TIFA BIOGRAPHY

Success isn’t determined by one’s physical appearance. That saying holds true and dear to

Jamaican dancehall artiste and singer Tifa. Diagnosed with Blount’s disease from an early age

she never allowed the illness to prevent her from realizing her dreams and pursuing her musical

aspirations.

Blount's disease is a growth disorder of the tibia (shin bone) that causes the lower leg to angle

inward, resembling a bow leg.

‘I've had three surgeries. I spent most of my childhood in wheel chairs and crotches and in and

out of hospitals and medical facilities in an attempt to make my legs straight. Following the third

surgery the growth was stopped in my legs, because each time I grew the legs would grow right

back out after being straightened’, Tifa explained.

She added ‘Growing up I got teased a lot. Guys have seen me sitting and when I got up and

walked they didn't want to date me anymore. A gas station attendant once spat at my car

because she said I was a disgrace for wearing a skirt and that I shouldn't have because to her

I'm a handicap. Now being famous in Jamaica men wanna date me because they think it's sexy

and girls wanna walk like me’.

Originally from Kingston, Tifa grew up in the upscale Graham Heights community of Kingston 8.

She later relocated to the hot bed of the country’s commercial district, Duke Street in

Downtown, Kingston to live with her grandmother after her parents split.

Following the death of her grandmother she went to live with her mother’s best friend, former Ms

Jamaica World beauty queen Joan McDonald.

‘That was a different but fun time. I was lived in Barbican and Mona. I was exposed to the world

of pageants and tea parties and the "socialite life". I then did my second surgery in grade two

and during this period my mother decided to purchase a house in Jamaica. And after my

common entrance exams I did my final surgery and she moved back to Jamaica permanently

and I lived with her in the Acadia region of Kinston 8 uptown’, Tifa recalled.

Throughout her life, Tifa’s mother has been her towering strength.

‘My mother has been my towering strength and inspiration throughout my life. She and my dad

had a bitter split and I didn't see or hear from him for years. But she stepped up and did what

she had to do to make me have the most in life. I was never in need of anything’, Tifa revealed.

Tifa’s interest in music developed from an early age. Her stepfather, the popular music producer

Garfiled ‘Sampalue’ Phillips taught her a lot musically.

‘Me and my step siblings were all sent to school and college so that's the direction he expected.

But I used to watch him and the things he would do musically and the musicians that would

come by the house’, said Tifa.

While attending Wolmers Preparatory, Tifa was actively involved in the School Choir, Drama

Club and Wolmers Dance Troupe. As recognition for her choreography talents grew, so did her

passion for singing and songwriting. In early 2005, she decided to put her music first, recording

on her stepfather's record label Diamond Rush Records. She also collaborated with a number of

his artists as well as others and sang backup for a short while. Tifa has since teamed with mostproducers in the Jamaica music fraternity. Tifa has been working really hard in the studio to

produce highly talked about singles such as Kitty Police for TJ Records on the Show Off Riddim.

She has had great success with her single Crawny Gal on the Dem Gal Sitt'n Riddim produced

by Ward 21; the compilation CD was released to rave reviews in Japan where it was released

and worldwide and Bottom of the Barrel was her first chart topping top ten single in 2008 on the

dancehall charts.

Tifa also released the joint effort mix CD entitled “TNT – Three The Hard Way” with label mates

Natalie Storm and Timber-Lee Heaven produced by New York famed DJ Max Glazer and The

Federation Sound which was dubbed the maddest mix CD ever. Also in 2008 she did an

extensive tour of Europe with her label mates and mentors Ward 21, which was very successful

from which she became the first female reggae/dancehall artist to perform in the Czech

Republic.

The year also saw her acquiring an endorsement deal from www.majesticwigs.com. 2009 was

even better as it became Tifa’s breakthrough year which brought about her most critically

acclaimed piece of work, that being “Spell it Out,” a hard hitting dancehall single also

produced by Ward 21, this song also became a chart topping single and street anthem.

A slew of other hard hitting tracks were released, including Tick it Like a Clock on Stephen

McGregor’s Boasty Riddim, New Man on the Mash Up Riddim Produced by Christopher Birch,

Sick produced by Equiknoxx Music, Boasty Wid It on the Style & Swagger Riddim Produced by

Ballaz Production, and Why, just to name a few, which is a dancehall ballad revealing Tifa’s

versatility, not only as a DJ but also as a singer, which was produced by Don Corleone on the

Feminine Riddim.

In early 2010, Tifa walked away with five awards including the E.M.E.’s (Excellence in Music &

Entertainment) for the “Most Improved Artist.” Stone Love awarded her “Best New Artist” and

The Youth View Awards awarded two year running as “Female DJ of the Year ,” “Best Female

Artist” & “Young, Hot, & Hype Female of the Year.” Before the yearend Tifa signed with as Brand

Ambassador with the #1 Telecommunication Company Digicel, taking the Diva across the island

for brand road shows, parties and launches.

The year started off a bang music-wise which saw her releasing a cover of If I Could Fly to rave

reviews as well as eight other dancehall treats including the monster hit Move ur Body” andother one drop tracks. Tifa also was featured on Ludacris’ How Low Remix which also featured

her mentors Ward 21 & rapper Teff.

In April 2011 Tifa signed an endorsement deal with NUVO, the world’s first sparkling liqueur, as a

Brand Diva. Dubbed the certified Diva, Tifa displayed her commanding stage presence at the

2011 Reggae Sumfest Show in Montego Bay, St. James.

Tifa is currently brand ambassador for Telecommunications giant Digicel, as well as Bigga Sof

Drink (which she renewed for the fourth year in 2017).

Her successful collaboration with popular Dancehall artistes Wayne Marshall and Future Fambo,

resulted in 2011 summer hit single SWAGGIN, the infectious lyrics captures the essence of summer

and the party vibe. The single has been blazing the charts both locally and internationally with its

catchy lyrics, dynamic vocals and the energetic beat has changed both the lingo and fashion

in dancehall culture.

Following the success of SWAGGIN, which became her first #1 single outside of Jamaica,

peaking at number one on UKs BBC 1 xtra’s charts & making their play list and Get Flat. Tifa is

featured on the Matrimony Medley. Tifa’s song “Wedding Chapel” that’s featured on both song

and video compilation has taken over and is the # 1 video on MTV Africa. Swaggin peaked at #

4.

Tifa also dominated the scene for 2011 with songs like Matie Wine on the Contra Riddim and

Dash Out on the Over Proof Riddim. 2012 started with a bang for Tifa. The year saw her

collecting a number of awards for her 2011 efforts. 6 Youth View Awards including: “Local

Female Artiste of the Year” “Female DJ of the Year” “Young Hot & Hype of the Year” “Fashion

Icon of the Year” “ Best Collaboration” for Swaggin & “Best Video” for Swaggin. She also won

Female DJ of the Year for the Jamaica Star’s People Choice Awards & Hitz 92fm.

That year saw Tifa releasing a number of singles including the number one MTV Base Africa hit

Hold On, Why Yuh Mad featuring Spice, Love Me 2 featuring Laza Morgan, Wife Me Up, Destiny

featuring Konshens, and Niceness. She also collaborated with European group the Teddy bears.

Tifa continued the momentum into 2013 copping awards at the Youth View Awards and the Star

Awards. That year, songs including Show Me the Bubble, No Romance without Finance, Taste

Good and Champion Bubbler took over the airwaves.Among her performances in 2013 were shows in Washington DC, Antigua, and numerous stages

across Jamaica.

In 2014, Tifa has released the love song This Love featuring newcomer Yahsha, Body Up, Out of

this World, Gimmi Di Money and the club banger Bak it Up. She also won three awards in the

2014 Youth View Awards (YVA’s) including Young Hot & Hype Female Artiste of the Year.

In early July 2014, Tifa held a showcase in New York City where she performed some of her hits

and launched the video and single Bak it Up. The video for Bak it Up which was shot on location

in California and directed by Ben Marc was also featured on the popular MTViggy website.

In an effort to expand on her brand and celebrity status, dancehall artiste Tifa has ventured into

merchandising with the release of her signature headphone line. The project is a partnership with

Sound is Genious (SIG) and is called the ‘Tifa SIG’ line.

The popular urban website Globalgrind.com which is owned by American business magnate

Russell Simmons in July 2014 did an extensive feature on Tifa where she spoke about music, living

with blount’s disease and her career. Additionally, she was featured on the cover of the July

2014 issue of Caribbean urban publication L3 Magazine.

Another career highlight was seeing her single Body Up produced by Stephen ‘Di Genius’

McGregor featured in the July 11 episode of the Netflix feature vampire series Hemlock Grove.

Named among the Top Ten Reggae/Dancehall Greatest Lady Deejays by Largeup.com, Tifa has

made a major step in her evolving musical career. She signed with the North America based

independent Island Kings Records. The collaboration with the label bore fruit with the hit single

Bak it Up which got mainstream play in America. The song peaked inside the Top 20 of the

Billboard Twitter Trending 140 Chart in late 2014.

Also in 2014, she scored a Top 5 hit with I’ve Got Money which was produced by Arif Cooper.

In February 2015, Tifa walked away a double winner at the 2015 Youth View Awards (YVAs). She

won for Young Hot & Hype Female; and Fashion Icon Female.

She collaborated in 2015 with Dexta Daps for the chart-topping single Jealous Ova. The

following year (2016) she was named Artiste to Watch by Fader magazine.

In 2017, Tifa scored radio hits with and released videos for Big Bumpa (which was added to BBC

1Xtra’s playlist), Hype Don’t Pay My Bills, Just a Little Bit Longer (Black Shadow Records), and Ride

Up (a collaboration with Khalia produced by Tony Kelly).

In early 2017, Tifa signed on to do online promotions for the Sneaky Vaunt strapless bra. She is

also the new brand ambassador for the Eye Bone Clinic and Pure Vision. By June 2017, Tifa

launched her GLEAM by Tifa Sunglasses line.Her major performances in 2017 included the Rainforest Seafood Festival, Britjam, as well as

Reggae Sumfest. She was also the only billed female for Hot 97’s annual On Da Reggae Tip

concert.

In February 2017, she did her very first tour of Canada called the Valentine Crush Tour which

made stops in cities including Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary among others. She spent most of

2017 traveling overseas for various assignments.

In late 2017, she was featured in Bacardi UK’s 4-part music series titled Ladies First: Queens of the

scene.

Giving back to others has always been a mantra for Tifa, and she got involved in the Jamaica

National (JN) Foundation’s educational project titled Science Genius Jamaica in which students

were taught science through music.

She is featured on Grammy winning producer Darius ‘Deezle Beats’ Harrison’s album That’s for

Sure. Her track I Wanna Get Next to You is included in the album which was released in early

2017.

the rest of 2017 into 2018 saw Tifa embarking on an island wide school tour with Bigga Soda who

she was signed to at the time to speak about Social awareness and using social media

responsibly in Jamaica in an effort to reduce bullying and other negative effects of social

media.

She also toured the US, Canada and Europe extensively doing major festivals and club shows

and was the only dancehall/reggae headliner on the One Love Cruise in Sweden , all while

releasing her critically acclaimed debut album “Curry Goat and Champagne”.

2019 there was no slowing down as Tifa continued to release music, tour and promote and

eventually landed an endorsement deal with Covergirl as the face of Covergirl Jamaica.

2020 saw her announcement of landing a lead supporting role in the award winning script

turned into drama series entitled “For Little Girls who are Afraid to Speak” . The star studded cast

includes Luke Forbes (Atlanta, Crown Heights, SWAT) Sheldon Sheperd (Yardie, Better Must

Come) Marcos James (Game of Thrones) Nate Bova (Spike Lee’s: Da Sweet Blood of Jesus)

Allison McLean (Dope Fiend).

This is only the beggining as the following years promised to be epic filled musically and with Tifa

acting , shows released & other business ventures. 2023 saw her coping a Grammy as being

apart of Kabaka Pyramid’s The Kalling Album Produced by Damian “Jr Gong” Marley for their

song Mr. Rastaman on that album. We saw her on a slew of shows including Sumfest , Welcome

to Jamrock Cruise & many other shows locally and internationally with her even embarking on a

birthday tour where the she toured the US extensively for the month of December.Tifa started 2024 with a bang! Dropping 3 bangers since the start of the year! “Doh Real” a

message to her haters produced by Celtic 222 & a taunting dancehall ballad to her ex called

“Big Head Boy” produced by Bob Klean for Klean Entertainment to much social media fanfare

and disc jocks heavily gravitating to it! The Dancehall Superstar is set to drop her third and most

talked about single “Say Yes” which is produced by The Billboard King Kemar McGregor . Slated

for an International release March 8! All the stops will be pulled out and this Dancehall track and

somewhat homage to Dave Kelly as the beat is a popular remake of one of his The visuals are

already creating a stir on social media and this track is the perfect dancehall walk out hot girl

track! And is the set up for more to come including international collabs s