The small but vibrant Central American nation of Belize is in mourning this week as its music community says goodbye to one of its most influential creators: award-winning producer and musician Kendoyll Simpson, known professionally to fans and collaborators as KSBEATS. After a 24-month battle with cancer, Simpson died on Sunday, July 12 2026, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than 20 years and reshaped the modern sound of Belizean music.
Simpson’s journey into music began more than three decades ago, when his mother taught him to play the drums as a young child. His sister, Tiffany Simpson, recalled in an interview that even as a young boy, Simpson’s passion for rhythm was undeniable – too big for his small frame, even, as he would sit playing for church congregations, his feet unable to reach the bass drum pedal. From those early church performances, Simpson built a multi-faceted career that extended far beyond performance.
As a producer, audio engineer, marketer, and industry strategist, Simpson wore many hats. He specialized in mixing and mastering, a technical craft he once compared to applied physics, and also supported emerging Belizean artists by developing social media marketing strategies to help their work gain traction on platforms like YouTube. His discography crosses nearly every popular genre in the Caribbean and Central America, and he collaborated with a who’s who of regional talent, including beloved Belizean artists Melonie Gillett, Ernestine Carballo, T.R. Shyne and Jackie Castillo, as well as Caribbean icon Oscar B, who passed away shortly before Simpson.
Tiffany Simpson remembered her brother as a driven, endlessly perfectionist creator who never settled for good enough. He was a quiet, reserved person off-stage, but came alive when performing and producing, bringing a one-of-a-kind sonic flavor to every project he touched. His impact stretches far beyond Belize’s borders, cementing his status as a globally recognized talent who put Belizean music on the regional map.
Remarkably, Simpson continued working in his studio through the most difficult stages of his cancer treatment, remaining active until his body could no longer keep up. Earlier this year, he contributed to a track that went on to win the prestigious Soca Monarch competition. He is survived by his 10-year-old daughter, leaving behind a musical legacy that will shape Belizean music for generations to come.