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Top Ten Reggae Albums 2015

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The year in reggae 2015 was a fertile one, with modern roots reggae and crucial vintage reissues keeping pace with previous years, as some exciting new breakthrough artists added vibrancy to an already resplendent body of music.

Familiar labels, including VP, Pressure Sounds and Easy Star released some of the year’s best offerings indies like Jah Youth Productions, Nowtime Sound,Hot Milk and others did a fine job at releasing strong titles.

I was happy to see many of my favorites align with veteran industry player Rob Kenner at Billboard’s Reggae Top Ten for 2015. Generally, my tastes are closer to the independent titles covered into Reggaeville and United Reggae. The former publication is polling its readers on your favorite releases of the past year (voting ends January 10). In coming days I'll be adding comments and background information about some of these releases. For now,  scan your favorite music services for clips and enjoy this cool and deadly selection.

TOP TEN REGGAE ALBUMS
1. Jah Cure – The Cure (VP)
2. Mr. Vegas – Lovers Rock & Soul (MV Music)
3. Exco Levi – Country Man (Penthouse)
4. Morgan Heritage – Strictly Roots (CTBC Music Group / EMPIRE)
5. Michah Shemiah – Original Dread (Descendant Music)
6. Protoje – Ancient Future ( March, In.Digg.Nation Collective / Overstand)
7. New Kingston – Kingston City (Easy Star)
8. Mark Wonder – Scrolls of the Levite ( Nowtime Sound)
9. Alborosie – Dub of Thrones (Greensleeves/ VP Records)
10. Million Stylez –  Revelation Time (Adonai Music)



HONORABLE MENTION
1. Keida – Ebb and Flow (Great Whyte Entertainment)
2. RC – Boss Man EP (K and R Production)
3. Gentleman’s Dub Club – The Big Smoke (Easy Star/ Ranking Records)
4. Mellow Mood – 2 the World (La Tempesta Dischi)
5. Anthony Que – Terrence Matthie (Black and Yellow Entertainment)






Music Works' Gussie Clark


TOP REISSUES 
1. Jimmy Riley – Live To Know It (Pressure Sounds)
2. Various Artists – Reggae Anthology: Gussie Clarke - From The Foundation (VP Records)
3. Mr. Spaulding – Twelve Tribe of Israel: Anthology (Hot Milk Records)
4. Black Symbol – Black Symbol (Bristol Archive)
5. Byron Lee & The Dragonaires – Uptown Top Ranking (VP)
6. Various Artists – Sherwood At The Controls: Volume 1 1979 - 1984 (On-U Sound)
7. Various Artists – Bunny 'Striker' Lee & Friends: Next Cut! Dub Plates, Rare Sides & Unreleased Cuts 
8. Various Artists – Reggae Anthology: King Jammy's Roots, Reality and Sleng Teng
9. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Easy Skanking in Boston '78 (The Island Def Jam Music Group)
10. Lynn Taitt & The Jetts and Beverlys All Stars – Hot & Rich Rocksteady (tie) / Hopeton Lewis – Take It Easy With The Rock Steady Beat (Dub Store)


BREAKOUT ARTISTS AND DEBUT ALBUMS
1. Jah Sun & House of Riddim – New Paradigm (House of Riddim)
2. Rampalion – Inside The Kete Heart (Drug Recordings / VPAL Music)
3. Hot Rain – It Crazy But It Life (We Dem People)
4. E.N Young - Live Love Stay Up (Roots Musician Records)
5. Humble Servant Band – Greatest Gift ( One Way Records & Jah Youth Productions)
6. Earth Beat Movement – Right Road (Earth Beat Movement)
7. Mixed Culture – Movement In Roots (New World Sounds & Jah Youth Productions)
8. Blend Mishkin & Roots Evolution – Survival of the Fittest (Nice Up!)
9. Dubbest – Light Flashes (Dubbest)
10.  Lion D – Heartical Soul ( Bizzarri Records Srl)



Label Profile: Foundation Channel

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Labels We Love: Foundation Channel
From ForwardEver's article in XLR8R Magazine
For this imprint’s roster of music makers, it all begins with dub. 

Some labels are intrinsically motivated by a mission. For the Portland- and Detroit-based Foundation Channel, that quest is to preserve and promote electronic music’s dub roots. They go at it with the zeal of faith healers anointing listeners with material drawing from original roots-reggae instrumentation and vocals, augmented with both analog and digital dub mixing techniques. They’ve christened their eclectic brand of bass music “subwise,” and have released compilations and EPs devoted to expanding on their sonic palette.
In 2012, label co-founder Evan Glicker, who records as Satta Don Dada, began reaching out to his dub producer peers to connect and trade music. But as the Detroit native’s contact list grew, his focus turned to assembling a compilation that would showcase fresh talent representing the kind of earthy, echo-drenched sounds he favored, and reintroduce reggae DNA into bass music’s increasingly aggressive, alien structure. At the time, mainstream “brostep” had reached a popular apex in the U.S.—and Glicker aimed to counter the trend.
Glicker contacted his eventual label partner, Portland resident Douglas Keeney (a.k.a. Modi Bardo),to contribute a track. At the time, Keeney had been working for producer DZ’s Badman Press label, and knew the ins and outs of the music business. Keeney also had a deep appreciation for all things dub, so joining Foundation Channel’s missionary activities made perfect sense. “We were both into dubstep and slow-and-low reggae-influenced bass music,” Keeney explains. “At the time, the reggae sound [in dubstep] was on its way out.”

Originally planned as a series of casual posts to Soundcloud, the project became a serious venture after the label secured tracks from U.K. talents DJ Madd and Cotti, plus American heavies Roommate, Djunya, Matty G and Dubsworth. Foundation Channel Volume 1 was released July 2013. Proceeds from the collection were donated to Street Child Africa, a conscious move to connect the label’s sounds to greater social issues. “We wanted to do the compilation as a charity-based project,” says Glicker. “The idea was to get the general gist of the label out there and tie it in with something deeper, to give back to something foundational as well.”
“Whether it’s a future-sounding track, or an expansion on the remix concept, the roots [of what we do] are always in dub.”
Things moved fast from there with the Foundation Channel Remixes collection hitting the streets at the start of 2015, followed by several new EPs, albums and remixes. Contributing to their rapid output was Glicker and Keeney’s mutual agreement on the label’s core sound and where they want to take it. Both share the view that electronic music and remix culture have their origins in dub; the Jamaican music innovation is the centerpiece for all their releases. “All our releases and everyone we sign to the label has that same idea,” says Keeney. “Whether it’s a future-sounding track, or an expansion on the remix concept, the roots [of what we do] are always in dub.”
From that base, Foundation Channel’s releases expand into diverse electronic styles, from Golden Eye’s G-funk-tinged dubstep to Tusk One’s ethereal, minimalist tracks, to Glicker and Keeney’s own low-end bass work. As Keeney sees it, although the label was set up to pay homage to everything dub, they want to keep things open to experimentation. Recently, the label has started working closer with vocalists, including Canada’s Collinjahand Jamaica’s Carlton Livingston, to name a few.
“We really want to work with the originators,” explains Keeney. “In fact, Golden Eye and myself recently just put a free track on Soundcloud called “Run Dem” featuring Ranking Joe.” A veteran of Jamaican sound systems like Ray Symbolic Hi-Fi since the ’70s, Ranking Joe lent his distinctive toasting style to the track. Glicker says the label is exploring releases with other original Jamaican icons, including Horace Andy, but they’re just as motivated to feature newer vocal talents. “We have a track that Doug made with Canada’s Clinton Slywe’re excited about and hoping to get out in the new year,” says Glicker. “I had a track in works with U.K. singer Rod Azlan, but he’s just so busy right now that it will be a while before that one comes out.”
The pair have been devoting so much energy to collaborative projects and EPs by other artists that they haven’t had time to execute their own releases recently. They’re looking to change that soon. “I would like to see a Modi and Satta album in 2016,” Keeney says. “We have a lot of tracks started, so we’re definitely moving in that direction. Ultimately, our aim is to keep exploring within in our own sound—and see how far we can take it.”
Building The Foundation: Key Releases

Golden Eye Mutual EP
The EP sees brooding reggae-fueled dubstep and brassy West Coast G-funk spread over four tracks, each revealing a varied take on the formula. “Hustlin’ and “Mutual Dub” are clean, synth-lead numbers that sound like an exquisitely stoned Dr. Dre making dubstep.”Fully Loaded” has a vintage Dub Police or Tempa quality to it, while “Saturate” is jazz chillstep reminiscent of Silkie’s R&B-tinged work. Keeney describes Golden Eye as a “really interesting guy” who lives off the grid, deep in the Northern California wilderness. “He’s got a serious analog studio with tape machines, vintage EQ units and stuff he’s built from kits,” he says, noting that the artist’s style is a culmination of things he grew up with: West Coast gangster music and reggae. “He’s got a really
clear, clean sound that’s still dirty at the same time, Keeney describes. “It has that analog stink on it.”
Professor Stone Bush Dubs (The Ital Collection)
Spatial, minimal dub, with live and electronic instrumentation from a prolific American producer. Think Deadbeat remixing On-U Sound label.
Tusk One Rite of Passage EPTusk One explores expansive foreign territories on sparse, moody bass tracks that blend in intricate minimal beats, ethnic percussion and atmospheric field recordings. If electronic experimentalists Muslimgauze or Pole were remixed by Digital Mystikz it might sounds like this. Tusk started his music endeavors under the guise DJ Porkchop. Keeney remembers hearing a set in ‘09 while he was “quite medicated”. “He went from super-deep dubwise to artists like Martyn and 2562, to really grimey garage, to 8-bit, to jungle-meets-world-meets-dub stuff,” Keeney recalls. “He blew my mind. I connected with him and his sound had developed a lot; it’s not restricted to any tempo. It sounds like he’s drawing from Rhythm & Sound, Basic Channel to heavier dubstep or footwork sounds. He’s an exciting addition to our family.”
Satta Don Dada & Modi Bardo The Coolie Rockers EP
Dub samples get chopped, edited and radically reshaped on this essential Foundation Channel release. Imagine snippets of King Tubby reel–to-reel tapes fed into a glitchy sampler. Add echo and mix. The result is fresh take on original roots dub that captures the original’s fervent spirit and adds its own futurist twist. Label cofounders Glicker and Keeney serve various original mixes while Professor Stone, Matt Green and Golden Eye add prodigious versions of their own.

Carlton Livingston & Modi Bardo “Country Livin'”
This forthcoming track features Jamaican singer Carlton Livingston, left, whose 1983 track “100 Weight of Collie Weed” is an all time ganja-smokers classic. Livingston’s soft vocals add a gentle counterpoint to Modi Bardo’s weighty, reggae-infused bass backdrop. Glicker connected with the reggae icon via Twitter, sent over some of Doug’s tracks to the now Brooklyn-based artist and the tune quickly came together. Keeney notes that when Satta eventually met Carlton in Brooklyn to shoot a video, the artists generously introduced him to the local reggae community, offered tips on distribution, and opened his network to the label.
Modi Bardo & Collinjah “Ganja Ting”This upcoming track features Jamaica-born and Canada-based singer Collinjah, right. Keeney describes him as a versatile artist with a command of dancehall lyrics, uplifting roots vocals and dub chanting. “The work we’ve done with him sounds explosive,” Keeney enthuses. “He really gets both the dub aesthetic and hip-hop and is able to join them. Ultimately dub and electronic is where we started with the label, but we’re also stretching out,” say Keeney who adds that the collaboration see his own early-90s hip-hop production ideas mixed with Collinjah dancehall and dub background. “It was just what naturally happened when we mixed our sounds.”
Follow Foundation Channel on the label’s blog, hear the tunes at Soundcloud; and buy the music via Bandcamp.

Get Ready to Rocksteady on Record Store Day!

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Get ready to rocksteady! The soulful Jamaican music style sees its 50th anniversary celebrated with a commemorative vinyl 7" box set available on Record Store Day, April 16, 2016.

The collection on 17 North Parade Records (VP Record's archive imprint) features tracks by The Gaylads (pictured left) Hopeton Lewis, Errol Dunklrey,The Heptones, The Paragons,The Ethiopians, The Melodians and more.

The music that followed Jamaican's speedy ska craze famously arrived one very hot summer in 1966 when audiences needed a slower-tempo music to groove to. Many point to Hopeton Lewis' "Take It Easy" as the first rocksteady song, but many can stake a claim as developing soul-drenched, American R&B-influenced genre.

The 14-track, seven-disc vinyl package includes postcards, stickers and other memorabilia in addition to the sought-after tracks. The label will also issues a broader 20-song CD collection for International Reggae Day in July. The set includes versions of songs that haven't easily been available on vinyl for years.

The label describes rocksteady as a music style that "used elements of rhythm and blues (R&B), jazz, ska as well as African and Latin American drumming, [and] was a successor of ska and precursor to reggae."

Indeed, rocksteady has had an enduring legacy, spawning new bands like Hepcat, The Aggrolites and others, movies and even club nights such as San Francisco's popular Festival 68.

Ska Supergroup Release New Single

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True to their name, Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra is both a West Coast-based ensemble and combine hearty 1930s/40s big band jazz touches with lively Jamaican ska arrangements. Their new EP is available now as a limited vinyl release and digital download from Rare Breed Recordings.

WSTSO's cover of Derrick Harriott's "Monkey Ska" features Greg Lee and Alex Desert of Hepcat, while their remake of The Wailers' "Love and Affection" features LA revivalists The Expanders.

The full orchestra consists of jazz musicians who currently perform with the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Luckman Jazz Orchestra, Bob Mintzer’s Big Band, and The Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Dennis Brown: The Prophet Rides Again On Tribute Album

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Freddie McGregor, Maxi Priest, Romain Virgo, Raging Fyah, Jah9, Christopher Ellis, The Green, Katchafire and Jah Cure are just a few of the top flight artists that will put reggae's Crown Prince, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, back in the spotlight.

We Remember Dennis Brown drops June 3 on VP Records and will highlight the Jamaican singer's storied career. Although he he passed away in 1999 (age 42), Brown was a major influence on several generations of artists.

Early in his career he found success covering American R&B hits; his mid-career found him equally successful in roots and especially lovers rock idioms, and toward the end he successfully scored hits in the dancehall arena.

He worked with legendary producers, from Joe Gibbs and Niney The Observer, through GussieClarke and King Jammy. In many ways Brown was second only to Bob Marley in his overall impact on reggae, hence his title as it's Crown Prince.

Through rub-a-dub anthems like "Your Love Got A Hold On Me" (covered by Sanchez), or thoughtful conscious numbers like "Wolves and Leopards" (redone by Richie Spice), you get a sense of the scope of the man's work. It was immense and impactful: He rejected violence with "I Don't Want to Be No General," and created uplifting spiritual anthems ("To The Foundation") that receive heartfelt deejay spins to this day.

Few artists receive the posthumous acclaim that Brown has, and in his case, it's more than worthy and warranted.

TRACK LISTING:


  1. Iba Mahr, Jesse Royal, Keznamdi, Chronixx, Exco Levi, Kelissa, Jahmiel, Kabaka Pyramid & Rockaz Elements - I Need Your Love (Rasta Children)
  2. Bushman - Don't Want To Be No General
  3. The Green -  Promised Land
  4. Raging Fyah - Milk and Honey
  5. Christopher Ellis - Created By The Father
  6. Mutabaruka & Marla Brown - Words of Wisdom
  7. Chino - Melting Pot
  8. Yahsha - The Existence Of Jah
  9. Jamelody-  Halfway Up, Halfway Down
  10. Freddie McGregor - Little Village
  11. Mykal Rose - Easy Take It Easy
  12. Jah9 - Bloody City
  13. Richie Spice - Wolves and Leopards
  14. Shuga - Black Liberation
  15. VP Hit Team - To The Foundation
  16. Romain Virgo - Caress Me
  17. Marsha Ambrosius - Have You Ever
  18. No Maddz - Rocking Time 
  19. Maxi Preist - Love Me Always 
  20. Jamelody & Ikaya - Love Has Found Its Way
  21. Sanchez - Your Love Got A Hold On Me
  22. Katchafire - If I Had The World
  23. Etana - Should I
  24. Jah Cure - Ghetto Girl
  25. Christopher Martin - Baby Don't Do It
  26. Gyptian - How Can I
  27. Ikaya - For You
  28. Dalton Harris - No More Will I Roam
  29. Jah Vinci - Money in My Pocket
  30. VP Hit Team - Silhouette

Bunny Wailer: Still A Blackheart Man - From NPR

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Bunny Wailer: Still A Blackheart Man, story on NPR.

Born Neville Livingston, Bunny is the last living original member of the legendary reggae group The Wailers, which he founded along with Peter Tosh and Bob Marley in the early 1960s.

From his signature composition "Rastaman Chant" to other Wailers classics, and a few new songs as well, Bunny Wailer delivered a powerful trip down memory lane that night, and showed that he's still very much in the reggae game. So what made him tour after all these years?

"Well, the time was calling, you know," he says. "It's a long time I haven't been out, and the fans are calling. The promoters are calling. So what do I do?"

That night in New York, he said he was enjoying the tour so far, despite a few hiccups: "I got little flu. You know you come out sometimes and the weather changes, but I'm getting over that."

This was his first U.S. tour in more than 20 years, though he did have to cancel the last few shows due to illness. The tour was billed as a 40th anniversary celebration of Blackheart Man, his first solo album, released just after he and Peter Tosh left the Wailers.

"Well, the blackheart man is something that is related to our culture, custom and practice," he explains. "There was a kind of nickname that was given to the Rastaman: the blackheart man. Parents used to tell us, 'You be careful where you go. Watch out for the blackheart man.' So we grew up with the blackheart man being that kind of a challenge. Where we are concerned, we still maintain the order of the blackheart man."

As a kid, Bunny was clearly unimpressed by warnings to stay away from Rastas.

"I've been a blackheart man since four years of age," he says. "I used to play in the gullies, and one day we were there playing, and we just saw a foot come out of a manhole — just a foot. And every man, every youth, run from the scene. And when he came out, he had a flour bag shirt. ... He looked at me and said, 'So why you don't run?' I said, 'For what?' And I became a Rastaman from that day. From then on until now, my dreadlocks touch the ground when I stand."

Listening back to early Wailers records like Burnin' and Catch a Fire, you can't miss the vocal chemistry these guys had, with Bunny taking the high tenor voice.

"Bob, Peter and myself, we are totally responsible for the Wailers sound, and what the Wailers brought to the world, and left us a legacy," he says. "The thing about the Wailers is that we are always rehearsing. Always! Until we parted."

All these years on, Bunny Wailer has no plans to retire. In 2013, he released an album called Reincarnated Souls with 50 tracks. They were all new songs, full of rebel politics and old-time Rastafarian religion, set to classic ska, rocksteady and reggae beats.

Here the rest on NPR or below via the player.

Protoje Goes Royalty Free

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Modern roots artist Protoje continues to push things forward with innovative lyrics and crisp production that draws on both one-drop reggae traditions and everything from contemporary R&B to electronic music. Enjoy this sample-heavy set of free downloads from one of reggae's progressive pioneers.







Jah9's New Video for "Humble Mi"

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Rising roots empress and devoted yoga practicioner Jah9's new video for "Humble Mi" (directed by Ras Kassa) is out now. Her sophomore album 9 does not disappoint; its thoroughly steeped in conscious messages, organic and retro-roots flavored riddims and 9's searing, beautiful vocals. Her style is poetic, elegant and educating. See and hear more below.




Roots from All Nations

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Roots reggae music continues to thrive and evolve from all different corners of the planet.

From Jamaica, Chronixx (pictured left) embarks on a major tour, supported by his comrades in the reggae revival movement,  Jah 9, Jesse Royal, Kelissa, Mr. Williamz and Exco Levi. The Chronology Tour touches down across the entire United States from March through April.

From France comes Conquering Sound (via Irie Ites distribution) latest riddim set -- a tribute to the late Yabby You, and this one does the "Jesus Dread" justice with a stellar troupe of artists and a modern take on the "Deliver Me From My Enemies" track that Yabby originally recorded.






Hear the My Enemies Riddim - Megamix below.
Tracklist :
1 - SPECTACULAR – Jah Rise 0.00
2 - LION D – Deh Yah 1.03
3 - DJANTA – Steppin’in 1.50
4 - LMK – Some A Dem 2.46
5 - LUTAN FYAH – Modern Day Traitors 3.36
6 - SIR JEAN – Together We Stronger 4.30



British band Gentleman's Dub Club have a packed touring schedule ahead in 2017 following their breakthrough album The Big Smoke. Now signed to US label Easy Star, GDC will release Dubtopia on April 7. The Leeds band is made up of many well-rounded musicians specializing in every step of the composition process ensuring every detail of the band’s vision is seen through from the rehearsal room down to the mixing board. Gentleman’s Dub Club is a nine-member group including Jonathan Scratchley (vocals), Tommy Evans (drums), Luke Allwood (Keys), Nick Tyson (guitar), Toby Davies (bass, synth), Niall Lavelle (percussion), Matt Roberts (trumpet), Kieren Gallagher (sax), and Harry Devenish (sound). Listen below and grab the free download from SoundCloud.


Jamaica and Slovakia link up via the Jah Ova Evil collective's new track and forthcoming album, "Forever Judah," which features up-and-coming female singjay Hempress Sativa.

Jamaica's Jah Ova Evil was originally the artist name of it's founding member  J.O.E a.k.a. Alty George Nunes, and has now evolved into a collective united around strong and committed human values; their conscious music delivers messages of love, equality and solidarity. They aspire to a world where poverty no longer exists and where everyone lives in harmony with their environment.

Jah Ova Evil is comprised of the Nunes family, including twins The Gideon (Aijah Nunes) and Selah (Jahnoi Nunes).

This collective is well known very involved in the cultural life of Kingston and organizes weekly events during which young and old artists gather and share in reggae music collaborations.

Jah Ova Evil collective's music has contributed to the birth of the reggae revival trend as well as the merging with jazz, soul, hip-hop and electronic music.

This album is produced by Batelier Records, a young reggae music label based in Slovakia who were drawn to work with Jah Ova Evil collective because of their common values: "We believe in the potential of these artists who work together in order to influence our world!", "Our main effort is to support artists and producers who are struggling to bring those vibes to the people" said Renaud Devaliere, Founder of Batelier Records.





Chronixx's Tiny Desk Concert Showcase's His Music's Maturity

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Watch young roots sensation Chronixx and his band, Zinc Fence Redemption light it up at the offices of National Public Radio with this Tiny Desk Concert -- a live set in the office of NPR Music.

Set List:
"Skankin' Sweet"
"Majesty"
"Spanish Town Rockin'"

Mortimer's new video "Careful" via Easy Star

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Following on successful songs "Warning” (2015), “Ganja Train” (2016) and “This Feeling” (2017), roots reggae vocalist Mortimer is back with his latest track produced by Winta James (producer of Protoje and many successful riddims). 

"Careful" is a brooding, dubby track with cautionary lyrics that recall Jamaica's deep roots traditions (Johnny Clarke, Cultural Roots, Viceroys, Wailing Souls etc.).  Check the video below and album soon come!





Koffee's Serves Up a Hot Piece of "Toast"

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18-year-old Jamaican native Mikayla "Koffee" Simpson, releases her debut 
single "Toast" on Columbia Records. Produced by Walshy Fire of Major Lazer and iZyBeats,
the new track arrives as an ode to everything Koffee is thankful for in her life:
her family and friends and the "blessings" that surround her on a daily basis. The
song's colorful accompanying visual is directed by Xavier Damase and offers a candid
first look at Koffee's world, with cameos from Chronixx and Protoje, told through
the lively streets of her hometown.

Born in Spanish Town, just outside of Kingston, Jamaica, Koffee began writing lyrics
in her bedroom having been inspired by the likes of reggae legends Protoje and Supercat.

In Janurary 2018, reggae hero Coco Tea brought Koffee onto the stage at Rebel Salute;
her idol Protoje also asked her to perform with him, while Grammy-nominated Chronixx,
one of Jamaica's biggest contemporary reggae stars and another huge inspiration,
invited Koffee to join him on Seani B and Mistajam's recent BBC 1Xtra shows broadcast
from Tough Gong Studios.

Although small in stature and disarmingly unassuming, Koffee's modesty -- and height
-- belies huge amounts of talent. The 5'0, self-described "sing-jay-guitarist" is
one of the most exciting, forward-thinking, globally-focused teenage talents to 
emerge this year.
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