to past experiences I’ve had, which I hope some people can relate to.”
