The Tropixs (Kingston, Jamaica) – Cocoa Tea is reveling in the success of his young protege Koffee.
The veteran Reggae singer says he feels vindicated that the 19-year-old has proven him right after being ridiculed and castigated for predicting she would eventually become Jamaica’s next superstar.
“Well, I feel vindicated. Because when I first mentioned Koffee on social media, I was taken on by a lot of people a say: ‘cho a Cocoa Tea dawta’ and ‘wha Cocoa Tea know bout music? Koffee jus come; weh shi a go do’ and all a dat,” the singer said in an Onstage interview.
“And I seh to dem, dis is di next superstar outta Jamaica, no doubt about dat. Because shi have di special appeal that I know can go across to what they are looking for in America,” he explained.
The singer who described the young starlet as ‘a breath of fresh air,’ said it remains ironic people initially thought she was his daughter, as he only met her while touring the United States in 2017.
He says Koffee was actually introduced to him by Walshy Fire, who is one of the faces of Major Lazer, who asked his opinion on her sound.
“When I first heard Koffee, Walshy Fire from Major Lazer brought her to me in Florida and seh ‘mi want yuh listen to dis like girl’. That was December 17,” he said.
The veteran Reggae Star was so impressed by the teenage performer that he took her to perform alongside him on Rebel Salute, and then to Rototom Sunsplash music festival in Europe.
“We need people to take over the business after we are retired and can’t do no more… So when I see this little girl I know that it is the next superstar out of Jamaica,” Cocoa Tea explained.
Since then Koffee, whose real name is Mikayla Simpson, has skyrocketed to become on of Jamaica’s biggest stars, scoring one of the biggest hits of this decade with her single “Toast,” which has over 75 million views on Youtube.
