Burning
Title | Burning |
---|---|
Artist | Koffee |
Album | Gifted (Deluxe Edition) |
Release Date | 2017-10-19 |
Description | Readers of NEST HQ are probably familiar with a term called ‘riddim.’ It’s that scratchy, hard-as-nails neo-dubstep sound that kids who wear neckbraces from the incessant head banging and pray to the gods of “siiicckkkk riddim chops” love. But that term means something entirely different in the Caribbean. Officially, ‘riddim’ is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word ‘rhythm,’ but in reggae, dancehall, calypso, soca, and reggaeton parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. These genres consist of the riddim plus the ‘voicing’ (vocal part) sung by the deejay (singer/vocalist). Dubstep Riddim and Jamaican Riddim share little but a homonym. Today, we dive into the latter, the culture behind it, and one incredible voice paving her own path in the culture’s rich history. 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. |
Lyrics | [Intro] Oo-oo-oo-ooh Oo-oo-oo-ooh (Come wid di fyah) [Chorus] Come wid di fyah di city burning down Mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning It a bun like a tire mi have a burning sound And if mi try fi retire mi leave dem yearning Nuttin cyaa out my flame, no it cyaa quench, cyaa cool, cyaa tame Since the devil nuh like it, him say fi turn it down So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him [Verse 1] Koffee pon di street Tank top inna di heat Jjeans pants an’ crocks No socks deh pon mi feet Knapsack when 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 have a coin Nah 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 Dats why mi... [Chorus] Come wid di fyah di city burning down Mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning It a bun like a tire mi have a burning sound And if mi try fi retire mi leave dem yearning Nuttin cyaa out my flame, no it cyaa quench, cyaa cool, cyaa tame Since the devil nuh like it, him say fi turn it down So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him (Burn, burn, burn, burn, burn) You might also like[Verse 2] Seet yah wah become a Peter Mommy seh be Doctor Granny seh be preacher Wah fi be a Rasta Daddy see be neata Peter neva like dat so him tek di streets-ah 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 Koffee pon Upsetta track See mi bring di heat ya [Chorus] Come wid di fyah di city burning down Mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning It a bun like a tire mi have a burning sound And if mi try fi retire mi leave dem yearning Nuttin cyaa out my flame, no it cyaa quench, cyaa cool, cyaa tame Since the devil nuh like it, him say fi turn it down So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him [Verse 2] Run up an’ down Have dem a run up an' down Yea a Koffee 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 day wid me beside it [Chorus] Come wid di fyah di city burning down Mi jus a tun it up higher and keep it burning It a bun like a tire mi have a burning sound And if mi try fi retire mi leave dem yearning Nuttin cyaa out my flame, no it cyaa quench, cyaa cool, cyaa tame Since the devil nuh like it, him say fi turn it down So mi jus give him the fyah and mek it burn him (Burn, burn, burn, burn, burn) |