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In 2018, 17-year-old Reggae singer Koffee (AKA Mikayla Victoria Simmons), known for her captivating blend of reggae, dancehall, and R&B, burst onto the music scene like a supernova. And a Supernova she was.
Taking time from his performance to highlight the newly minted artist Koffee, Reggae extraordinaire Cocoa Tea brought Koffee on stage and introduced her to thunderous applause at the 2018 Rebel Salute concert.
The crowd’s love and cheers for her were like a warm embrace, a testament to her growing popularity.
She was accepted like a hot cup of Morning Joe on a winter’s day. On that day, Koffee, the artist, was born. Koffee’s modest yet confident stage presence radiated a unique blend of confidence and innocence, a sight that inspired many
Cocoa Tea Dead @ 65
Although Koffee released her debut single, “Burning,” in 2017, she never brewed until Cocoa Tea’s introduction at the 2018 Rebel Salute. On March 11, 2025, Cocoa Tea died from a cardiac arrest at the age of 65.
When Cocoa brought her on, she performed another one of her hit singles, “Raggamuffin.” In the song, the rapper told her audience, “2030 we still a dweet.” By 2022, the hot Koffee had fizzled and became cold. Koffee fell short of her 2030 prediction of ruling the top of the charts.
Something Happened Along The Way.
In 2017-2019, several female recording artists (Sevana, Jaz Elise, Lila Ikè and, Naomi Cowan, Shenseea) were bubbling up on the Jamaica music scene. Koffee floated to the top of the pot and the charts. Of the five above-mentioned artists, Koffee’s actual competition was Shenseea. Shenseea brimmed with talent and was adept at selling herself as a sexpo and a Thirst Trap.
Where bi-sexuality won the day for Shenseea, masculinity failed Koffee. Shenseea sold talent with sex, while Koffee sold androgyny and uncertainty. Sex won.
The Jamaican culture could not sustain the young singer’s career built on rumors of her alleged sexual proclivities for same-sex relationships.
And Koffee did nothing to dispel the talk of the town.
Adding to Koffee’s cloak-and-dagger mysterious social life, her appearance in a music video with British mega-talent Sam Smith, frolicking in a gay nightclub, helped to seal her fledgling musical fate.
About 4.5 percent of the population is born gay, yet Jamaica’s female music recording artists run about 60 percent. Is that an illustration sample of Jamaica’s population? Or some artists are over-sampled to get an RCA Records deal? Art imitates life.
Life imitates art. What percentage of the male population in Jamaica is gay but remains “in the closet” because of cultural norms?
Are gay male Jamaican Reggae artists with ‘dreads’ (long flowing hair) an under-sampled demographic in the music industry? The answer is a resounding yes.
And Then Came COVID-19.
As Koffee learned how to control her sea legs and master the stage, COVID-19 cleared the stage. Most concertgoers opted to stay home and get entertained by Netflix and the Internet. When Columbia Records UK signed Koffee, her career got a big boost.
The rush release of Koffee’s debut EP “Rapture,” containing five songs, put her in the runnings for a Grammy win in 2019. “On 13 November 2019, Koffee was announced as an opening act for British pop singer Harry Styles on select dates of the North American leg of his 2020 Love On Tour.” — Wikipedia
Reggae Singer Sevana Trying To Imitate Diana Ross But With Less Class
Meanwhile, talent scouts selected Koffee’s contemporaries, Lila Ike and Sevana, to sign with RCA Records. Records sales were negligible for both Ike and Sevana. To boost record sales and garnish attention, Lila Ike announced that a Black man raped her and that she was a lesbian.
The Oprah Winfrey Color Purple story — paint Black men as monsters, and we’ll make you rich. It hasn’t worked; while Lila Ike does possess some talent, she lacks grace, charm, and magnetism. Mediocre Auto-Tune performer Jada Kindom also announced that she was a lesbian. She’s still waiting for RAC Victor to take the bait.
After all, it catapulted Oprah to billionaire status. Sevana’s album cover featured a near-naked Sevana—a Diana Ross knock-off from the 1970s. It worked for Diana Ross because a naked star was a rarity back then.
Unfortunately for Sevana, 90% of recording artists run around naked today. She’s a day late and a dollar short. Lela Ike and Sevana are very talented vocalists. However, they choose to sell other than talent. A naked ass on an album cover has lost its shock value and appeal. It gives off an aura of a dime-a-dozen sexcapede (see your doctor) drugstore event.
One doesn’t have to go to the strip joint and pay to view pornography anymore. It’s an every event. It has taken over the gym and on every street corner.
Every hoe in the gym videoing themselves, selling the video to some 400 lbs bloke sitting in his mama’s basement. Instead of using his money to get a gym membership. Anyhow, I digress.
t speaks volumes when foreign artists believe that the only way to break into America’s music industry is to declare yourself as a lesbian. They are common Hoes.
They will kill their family and eat their young. Twenty-two percent talent “Jada Kingdom” also declares herself a lesbian, looking for an American record deal. RCA, stop rewarding these clowns.
Meanwhile, talent scouts selected Koffee’s contemporaries, Lela Ike and Sevana, to sign with RCA Records. Records sales were negligible for both Ike and Sevana. To boost record sales and garnish attention Lela Ike announced that a Black man raped her and that she was lesbian.
Some people like the Oprah Winfrey Color Purple story. After all, it catapulted Oprah to billionaire status. Sevana’s album cover featured a near-naked Sevana—a Diana Ross knock-off from the 1970s.
It worked for Diana because a naked star was a rarity back then—aside from Tarzan, Jane, and Hugh Hefner’s Centerfolds. Unfortunately for Sevana, 90% of recording artists run around naked today—a day late and a dollar short. Naked ass is cheap. My recommendation is to try the Only Fans club.
There were rumors of Koffee collaborating with Rihanna, but the collaboration never materialized. Supposedly, Rihanna did not want to give Koffee that much publicity. She kept her feminine look while Koffee went androgynous.
Androgyny worked for Prince, but Prince was super talented. It worked for Tracy Chapman, but Chapman’s audience reach was wider; she was more gifted and born in America. Tracy Chapman has no language barrier to overcome. “She’s Got A Fast Car.”
“Think globally, but act locally.”
It is crucial to be forward-thinking but not a forward person. “Be kind to everyone you meet because each carries his heavy burden…” Plato.
Embrace the three Constants: Change, Justice, and Rightness.
The thought police are busy at work trying to suppress free speech. If allowed their march to madness, they will arrest your very thoughts.
Free ‘Speech is thy Lord.’
