Mikayla Simpson, better known as Koffee, has taken the reggae and dancehall world by storm with her fresh sound, uplifting lyrics, and undeniable talent. Hailing from Spanish Town, Jamaica, Koffee has become a beacon of modern reggae, seamlessly blending traditional elements with contemporary influences.
Koffee Biography
Koffee acquired her stage name after ordering coffee on a scorching hot day when everyone else was drinking soda.
She started singing at a tender age since her mother was an occasional actress and social worker at a health facility. Koffee’s early musical influences came from her mother’s religious background.
Koffee became popular after posting a video of herself singing on Instagram. She released her first single, “Legend,” in 2017 with just her voice and an acoustic guitar. The song, a dedication to Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, went viral on Instagram. After Bolt uploaded it on his own account. Koffe’s lyrics are inspired by her awareness of brutality and societal problems. She witnessed it as a child. She acknowledged Supercat and Giggs as musical influences in addition to Protoje and Chronixx.
Her big break came in 2018 with the release of Toast, an infectious track celebrating gratitude and success. The song, produced by Walshy Fire of Major Lazer, became an international hit, earning praise from artists like Rihanna and Barack Obama, who featured it on his summer playlist.
Following that was “Burning,” her rendition of Upsetta Records’ Ouji Riddim (popularized by Jamaican singers Busy Signal and Luciano). “Burning” merged out of the desire to motivate herself after graduating from Ardenne High School and not being accepted into post-secondary Sixth Form. In June, she topped The Foundation Radio Network’s Top 30 Reggae Chart, which covers New York City and South Florida, for three weeks.
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Cocoa Tea, a Jamaican reggae/dancehall singer, composer, and DJ, presented her on stage at the 2018 Rebel Salute and Rototom Sunsplash festivals in Jamaica and Spain, respectively. Protoje invited her to join him on stage. Chronixx persuaded her to join him on a BBC Radio 1Xtra broadcast and Alexandra Palace. She featured on the BBC Music launch alongside Chronixx.
Koffee Age/Mother
Koffee is 24 years old as of 2024. Born on 16 February 2000 in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Koffee was raised by her hard-working mother, Jo Anne Williams, in Spanish Town, just outside of Kingston, Jamaica. Her father left for New York when she was an infant. “Mummy struggled so I wouldn’t have to,” Koffee recalls. Koffee’s mother, an occasional actor who works for the Ministry of Health and provides young people with sex education and body positivity presentations, shielded her daughter from much of the violence that ravaged their town.
Education
She graduated from Ardenne High School in Kingston, Jamaica, though she didn’t manage to get to sixth form.
Koffee Music Awards
She signed and recorded her EP, Rapture, with the record label, Columbia Records UK, in 2018. Her album Rapture won the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album.
Koffee made history in 2020 when her debut EP, Rapture, won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, making her the youngest and first female artist to win in the category. This milestone cemented her status as one of reggae’s brightest young stars.
Following her Grammy win, Koffee continued to evolve her sound with songs like Lockdown, which became an anthem during the COVID-19 pandemic, and West Indies, a celebration of Caribbean culture. Her debut full-length album, Gifted (2022), further showcased her versatility, fusing reggae, dancehall, afrobeats, and hip-hop influences.
Koffee’s music is characterised by positive messages, energetic rhythms, and a fusion of reggae, dancehall, and contemporary sounds. Unlike many of her dancehall counterparts, she avoids explicit content, choosing instead to spread messages of hope, unity, and perseverance.
Her success has paved the way for a new generation of artists, proving that reggae remains a powerful and evolving genre on the global stage.