Jan. 27, 2020 | Sidney Madden — “It’s been a fairly short musical journey and we have seen fairly much success,” Koffee told the NPR Music offices between songs during her Tiny Desk set. Flashing her braces with each grin, Jamaica’s 19-year old tour de force wasn’t exaggerating. Her debut EP, Rapture, just won a 2020 Grammy for Best Reggae Album, making her the first woman and the youngest artist to ever win in the category. It comes just two years after her tribute song to sprinter, eight-time Gold Medalist and fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt went viral online. Koffee has sustained a steady upwards momentum since then, finding her footing on festival stages and collaborating with others outside her genre. (Her latest single, “W” features Atlanta rapper, Gunna.)
Above all, what makes Koffee so refreshing is that she centers her music around faith, resilience and gratitude. She has a new perspective to add to the pantheon of mostly male reggae greats and it’s resonating with a new generation that’s just getting hip to the iconic sounds. As her Tiny Desk performance shows, Koffee makes the best of her surroundings, channeling the day’s buzzy energy into a balancing act of youthful heart and old-pro precision, proving why she has become one of the most invigorating voices in reggae.
“I want to thank everybody who’s been involved,” Koffee told the crowd halfway during her show. “You have now become a part of my journey.”
SET LIST
“Raggamuffin”
“Rapture”
“Toast”
“W”
MUSICIANS
Koffee: vocals; Stephen Asamoah-Duah: drums; Stephen Forbes: percussion; Nana Pokes: bass; David Melodee: keys; Thomas Broussard: guitar; Zhayna France: vocals; Shanice Drysdale: vocals
CREDITS
Producers: Abby O’Neill, Sidney Madden, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative director: Bob Boilen; Audio engineer: Josh Rogosin; Editor: Maia Stern; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Jack Corbett, Kara Frame, CJ Riculan; Associate producer: Bobby Carter; Executive producer: Lauren Onkey; VP, programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Laura Beltran Villamizar
We received thousands of entries to this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, our annual search for the next great undiscovered artist to play a Tiny Desk concert. Set your reminder to join us for Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf LIVE on Thursdays at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT to get a sneak peek into our judges’ favorite entries before we reveal the 2021 Contest winner. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy2PCKGkKRVZjSRYrnesjW4YwSyUtJyJy
People who listen to NPR think they know something.
They are new to the fact that the whole cool music part comes from the few good people on earth that want them to have all the cool music stuff and coincidentally at the same time tell the listener about politics, the economy and cultural nuance. Listeners are all brainwashed by people with dangerous agendas that know music is a way to attract hippies who dont know about real subjects
We received thousands of entries to this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, our annual search for the next great undiscovered artist to play a Tiny Desk concert. Set your reminder to join us for Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf LIVE on Thursdays at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT to get a sneak peek into our judges’ favorite entries before we reveal the 2021 Contest winner. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy2PCKGkKRVZjSRYrnesjW4YwSyUtJyJy
Yinka
the best ever.PURA VIDA
She’s such a light ✨
Love this young lady. So talented
First time hearing Koffee. Trully thankfull. Amazing music.❤
GUAAAAOOO
Rspect!
People who listen to NPR think they know something.
They are new to the fact that the whole cool music part comes from the few good people on earth that want them to have all the cool music stuff and coincidentally at the same time tell the listener about politics, the economy and cultural nuance.
Listeners are all brainwashed by people with dangerous agendas that know music is a way to attract hippies who dont know about real subjects
Koffee is godly
i love you❤❤❤❤❤❤
Reggae music… only natural and pure music. Word.. sound…and power!
Real artist
Grammy kid needs a colors performance
BASS TONE IS JUST UGHHHHH DELICIOUS…..BAND ON FIRE
SUPER Professional and so young!
Koffee breath control is INSANE! Me just love har!!!
TE AMO MUY FUERTE !!!….10/10
this sounds so much better now.
Koffeee, background r just wooow
First time listening to this beautiful musician called Koffee, I'm already liking her, big love from Nigeria
Wow! Sooooo great vibe! i'm so impressed, never seen this great artist before! Thank you thank you thank you!
They had the most fun
One More Try !!!!!!!! I'm OK !!!!!!!!!!
She Doesn't Hypontise Nobody !!!!!!!!! But She Keeps Trying !!!!!!!!!!!!
Jamaïca is Drawning ……. Idiots !!!!!!!!!!!
Koffee is the best :O
Love from Nigeria
oti da ju mehn
you're too good
Tremenda artista, admiración total que Dios le de vida para seguir disfrutando su música
Cant stop watching!
The fact that she didn't even brag that the W song was ft Gunna she so humble
Respect from Brazil
❤
Bunch of Coconuts Who don't know the Word CBD at All !!!!!!!!!!!!
Toast hits SO hard. I heard it completely on accident on Pandora like a year ago and had such a hard time finding it again until now
My idol <33333
Nice Double Times