Grammy-winning reggae singer Koffee responded with laughter—expressed through a simple emoji—after World Music Views first reported that she is no longer under the RCA U.S. umbrella following the release of her debut album, Gifted.
On Friday, Koffee left a laughing emoji as a comment under WMV’s Instagram post but provided no further remarks.
Carleene Samuels, who has worked closely with Koffee, weighed in on the report Thursday, calling it misleading.
“This headline and story is misleading. The fact is Koffee is still and was always signed to Promised Land Recordings, who had a relationship with Sony/RCA Records,” Samuels stated.
When WMV sought additional clarification from her on whether Koffee remains signed to RCA U.S., no response was provided. Efforts to reach both Koffee and Samuels directly were unsuccessful.
A representative from RCA Records told WMV that Koffee’s partnership with RCA U.S. was to expand her International reach, however, since the release of the debut album which reached No. 2 on the U.S Billboard Reggae chart, the ‘Toast’ singer is no longer being promoted by the U.S. arm of the Sony owned label.
Shortly after winning the Best Reggae Album Grammy in 2020, RCA co-president John Fleckenstein voiced his confidence in Koffee’s global potential, stating, “Her success is not gonna end in Jamaica. It’s gonna end on a global level.”
Five years later, Koffee is no longer listed as an artist on RCA’s website, and three years after her debut album, her music remains under Promised Land Recordings Ltd, a U.K. label co-owned by Sony Music.
Last year WMV also reported that reggae singer Lila Iké was dropped from RCA Records, ending her four-year tenure with the label ahead of her yet to be released debut album. Sources at the label confirmed her departure, though they did not say if it was linked to broader downsizing at major labels.
During her time with RCA, Iké released her My Experience EP and collaborated with artists like H.E.R. and Davido. Protoje, head of In.Digg.Nation, was also dropped from the label prior to Lila and he told WMV that he left with his masters in tact.
Iké has since released the singles Fry Plantain, featuring Joey Bada$$ via Ineffable Records and her latest single “Too Late To Lie.” Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledged RCA’s impact but emphasized her evolving identity as a “Jamaican artist” rather than just a reggae act.
