By Kon-Vick
OutAroad.com Writer
For female artistes in Jamaica’s hostile dancehall circles, getting ahead is a daunting task. There is usually the speculation of who is sleeping with whom, and who have to do some immoral things to get ahead. For OutAroad.com Break Out Artiste for this Month, Tifa, those challenges are non-existent.
For Tifa, christened Latifa Brown, the road to stardom has been somewhat easy thus far. Music has always been a part of the singer/deejay life. Her stepfather, Sampalue, the reggae producer who assisted in the building of several music careers inclusive of dancehall’s queen Lady Saw, gave her a deep-rooted love for dancehall music. Her active participation in various aspects of the music began from prep school days and has since rolled on like a train.
“I love music. I have been involved with music all my life. I was a member of the Ashe Caribbean Performing Arts Academy and Ensemble and toured extensively with the group throughout the Caribbean and North America from 1996 to 2000,” she explained.
These days Tifa, a graduate of the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and Human Resources Management, hangs out at the Natural Bridge Studio with friends and music partners. She has been working really hard in the studio and her growing palette of singles is evident of her hard work.
“I have several tracks that is getting airplay now, including Bottom of the Barrel, Mi Man Love Mi, Crawny Gal, Tinky Winky, Dem Nuh Ready, and several others. I am also working on my album “Sex, Love & Lies” which will have a Japan/European release, hopefully this summer.”
Naturally working at Natural Bridge Studio caused Tifa to cross the path of Ward 21, arguably one of dancehall’s most talented groups. The intersection of her talent and Ward 21’s superb musical producing qualities has combined to create some hard-hitting singles.
“I’m Leaving, and Bad Mind, on the Rae Rhythm, was done under the guidance of Ward 21. So too was has smashing single Crawny Gal, which was recorded on the Dem Gal Sitt’n Rhythm.
Tifa will be heading to Europe in June for a six-week tour with Ward 21.
Posted on May 28, 2008 11:15
She is cool but lyrically she needs to step up. For a young lady with 2 degrees her lyrics are less than average. No word play at all
Not only tifa but all female dancehall artist need to step up with the exception of Tanya Stephens. The lyrics seem to only speak of how good your hole is and tearing the next woman down about her hole. I mean come on I know we have more to say than that. Not a bad topic but it cannot be the only one. I would expect an educated woman like tifa to be more worldly and have more to say but this shows that a degree does not stand for much.
I put the challenge out to all female artist to rise above the cat fight mentality and sing a new tune every once in a while.
Posted on July 31, 2008 04:08
W-O-WWWWWWWW!!!! She's amazing!!!
Really beautiful, I think! She's the perfect girl!! ^_^
Ñam-ñam...
Posted on August 15, 2008 16:54
she is SEXY