Gifted is the debut studio album by Jamaican reggae singer Koffee. It was released on 25 March 2022 by Promised Land Recordings and Columbia Records.[1]
| Gifted | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 25 March 2022 | |||
| Length | 28:35 | |||
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| Producer |
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| Koffee chronology | ||||
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Gifted debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard Reggae Albums chart with 3,500 album-equivalent units. The album has sold 188,000 units as of April 2022.[2]
Background edit
The album was preceded by the single "Lockdown", a commentary on the COVID-19 pandemic released in the summer of 2020.[3] Many of the album's lyrics focus on themes of perseverance and overcoming struggles.[4] Gifted expands beyond the dancehall reggae of Koffee's debut EP Rapture (2019), into roots reggae, pop, and R&B influences.[3][5][6] The album's lyrics include homages to influential reggae musicians and Jamaican culture, and includes a prominent sample from "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley.[4]
Critical reception edit
The album received generally favorable reviews from critics, often due to its positive lyrical attitude. Pitchfork praised the album as "Breezy, uplifting, and never forced" with a "a proud and pure undertone" to Koffee's performances.[3] NME praised Koffee's "effortless vocals, smart lyricism and obvious ability to craft new bangers".[7] Rolling Stone praised the album as "a portrait of a brilliant young artist keenly aware of the miracles that lift her up".[5] Medium noted that the album's title is a valid description of Koffee's abilities, and concluded that the album "fires on all cylinders" with a "sunny and multifaceted" sound, but at just 28 minutes it is too short to satisfy all listeners.[8]
Some reviewers were more critical. For example, a reviewer for Slant Magazine stated that the album's boastful attitude and frequent allusions to modern trends "can feel awkward and misplaced", while the album only partially displays Koffee's strengths as a singer and songwriter.[9] The Guardian noted that Koffee's "desire to appeal to a broad audience causes the album to stumble", and added that some genre experiments are uninspired, but concluded that the album is generally "smart and inventive".[6]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "x10" |
| 2:01 |
| 2. | "Defend" |
| 0:58 |
| 3. | "Shine" |
| 2:33 |
| 4. | "Gifted" | Simpson | 2:46 |
| 5. | "Lonely" |
| 4:09 |
| 6. | "Run Away" |
| 3:04 |
| 7. | "Where I'm From" |
| 3:22 |
| 8. | "West Indies" |
| 3:57 |
| 9. | "Pull Up" |
| 2:51 |
| 10. | "Lockdown" |
| 3:00 |
| Total length: | 28:35 | ||
Charts edit
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Reggae Albums (Billboard)[10] | 2 |
References edit
- ^ "Koffee Releases Debut Album 'Gifted'". Complex. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- ^ Mallick, Dani (5 April 2022). "Koffee's 'Gifted' Debuts No. 2 On Billboard With 3.5k First Week, But Album Has Sold 188k In Total". DancehallMag. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne (29 March 2022). "Koffee: Gifted". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- ^ a b Zoladz, Lindsay (11 April 2022). "Koffee On New Album 'Gifted,' Reggae & Finding Purpose In The Pandemic". Nylon. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- ^ a b Conteh, Mankaprr (2022-03-24). "Koffee Reinvigorates Reggae for a Pop Audience on 'Gifted'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (2022-03-24). "Koffee: Gifted review – eclectic and appealing reggae by Jamaica's next big star". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- ^ Jordon, Cora-Jane (2022-03-23). "Koffee - 'Gifted' review: another giant step forward for reggae's bright new star". NME. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- ^ Elevathingal, Alex (2022-04-13). "Koffee: "Gifted" Album Review". Medium. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- ^ Lyons-Burt, Charles (2022-03-25). "Koffee Gifted Review: A Victory Lap That Doesn't Quite Earn Its Brashness". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
- ^ "Koffee Chart History (Reggae Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 December 2023.