Koffee’s ‘Rapture’ Wins Best Reggae Album At Grammy 2020
Koffee has won the 2020 Grammy award in the Best Reggae Album category for the EP Rapture.
Koffee, whose real name is Mikayla Simpson, made history as the youngest and the first woman ever to win a Grammy for Best Reggae Album.
The Jamaican singing sensation collected the award at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles on Sunday (Jan. 26).
Accepting the award, Koffee thanked hеr producers and fеllоw muѕісіаnѕ Јulіаn Маrlеу, Ѕtееl Рulѕе, Ѕlу аnd Rоbbіе аnd Моrgаn Неrіtаgе “fоr аll thе іnрut thеу mаdе іn rеggае іnduѕtrу аnd thе muѕіс.”
“I've learned a lot from them and from other older people in the industry and that's why I'm here; that's what brought us all here,” she said.
“So I just want to say that this one (holding up award) is for all of us; this one is for reggae, this one is for Jamaica. Thank you very much and blessings,” she added.
The 19-year-old recording artiste ousted “As I Am” by Julian Marley, “The Final Battle: Sly & Robbie vs Roots Radics” by Sly & Robbie, “Mass Manipulation” by Steel Pulse, and “More Work To Be Done” by Third World in securing the coveted award.
“Rapture” spent an impressive 32 weeks on Billboard's Reggae albums chart after debuting at number one.
The EP's lead single “Toast” was arguably the biggest reggae single of 2019, receiving worldwide airplay and being featured by many international celebrities, including former US president Barack Obama.
The track was also featured in the Jordan Peele film “Us”. In January Michelle Obama has included “Toast” on her 2020 workout playlist.
Koffee was born in 2000 and raised by her single mother in Spanish Town, just outskirt of Kingston. She sang in a church choir as a child and taught herself how to play guitar at the age of 12. In 2017, Koffee gained the attention of the public by posting a video of her performance of “Legend,” her original tribute to Jamaica Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt, via social media.
In 2018, she was called on stage to perform with Cocoa Tea at the Rebel Salute Festival in Kingston, a performance that was followed by invitations from Jamaican artists Protoje and Chronixx to join them in live performances and on tour in Europe.
The following year, Koffee signed on with Columbia Records UK Columbia U.K. and released the singles “Toast” and “Ragamuffin,” which also appeared on her debut EP, Rapture, in 2019.
In the next few days, Koffee will perform at the Viewtopia Music Festival, during Superbowl weekend, from January 31 to February 1 at Marlins Park, Miami. In April, she will perform at Coachella for the first time.
