Koffee’s ‘Gifted’ driven by passion, not Grammys

Koffee created history in 2020 by becoming the first woman and youngest person to win a Grammy in the Best Reggae Album category for her EP, Rapture. But Koffee isn't thinking about winning the prestigious award for her 10-track debut album, Gifted.

"I don't know, mi just kinda feel like having Grammys on your mind is a little bit detrimental just for any artiste," Koffee told THE STAR. "The more creative and kinda -- mi nuh waan throw around the word organic -- but the more you do it from your heart, when you think about stuff like that, it kinda compromises the passion and just your purpose in a sense, (and) the message you're trying to push so I didn't want that to get in the way."

She continued: "I feel like I've also accomplished that before and when you talk bout worth and just think of life and your plans, what your expectations are, things you'd like to experience, mi nuh know how much a Grammy kinda adds to that unless yuh just waan people fi know seh yeah, yuh can do the thing so somebody give you a Grammy. But in the end, mi think it really comes down to the passion and that's what mi try work on."

Koffee spoke following an Amazon Music-powered private performance of the album tracks at Craighton Estate, St Andrew, on Saturday. The set, slated for release on March 25, is free from genre jails and pays homage to her mother and overall journey. She also uses her voice on Gifted to speak out against societal ills with personal, uplifting mantras for youth. Addressing the audience, Koffee said people can often forget their purpose with fame, but said she is not losing sight of her mission to be a positive voice for youth.

"When I just started writing, I was like 14, in third form, and I remember a lot of my peers weren't really listening to a lot of conscious music and I discovered it in a way, listening to Sizzla, Protoje, and this is me just discovering these guys and kinda falling in love with their message and the way they sing it," she said.

"For me, I felt like that was important for me inna my personal growth and also in my career cause literally, that kind of positive music is what made me, in a sense, and I think there's something to be gained from it. And yeah, sometimes my peers don't always get it and mi nuh waan fi preach either, but I want to present it and provide it so if dem ever want, it's there to listen to."