Koffee

2019-06-06T20:51:49Z

GrexHarmony: /* Discography */

{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Koffee
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
|birth_name = Mikayla Simpson
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|2000|2|16}}
|background = solo_singer
|occupation = Singer, rapper, DJ
|origin = [[Spanish Town]], Jamaica
| years_active = 2017–present
| genre = {{hlist|[[Reggae]]|[[dancehall]]}}
| label =[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| website = {{url|www.originalkoffee.com}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|[[Protoje]]|[[Chronixx]]|[[Cocoa Tea]]}}
}}

'''Mikayla Simpson''' (born 16 February 2000), more popularly known as '''Koffee''', is a Jamaican Reggae artist, rapper/DJ, and guitarist from [[Spanish Town]], [[Jamaica]].

==Biography==
Raised in the Eltham View neighborhood by her mother, an occasional actor, Seventh-day Adventist, and a Ministry of Health employee. Koffee's first musical inspirations stemmed from her mothers religious background.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/04/meet-koffee-jamaicas-teenage-reggae-sensation/586138/|title=The Teenage Girl Leading Jamaica’s New Reggae Scene|last=Giorgis|first=Hannah|date=2019-04-02|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref> She sang in her church choir, taught herself guitar at age 12 on an instrument borrowed from a friend, and began writing lyrics inspired by listening to reggae singer [[Protoje]].

In 2016, she won her school talent show without realizing that the informal show at which she performed in her school cafeteria had been an audition. She went on to learn music theory and vocal technique in her high school choir<ref name="tmrwmagazine">{{cite web | url = https://tmrwmagazine.com/features/music/our-class-of-2019-koffee | title = Our Class of 2019: Koffee | publisher = TMRW Magazine | last = Davies | first = Nicola | date = 14 December 2018 | accessdate = 22 January 2019 }}</ref>. A defining moment for Koffee occurred her final year of high school, when she performed at her school's talent show with other gifted artists in front of about 1,000 people. She indicated that the show gave her her first bit of confidence to perform and deliver music live.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/04/meet-koffee-jamaicas-teenage-reggae-sensation/586138/|title=The Teenage Girl Leading Jamaica’s New Reggae Scene|last=Giorgis|first=Hannah|date=2019-04-02|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref>

"Koffee" is a nickname friends gave her when she ordered hot coffee instead of soda on a hot day.

Koffee gained popularity after uploading a video to Instagram of her singing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/04/meet-koffee-jamaicas-teenage-reggae-sensation/586138/|title=The Teenage Girl Leading Jamaica’s New Reggae Scene|last=Giorgis|first=Hannah|date=2019-04-02|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-25}}</ref> In 2017 she released her first single, "Legend", with just her voice and acoustic guitar. A tribute to Jamaican sprinter [[Usain Bolt]],<ref name="tmrwmagazine"/> the song became a viral [[Instagram]] hit, once the athlete reposted it on his own instagram.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/04/meet-koffee-jamaicas-teenage-reggae-sensation/586138/|title=The Teenage Girl Leading Jamaica’s New Reggae Scene|last=Giorgis|first=Hannah|date=2019-04-02|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref> Awareness of the violence and social problems she witnessed growing up has influenced her lyrics, and besides [[Protoje]] and [[Chronixx]] she has cited [[Super Cat]] and [[Giggs (rapper)|Giggs]] among her musical inspirations. <ref>{{cite interview |subject=Koffee |subject2=Iba Mahr |subject3=Busy Signal |subject4=Stacey McKenzie |interviewer=Winford Williams |title=Koffee, Iba Mahr, Busy Signal, Stacey McKenzie - Onstage February 2 2019 (FULL SHOW) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3ADl3kl1ac |publisher=Caribbean Entertainment Productions |quote=I would say that to a small extent, in the sense that I didn't- I wasn't able to study his music or grow up on it, but I knew a few Super Cat songs and when I think about my flow and my delivery, I can relate it to him if nobody else. |at=35 minutes in |date=2019-02-02 |work=OnStage TV |access-date=2019-02-08}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reggaeville.com/artist-details/koffee/about/ |title=Biography: Koffee |author= |website=Reggaeville.com |access-date=2019-02-08 |quote=But while reggae is on the agenda at the moment, Koffee intends to take in the many artists who have influenced her over the years, from Protoje and Super Cat to St Louis rapper Smino and UK Rap star Giggs. }}</ref>

Koffee was introduced by [[Cocoa Tea]] at the [[Rebel Salute]], a reggae festival, and has also performed with her musical inspirations Protoje and Chronixx.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/04/meet-koffee-jamaicas-teenage-reggae-sensation/586138/|title=The Teenage Girl Leading Jamaica’s New Reggae Scene|last=Giorgis|first=Hannah|date=2019-04-02|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref>

"Burning", her take on Upsetta Records' Ouji Riddim (which had been made popular by Jamaican artists [[Busy Signal]] and [[Luciano (DJ)|Luciano]]), followed. "Burning" grew out of her desire to inspire herself to push forward despite disappointment at not getting into post-secondary Sixth Form after she graduated from Ardenne High School. In June it spent three weeks at number one on The Foundation Radio Network's Top 30 Reggae Chart covering [[New York City]] and [[South Florida]]<ref name="jamaicaobserver">{{cite web | url = http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/koffee-signs-to-columbia_147862 | title = Koffee signs to Columbia | publisher = The Jamaica Observer | last = Jackson | first = Kevin | date = 25 October 2018 | accessdate = 22 January 2019 }}</ref>.

In 2018, Jamaican reggae/dancehall singer, songwriter, and DJ [[Cocoa Tea]] brought her on stage at the 2018 [[Rebel Salute]] and [[Rototom Sunsplash]] in Jamaica and Spain respectively. Protoje asked her to perform with him. Chronixx invited her to join him a [[BBC Radio 1Xtra]] broadcast from [[Tuff Gong Studios]], and she went on to tour with him in the [[UK]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/koffee-makes-major-debut-with-infectious-toast-single-new-song.1981107.html | title = Koffee Makes Major Debut With Infectious "Toast" Single | publisher = Hot New Hip Hop | last = P. | first = Milca | date = 17 October 2018 | accessdate = 22 January 2019 }}</ref> at venues such as [[Bush Hall]] and at [[Alexandra Palace]]. Koffee and Chronixx appeared on [[BBC Music Introducing]]...LIVE on November 10.{{cn|date=January 2019}}

Her December 2018 single "Raggamuffin" called out [[gun violence]] and governmental neglect of the youth<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/koffee-spits-fire-on-raggamuffin-new-song.1981435.html | title = Koffee Spits Fire On "Raggamuffin" | publisher = Hot New Hip Hop | author = Zaynab | date = 15 December 2018 | accessdate = 22 January 2019 }}</ref>. BBC Radio 1Xtra named Koffee one of its "Hot for 2019" artists<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1yQbnYkSJKQqD91nyk9Vf1v/1xtra-hot-for-2019-meet-the-artists-ready-to-take-2019-by-storm | title = 1Xtra Hot For 2019 – Meet the artists ready to take 2019 by storm | publisher = BBC | last = Faulkner | first = Dean | accessdate = 22 January 2019 }}</ref>. Her next single, "Toast", was produced by (izybeats) and (Walshy Fire) of [[Major Lazer]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/wMtwnsHYWy5plMPWsws0xk/koffee | title = Koffee | publisher = BBC | last = Horner | first = Al | date = 10 January 2019 | accessdate = 22 January 2019 }}</ref>. Both Chronixx and Protoje appear in the video.<ref name="tmrwmagazine"/> In 2019, [[Tory Lanez]] made a remix to “Toast” as a part of his International Fargo project which can be found on SoundCloud.

In 2018, she also signed with [[Columbia Records]] UK,<ref name="jamaicaobserver"/> and ''Rapture.'' Her debut EP on the label, was released on March 14,<ref>https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/features/8501354/koffee-interview-rapture-ep-reggae></ref> <ref>{{cite web | url = https://hypelifemagazine.com/celebritynews/koffee-rapture-stream-download/ | title = Koffee Releases Debut EP "Rapture" | publisher = Hype Life Magazine | last = Meikle | first = David | date = 23 March 2019 | accessdate = 24 March 2019 }}</ref> 2019 <ref>{{cite web | url = http://jamaica-star.com/article/20190114/koffee-launch-ep-wednesday | title = Koffee to launch EP on Wednesday | publisher = The Jamaica Star | last = Renshaw | first = David | date = 14 January 2019 | accessdate = 22 January 2019 }}</ref>. Her "Throne" video, which takes viewers on a tour through her home town of Spanish Town, Jamaica, debuted on ''[[The Fader]]'' on 22 January 2019<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.thefader.com/2019/01/22/koffee-throne-video-premiere | title = Koffee can't be stopped in her "Throne" video | publisher = The Fader | last = Renshaw | first = David | date = 22 January 2019 | accessdate = 22 January 2019 }}</ref>.

==Discography==
===Extended Plays===
* ''Rapture'' (2019)

===Singles===
*"Legend" (2017)
*"Burning" (2017)
*"Raggamuffin" (2018)
*"Toast" (2018)
*"Blazin'" (2019)
*"Throne" (2019)
*"Rapture" (2019)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:living people]]
[[Category:2000 births]]
[[Category:Jamaican singers]]
[[Category:Jamaican rappers]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Koffee