Born Alecia Tameka Grey in the small town of Christiana, Jamaica, Lila Iké has risen to become one of the most captivating and influential voices in contemporary reggae and soul music. Raised by her single mother alongside three sisters in a conservative, religious household, Lila found early refuge in music—drawing inspiration from gospel, roots reggae, soul, and ’90s dancehall. Her decision to leave university and pursue music in Kingston led to a life-changing
partnership with Protoje and the In.Digg.Nation Collective, transforming her journey from open mic nights at Jamnesia into a global career.
Lila first captured international attention with emotionally raw tracks like “Biggest Fan,” “Second Chance,” and “Where I’m Coming From,” earning comparisons to Lauryn Hill and Garnett Silk for her warmth, clarity, and depth. Her 2020 debut EP The ExPerience received widespread acclaim from Rolling Stone, Vogue, NPR, The New York Times, and more, solidifying her as one of reggae’s most compelling new storytellers.
She has since performed on COLORS, NPR’s Tiny Desk, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert with Protoje, and graced major festival stages across Europe, North America, and the Caribbean. Blending reggae with soul, R&B, hip-hop, and dancehall, Lila Iké delivers a genre-bending sound rooted in vulnerability and truth. Her songwriting explores mental health, spirituality, love, and identity—often informed by her own lived experiences, including her openness about navigating bipolar depression.
As a collaborator, she has worked with a diverse set of Jamaican stars like Skillibeng, Ini Kamoze, and Protoje and international artists including H.E.R., Davido, Jorja Smith, WSTRN, and she earned three back-to-back Best Female Reggae Artist awards at the Caribbean Music Awards. In August 2025, Lila released her highly anticipated debut album Treasure Self Love (Wurl Iké Records / In.Digg.Nation Collective / Ineffable Records), which earned her first-ever GRAMMY nomination for Best Reggae Album—a major milestone that affirmed her growing influence in Jamaica’s musical renaissance. Executive produced by Protoje, the album blends reggae, R&B, and dancehall into a modern Jamaican sound. The 11-track project features standout collaborations including the upbeat “All Over The World” (ft. Protoje), the sultry “Fry Plantain” (ft. Joey Bada$$), “Romantic” (ft. Masicka), and the moving duet “He Loves Us Both” (ft. H.E.R.)—the latter named one of the Best Songs of 2024 by The New York Times.
Recorded at Habitat Studio and Kingston’s iconic Tuff Gong Studios, Treasure Self Love is a meditation on healing, ancestry, and radical self-acceptance. The album’s release sparked widespread critical praise from major outlets, who highlighted Lila’s sonic evolution and fearless introspection. As Billboard described it, the project is “a succinct study of achieving wholeness by unflinchingly examining the darkest parts of your past,” while Colors praised its “radiant, soulful fusion of reggae and R&B.”
Lila continues to captivate audiences with her stirring live performances and message of empowerment on her Treasure Self Love Tour, which has already covered parts of Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States. Her nonprofit, the Blessings & Light Foundation, further reflects her dedication to mental health advocacy and creative empowerment for youth across
Jamaica.
Representing Jamaica on the global stage, Lila Iké is part of a new generation reshaping the boundaries of reggae.
Whether singing about heartbreak, liberation, or spiritual awakening, she brings a rare combination of emotional honesty, commanding vocals, and timeless soul. Lila Iké stands firmly at the forefront of reggae’s future—an artist whose voice transcends borders, genres, and generations.
