After releasing music on my own the past few years, I’m excited to have the support of Red Bull Records and work with the team to release some incredible music. I’m really looking forward to the fans hearing my upcoming EP because it’s such a personal project that lets people into my world.
Praised by The New York Times, EARMILK, and RESPECT. Magazine for his “vision, original sound, [and] talent that is unmatched”, Kofi has established his reputation over the past few years as a rapper, singer, and producer to watch out for. In addition to his recent deal with Red Bull Records, the 22-year-old Toronto native has attracted attention from well-known figures, including Drake and OVO Sound, Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire, and Toronto rap veterans Kardinal Offishall and Preme. Over the past few years, Kofi has also released fan-favorite tracks, such as “Came Up,” “Wake Up” and “Hold Me Down” via his own Jvngle Music Group imprint, which have racked up millions of views. Most recently, Kofi has been working on his Red Bull Records debut, The Story of My Life, set for release later this year. Taking time out of his day, Kofi discussed with The Knockturnal everything from his process to themes in his music.
The Knockturnal: Your new “single” nufftalk just dropped tell us a little bit about the process
Kofi: Well for that song, I made it completely myself. I was really just chilling and then the process for the beat started off with the chords and then I added the drums and wrote the song all in one day.
The Knockturnal: What were some of your biggest musical influences growing up?
Kofi: Growing up basically music that I was introduced to from my parents was just like super diverse, my dad put me on some gaga, my moms from Canada, the music that they would listen to like I would listen to a wide range of classical music to like African music to like soul music like sam cook.
The Knockturnal: Tell us about your upcoming ep the ‘story of my life’
Kofi: Story of my life is six songs I had before the deal so I kinda made the songs on my own and it’s kinda what I was working on around the time I signed to them and like a great introduction to kinda me as an artist and as a person.
The Knockturnal: What do you prefer more singing or rapping and why?
Kofi: Really I like to try to blend it cause I’m not a good enough singer to just sing and I’m not a good enough rapper to just rap so I just stay in the middle.
The Knockturnal: How did you and red bull link up?
Kofi: There is, I think he’s technically a music publisher his name is Jared and he just one day came across my song “Came Up” and then I remember he hit us up or he hit me up on DM’s and Ellie my manager answered and he just wanted to come over and he said he works for ANR at red bull and he introduced be to the red bull team and they’re all great so.
The Knockturnal: What would you call your dream collaboration?
Kofi: Probably like usually when I’m in Toronto and I have my studio out here I like to like make music with all of the young kids from my area like there’s a bunch of young guys who like, they pay the money to go to the studio, they do a half-ass job and then they send them on there way when these guys are actually talented so I like to work with them and then just help them develop there sound.
The Knockturnal: What are some of the personal subjects you are addressing in your music?
Kofi: There’s a lot of relationship stuff a lot of like, stuff about where I’m from, the transition living life from Scarborough to like Beverly Hills, Los Angeles that’s where I went to school.
The Knockturnal: Tell us a little about jungle music group
Kofi: Just like how I said I like to collab with artists from where I’m from that’s kinda the whole idea of a jungle-like it’s less a label and more to like help boost artists careers when they have nothing like has no followers because there’s a bunch of people that like, they, there super talented on the music so if I can help them out in any way and these are all people who I grew up and stuff like that so like helping them in any musical way like getting them studio time, helping them write a track or something like any of that.
Follow Kofi on Instagram to keep up with his music.
