First female wins Reggae Grammy
Thirty-five years after the
National Academy of Recording
Arts & Sciences introduced
a reggae category to their roster
of outstanding Grammyworthy
music achievers, Jamaican
Koffee broke the glass ceiling
to emerge the first female
to win the genre’s best album
gramophone.
The teenaged, deejay won the
coveted prize for her debut EP
title “Rapture.”
“Koffee’s achievement is
inspirational for us all, especially
emerging artists and
women artists who continue
to beat against the glass ceiling
as they build lasting careers,”
Olivia Grange, the nation’s minister
of culture said after the
announcement was made at the
62nd annual awards held at the
Staples Center in California.
Mikayla Simpson better
known as Koffee made history
for her gender beating out
veteran male reggae musicians
Third World, Julian Marley,
Sly & Robbie & Roots Radics,
Steel Pulse with the infectious
recordings and probably
endeared more than a few with
the single “Toast.”
President Barack Obama
even added the track to his
summer playlist.
And while she is being lauded
for her gender-achieving feat, a
generation is adding her to the
list of accomplished youths for
being the youngest reggae talent
to win the coveted prize.
Her single dominated last
summer’s radio playlists gaining
appeal throughout international
circles to quickly establish
Koffee the hottest commodity.
“Blessings all pon mi life and
me thanks God for di journey,
di earnings a jus fi di plus...
Gratitude is a must, me see
blessings fall by mi right hand...
buss a toast fi di friends weh tek
off heavy load...”
Teenaged deejay, Koffee
penned those lyrics and with
her guitar strummed a song
Columbia Records embraced
with a signed deal in 2019.
“Koffee is an outstanding
ambassador of the reggae music
Caribbean L 12 ife, Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2020
of Jamaica, despite her young
age, and is thoroughly deserving
of the reggae Grammy for
her well produced album, Rapture,”
Grange added.
In her acceptance speech
she acknowledged the male colleagues
in the category thanking
the producers that contributed
to making the EP. “Blessings,
everyone I want to thank
everyone for the input they
have made to reggae and the
music industry.”
“I want to pay respect” to
the other contenders “for all
the input they have made to
reggae...I have learnt a lot from
them.”
“This one is for reggae...this
one is for Jamaica.”
February, Reggae Month in
Jamaica Koffee will celebrate
her 20th birthday anniversary,
perform in Miami during
Super Bowl weekend and later
will take the big stage during
Coachella.
FIRST LADY OBAMA’S
“BECOMING” WINS
BEST SPOKEN WORD
GRAMMY
The first Black firstlady
of the United States can add
another trophy to her collection
of collectibles. Michelle
Obama won the best spoken
word album category for her
much=talked about audio-book
titled “Becoming.”
The book traces her journey
from the southside of Chicago
to the White House where she
lived for eight years.
She did not attend this year’s
ceremonies but last year made
a memorable appearance with
hostess Alicia Keyes, Lady
Gaga, Jada Pinkett, and Jennifer
Lopez.
Catch You On The Inside!
Jamaican Koffee.
Inside Life
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