| Gifted | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 25 March 2022 | |||
| Length | 28:35 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Koffee chronology | ||||
| ||||
Gifted is the debut studio album by Jamaican reggae singer Koffee. It was released on 25 March 2022 by Promised Land Recordings and Columbia Records. [1]
Gifted debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard Reggae Albums chart with 3,500 album-equivalent units. The album has sold 188,000 units as of April 2022. [2]
The album was preceded by the single "Lockdown", a commentary on the COVID-19 pandemic released in the summer of 2020. [3] Many of the album's lyrics focus on themes of perseverance and overcoming struggles. [4] Gifted expands beyond the dancehall reggae of Koffee's debut EP Rapture (2019), into roots reggae, pop, and R&B influences. [3] [5] [6] The album's lyrics include homages to influential reggae musicians and Jamaican culture, and includes a prominent sample from "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley. [4]
The album received generally favorable reviews from critics, often due to its positive lyrical attitude. Pitchfork praised the album as "Breezy, uplifting, and never forced" with a "a proud and pure undertone" to Koffee's performances. [3] NME praised Koffee's "effortless vocals, smart lyricism and obvious ability to craft new bangers". [7] Rolling Stone praised the album as "a portrait of a brilliant young artist keenly aware of the miracles that lift her up". [5] Medium noted that the album's title is a valid description of Koffee's abilities, and concluded that the album "fires on all cylinders" with a "sunny and multifaceted" sound, but at just 28 minutes it is too short to satisfy all listeners. [8]
Some reviewers were more critical. For example, a reviewer for Slant Magazine stated that the album's boastful attitude and frequent allusions to modern trends "can feel awkward and misplaced", while the album only partially displays Koffee's strengths as a singer and songwriter. [9] The Guardian noted that Koffee's "desire to appeal to a broad audience causes the album to stumble", and added that some genre experiments are uninspired, but concluded that the album is generally "smart and inventive". [6]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "x10" |
| 2:01 |
| 2. | "Defend" |
| 0:58 |
| 3. | "Shine" |
| 2:33 |
| 4. | "Gifted" | Simpson | 2:46 |
| 5. | "Lonely" |
| 4:09 |
| 6. | "Run Away" |
| 3:04 |
| 7. | "Where I'm From" |
| 3:22 |
| 8. | "West Indies" |
| 3:57 |
| 9. | "Pull Up" |
| 2:51 |
| 10. | "Lockdown" |
| 3:00 |
| Total length: | 28:35 | ||
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Reggae Albums (Billboard) [10] | 2 |
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably, with digital dancehall becoming increasingly characterized by faster rhythms. Key elements of dancehall music include its extensive use of Jamaican Patois rather than Jamaican standard English and a focus on the track instrumentals.
'Til Shiloh is the fourth album by Jamaican dancehall artist Buju Banton, released in 1995 by Loose Cannon Records, a short-lived subsidiary of Island Records. In 2019 the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The Specials is the debut album by British ska revival band the Specials. Released on 19 October 1979 on Jerry Dammers' 2 Tone label, the album is seen by some as the defining moment in the UK ska scene. Produced by Elvis Costello, the album captures the disaffection and anger felt by the youth of the UK's "concrete jungle"—a phrase borrowed from Bob Marley's 1973 album Catch a Fire—used to describe the grim, violent inner cities of 1970s Britain. The album features a mixture of original material and several covers of classic Jamaican ska tracks.
Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon OD, better known by his stage name Shabba Ranks, is a Jamaican dancehall musician. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was one of the most popular Jamaican musicians in the world. Throughout his prominence in his home country as a dancehall artist, he gained popularity in North America with his studio album Just Reality in 1990. He released other studio albums, including As Raw as Ever and X-tra Naked, which both won a Grammy Award as Best Reggae Album in 1992 and 1993, respectively. He is notoriously popular for "Mr. Loverman" and "Ting-A-Ling", which were globally acclaimed and deemed his signature songs.
Youth is an album by American reggae singer Matisyahu, which was released on March 7, 2006. It is his second proper studio release, as Live at Stubb's is a live album. The CD quickly shot to the top of iTunes best sellers list the day it was released.
Amazing Baby was an American indie rock band based in Brooklyn, New York in 2008. The band began as an after-work collaboration between Will Roan, Will Berman and Simon O'Connor, who had known one another from the Brooklyn music scene, and who were working at the same ringtone company.
Contra is the second studio album by the American rock band Vampire Weekend, produced by band member Rostam Batmanglij and released in January 2010 on XL Recordings. It was preceded by the 2009 singles "Horchata" and "Cousins."
"Dancehall Queen" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 1 (2010). The song was written by Klas Åhlund, who produced it with disc jockey Diplo. The initial writing and production of the song arose from a discussion by Robyn, Diplo and Åhlund about Ace of Base. The song features a dancehall and reggae-infused sound with 1980s synths and bass. It was released as a promotional single before the album was launched in April 2010.
Distant Relatives is a collaborative studio album by American rapper Nas and Jamaican reggae vocalist Damian Marley. It was released on May 18, 2010, by Universal Republic, Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records.
"Work" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna featuring Canadian rapper Drake, from Rihanna's eighth studio album Anti (2016). It was released on January 27, 2016, by Westbury Road and Roc Nation as the lead single from the album. The song was written by Rihanna, Drake, Jahron Brathwaite, Monte Moir, Rupert Thomas, Allen Ritter, and Matthew "Boi-1da" Samuels, the latter of which produced the track while Kuk Harrell and Noah "40" Shebib were additional producers. Incorporating elements of dancehall, reggae, pop, and R&B, "Work" contains an interpolation of Alexander O'Neal's "If You Were Here Tonight" (1985). Written in the English-based creole languages of Jamaica and Barbados, its lyrics are about fragile relationships and yearning for intimacy.
Grace Latoya Hamilton, known professionally as Spice, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay and singer. Known as the Queen of Dancehall, Spice is recognised as one of the most prominent dancehall artists in the world. She is known for her aggressive flow, musical versatility and outspoken lyrics. Spice first gained recognition after performing at the annual dancehall festival Sting in 2000. She released her first single "Complain" for record producer Dave Kelly's Madhouse Records in 2003. She continued to release the singles "Right There" and "Hype", even being featured on songs with Jimmy Cliff and Beenie Man in 2004 and 2006, respectively.
"3AM (Pull Up)" is a song recorded by English singer Charli XCX, written for her mixtape Number 1 Angel (2017). The song features Danish singer and songwriter MØ. The song received positive reviews from critics, with some considering it a highlight of the mixtape.
Easy Star Records is an American independent record label founded in 1996. Based in New York City, the label primarily produces and releases albums in the genres of reggae and dub.
Mikayla Victoria Simpson, better known as Koffee, is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, rapper, and guitarist from Spanish Town, Jamaica. She released her debut single "Burning" in 2017, and after releasing another single the following year, she signed with Columbia Records. Her 2019 debut EP Rapture -- a five-track release in which only two Reggae tracks were included -- won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, making Koffee the youngest person and only woman to be awarded in the Best Reggae Album category. Her most recent album Gifted was released on March 25, 2022.
Rapture is the debut extended play by Jamaican pop singer Koffee. It was released on 14 March 2019 on Columbia Records under the copyright of Sony Music UK subdivision, Promised Land Recordings. In spite of having a minority of actual Reggae content, Rapture won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, making Koffee both the first female and youngest artist to win the award. After being nominated, Koffee stated: "I'm very honored, I'm very happy and very satisfied. I put a lot of work into my first project and to see that it has been recognized on this level has really fulfilled me so I'm very thankful."
Dancehall pop is a sub-genre of the Jamaican genre dancehall that originated in the early 2000s. Developing from the sounds of reggae, dancehall pop is characteristically different in its fusion with western pop music and digital music production. Dancehall pop is also different from dancehall in that most songs use lesser Jamaican Patois in lyrics––allowing it to be globally understood and consumed. It also incorporates the key pop music elements of having melodies, hooks, and the verse-chorus format. Additionally, the genre moves away from the reggae and roots reggae music origins in social and political protest, now lyrically centering on partying, dancing, and sexuality.
"Lick" is a song by Jamaican dancehall singer Shenseea with American rapper Megan Thee Stallion. It was released on January 21, 2022, as the lead single on Shenseea's first studio album, Alpha.
Scorcha is the eighth studio album by Jamaican dancehall artist Sean Paul, released on 27 May 2022 through Island Records. It features collaborations with Sia, Gwen Stefani, Shenseea, Stylo G, Damian Marley, Nicky Jam, Tove Lo, Jada Kingdom, Pia Mia and Ty Dolla Sign.
Alpha is the debut studio album by Jamaican musician Shenseea. It was released on March 11, 2022, through Rich Immigrants and Interscope Records. It includes guest appearances from 21 Savage, Beenie Man, Megan Thee Stallion, Offset, Sean Paul, and Tyga. Production is contributed by Rvssian, London On Da Track, and Scott Storch.
"Gimme" is a song by English singer-songwriter Sam Smith, Jamaican musician Koffee and Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez, who previously collaborated with Smith in their song "Promises". It was released on 11 January 2023, via Capitol Records as the third single from Smith's fourth studio album Gloria. It peaked at number 60 on the UK Singles Chart and number 63 on the IRMA chart.