One of Jamaica’s most promising reggae stars, Koffee, has been dropped from her U.S. label, RCA Records, according to sources at the company, marking an unexpected shift in her international career. The Grammy-winning artist made history in 2020 as the youngest and first female recipient of the Best Reggae Album award. She initially signed with Columbia Records U.K. before partnering with RCA in the U.S. as part of a strategic effort to expand her global reach.
Koffee’s signing with RCA, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, was announced shortly after her Grammy win. The label was eager to introduce her music to audiences beyond reggae strongholds like Jamaica and the U.K. At the time, RCA co-president John Fleckenstein expressed confidence in her potential, stating, “Her success is not gonna end in Jamaica. It’s gonna end on a global level.” RCA had positioned itself as a label willing to take risks on non-mainstream artists, previously achieving success with Nigerian star Davido.
A search of RCA’s artist roster for Koffee revealed no results, but the company still has dancehall artist Skillibeng on their lineup.
Despite her strong start, Koffee faced challenges that many Jamaican artists encounter in the U.S. market. Limited streaming data from her core fan base in Jamaica and restricted radio play opportunities in the American industry posed significant obstacles.
Koffee’s breakthrough hit, “Toast,” earned over 50 million on-demand streams in the U.S. in 2019, receiving endorsements from influential figures like Rihanna and former U.S. President Barack Obama. The song’s infectious positivity and versatile beat made it a turntable hit on urban radio, but it never reached the billboard Hot 100. As of March 2025, it has surpassed 191 million streams on Spotify.
She currently boasts 500 million career streams on Spotify, with “W,” featuring Atlanta rapper Gunna, as her highest-streaming single with 77 million plays.
While RCA initially appeared committed to overcoming these hurdles, the U.S. partnership has now ended. Koffee’s music, including her debut EP Rapture (2019) and her debut album Gifted(2022), is now listed under the U.K. recording and publishing company Promised Land.
Sony Music UK acquired a 49% stake in Promised Land Recordings Ltd in November 2016 at no cost, with the remaining 51% owned by Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, President of Columbia Records UK.
