Guess Which Jamaican This Is?
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This Jamaican singer is among the latest generation of artistes to add their voice to Jamaica’s world-loved Reggae genre. While the vocalist may have been drawn to one of the island’s most traditional forms of music, she rose to success amid a generation of Reggae singers who are not afraid to infuse a modern flavour into the music genre.
A native of Christiana, the artiste was influenced by the diverse music played by her mother when she was younger. She was later discovered by fellow Reggae singer Protoje, who helped kick-start her career.
Born Alecia Grey, the singer rose to prominence with the moniker Lila Iké, with Lila defined as blooming flower and Iké a Yoruba word meaning the Power of God. Her partnership with Protoje facilitated the release of her EP The ExPerience 2020.
The well-received project featured tracks such as Where I’m Coming From, I Spy, and Thy Will. Later releasing songs such as Batty Rider Shorts, Lila has become known for her soulful melodies and her powerful messages that discuss social issues as well as love and culture.
While her vocals have been praised, her modern take on Reggae and style has faced criticism from Reggae purists. Lila’s fashion choices have also been called into question.
While Reggae lovers have become accustomed to the genre’s artistes acting and dressing conservatively, the singer has shown that she is not afraid to show off some skin. Some of her revealing looks have ignited controversy, and her sexuality has also become a topic of discussion.
Except for a series of posts on Twitter/X in 2021 in which she shared that she was attracted to women, Lila has for the most part kept her personal life private.
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