17-YEAR OLD JAMAICAN SINGER/SONGWRITER KOFFEE TALKS RIDDIM, “BURNING,” AND JAMAICAN MUSICAL CULTURE
The Jamaican approach to a typical musical ‘compilation’ is called a ‘riddim.’ First an instrumental is created in the same fashion as any other type of music. Think reggae/dancehall. The riddim is then given a name (i.e. Sleng Teng Riddim, which is considered the first all digital riddim created in 1984). The name of the riddim comes either from the producer who made it or after artists have “voiced” on it and the lyrics or narrative influence the name. What sets this approach apart from most other types of music is that as many as 20+ artists will perform a separate song (or ‘chune’) on the same instrumental. Sleng Teng is among the most “versioned” (rerecorded) of Jamaican riddims, listing around 380 versions to date. When the songs are completed and released, a ‘selector’ (otherwise known as a DJ in most other cultures) will mix the songs together and go between each artists song on the riddim, typically relatively quickly, which is known as ‘juggling’ all the while ‘chatting’ on the microphone to energize the crowd. With that being said, a particular riddim could be played for several minutes depending on how much the crowd and selector are feeling the music and the selector will typically follow this up with other riddims throughout their set.
Mikayla “Koffee” Simpson is a 17-year-old deejay and singer/songwriter, known as a ‘singjay’, from Spanish Town, Jamaica. Her mission is to preserve Jamaica’s roots and culture in music and to empower the youth of her generation through her own creativity and artistry. “I want to make a better world for the generation that’s coming up,” Koffee writes, “to promote love and peace, and even though I’m young, I feel that God has blessed me with talent and wisdom to get the job done.” Her debut release, “Burning” via Upsetta Records, is a prime example of her work and her mission. “‘Burning’ is about finding and embracing the fire within yourself and using it to accomplish great things. Fire in this sense would represent talent or passion.”
The release, “Burning,” arrives as one song on Upsetta Records new Ouji Riddim (pronounced ‘O-G Riddim’). “Burning” is one amongst ten songs using the same “Ouji” instrumental. You may recognize other names on the riddim, like Busy Signal, Jah Vinci, Chuck Fenda, and Capital D. Her version croons with the talent of a force waiting to break out of the newcomer cage that most new artists find themselves in. Though she’s young, the head she rocks on her shoulders is filled with the wisdom of a seasoned artist and the voice of a generation. Her vocal talents sure match that. We had the great fortune of chatting with Koffee about “Burning,” growing up in Jamaica, and what her journey in music has been like thus far. If you’re looking for invaluable advice and insight from a soon-to-be-leading figure in the community, here’s your chance.
Oo-oo-oo-ooh Oo-oo-oo-ooh ( Come wid di fyah) (Chorus) Come wid di fyah di City burning Now mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning It a bun like a tire we have a burning sound and if wi try fi retire mi leave Dem yearning Nuttn cyaah out my flame, no it cyaah quench, cyaah cool, cyaah tame Since the devil nuh like it, him say him returning now So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him (Verse 1) Koffee pon di street and cop inna di heat, jeans pants an’ crocks, no socks deh pon mi feet, knapsack weh mi a beat well pack up an’ it neat Stay woke no sleep mi nuh likkle bo-peep Money pon mi mind but mi neva ave a coin naah cuss mi jus a hustle Fi di pretty Dolla sign, A Neva nuff fun time, life rough sometime but mi know me an me mommy affi si di sunshine (Chorus) Dats why mi Come wid di fyah di City burning Now mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning It a bun like a tire we have a burning sound and if wi try fi retire mi leave Dem yearning Nuttn cyaah out my flame, no it cyaah quench, cyaah cool, cyaah tame Since the devil nuh like it, him say him returning now So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him (burn, burn, burn, burn, burn) (Verse 2) Seet yah wah become a Peta, Mommy see mi Doctor, Granny seh mi preacher, wah fi be a Rasta, daddy see mi neata, pita Neva like dat so him tek di street-a Everybody born wid a talent yuh fi feature, blessings in abundance, weh wi fi cherish each-a, Neva be ungrateful, life is such a teacha ( teacha) have it pon upsetta track, see mi bring di heat ya (Chorus) Come wid di fyah di City burning Now mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning It a bun like a tire we have a burning sound and if wi try fi retire mi leave Dem yearning Nuttn cyaah out my flame, no it cyaah quench, cyaah cool, cyaah tame Since the devil nuh like it, him say him returning now So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him (Verse 3) Run up an’ down, 'ave dem a run up an' down, Yea a Koffee deh yah wid di Don sound,anytime mi come roun’ A madness pon di compound (pon di compound) Man a tun fool a tun clown, But Jah-Jah cover mi journey ( cover mi journey), I beg yuh guide it, an’ any trouble mi see (trouble mi see), help mi avoid it, mi know seh anything mi need God will provide it (anything),and he will still have a time for me beside it. (Chorus) Come wid di fyah di City burning Now mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning It a bun like a tire we have a burning sound and if wi try fi retire mi leave Dem yearning Nuttn cyaah out my flame, no it cyaah quench, cyaah cool, cyaah tame Since the devil nuh like it, him say him returning now So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him
ResponderEliminar17-YEAR OLD JAMAICAN SINGER/SONGWRITER KOFFEE TALKS RIDDIM, “BURNING,” AND JAMAICAN MUSICAL CULTURE
The Jamaican approach to a typical musical ‘compilation’ is called a ‘riddim.’ First an instrumental is created in the same fashion as any other type of music. Think reggae/dancehall. The riddim is then given a name (i.e. Sleng Teng Riddim, which is considered the first all digital riddim created in 1984). The name of the riddim comes either from the producer who made it or after artists have “voiced” on it and the lyrics or narrative influence the name. What sets this approach apart from most other types of music is that as many as 20+ artists will perform a separate song (or ‘chune’) on the same instrumental. Sleng Teng is among the most “versioned” (rerecorded) of Jamaican riddims, listing around 380 versions to date. When the songs are completed and released, a ‘selector’ (otherwise known as a DJ in most other cultures) will mix the songs together and go between each artists song on the riddim, typically relatively quickly, which is known as ‘juggling’ all the while ‘chatting’ on the microphone to energize the crowd. With that being said, a particular riddim could be played for several minutes depending on how much the crowd and selector are feeling the music and the selector will typically follow this up with other riddims throughout their set.
Mikayla “Koffee” Simpson is a 17-year-old deejay and singer/songwriter, known as a ‘singjay’, from Spanish Town, Jamaica. Her mission is to preserve Jamaica’s roots and culture in music and to empower the youth of her generation through her own creativity and artistry. “I want to make a better world for the generation that’s coming up,” Koffee writes, “to promote love and peace, and even though I’m young, I feel that God has blessed me with talent and wisdom to get the job done.” Her debut release, “Burning” via Upsetta Records, is a prime example of her work and her mission. “‘Burning’ is about finding and embracing the fire within yourself and using it to accomplish great things. Fire in this sense would represent talent or passion.”
The release, “Burning,” arrives as one song on Upsetta Records new Ouji Riddim (pronounced ‘O-G Riddim’). “Burning” is one amongst ten songs using the same “Ouji” instrumental. You may recognize other names on the riddim, like Busy Signal, Jah Vinci, Chuck Fenda, and Capital D. Her version croons with the talent of a force waiting to break out of the newcomer cage that most new artists find themselves in. Though she’s young, the head she rocks on her shoulders is filled with the wisdom of a seasoned artist and the voice of a generation. Her vocal talents sure match that. We had the great fortune of chatting with Koffee about “Burning,” growing up in Jamaica, and what her journey in music has been like thus far. If you’re looking for invaluable advice and insight from a soon-to-be-leading figure in the community, here’s your chance.
Oo-oo-oo-ooh
ResponderEliminarOo-oo-oo-ooh ( Come wid di fyah)
(Chorus)
Come wid di fyah di City burning
Now mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning
It a bun like a tire we have a burning sound and if wi try fi retire mi leave Dem yearning
Nuttn cyaah out my flame, no it cyaah quench, cyaah cool, cyaah tame
Since the devil nuh like it, him say him returning now
So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him
(Verse 1)
Koffee pon di street and cop inna di heat, jeans pants an’ crocks, no socks deh pon mi feet, knapsack weh mi a beat well pack up an’ it neat
Stay woke no sleep mi nuh likkle bo-peep
Money pon mi mind but mi neva ave a coin naah cuss mi jus a hustle Fi di pretty Dolla sign,
A Neva nuff fun time, life rough sometime but mi know me an me mommy affi si di sunshine
(Chorus)
Dats why mi Come wid di fyah di City burning
Now mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning
It a bun like a tire we have a burning sound and if wi try fi retire mi leave Dem yearning
Nuttn cyaah out my flame, no it cyaah quench, cyaah cool, cyaah tame
Since the devil nuh like it, him say him returning now
So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him (burn, burn, burn, burn, burn)
(Verse 2)
Seet yah wah become a Peta, Mommy see mi Doctor, Granny seh mi preacher, wah fi be a Rasta,
daddy see mi neata, pita Neva like dat so him tek di street-a
Everybody born wid a talent yuh fi feature, blessings in abundance, weh wi fi cherish each-a, Neva be ungrateful, life is such a teacha ( teacha) have it pon upsetta track, see mi bring di heat ya
(Chorus)
Come wid di fyah di City burning
Now mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning
It a bun like a tire we have a burning sound and if wi try fi retire mi leave Dem yearning
Nuttn cyaah out my flame, no it cyaah quench, cyaah cool, cyaah tame
Since the devil nuh like it, him say him returning now
So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him
(Verse 3)
Run up an’ down,
'ave dem a run up an' down,
Yea a Koffee deh yah wid di Don sound,anytime mi come roun’
A madness pon di compound (pon di compound)
Man a tun fool a tun clown,
But Jah-Jah cover mi journey ( cover mi journey), I beg yuh guide it, an’ any trouble mi see (trouble mi see), help mi avoid it, mi know seh anything mi need God will provide it (anything),and he will still have a time for me beside it.
(Chorus)
Come wid di fyah di City burning
Now mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning
It a bun like a tire we have a burning sound and if wi try fi retire mi leave Dem yearning
Nuttn cyaah out my flame, no it cyaah quench, cyaah cool, cyaah tame
Since the devil nuh like it, him say him returning now
So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him