Genre-bending Jamaican dancehall singer Popcaan rose to international success in the early 2010s thanks to singles like âOnly Man She Wantâ and âParty Shot.â First as a prominent member of Vybz Kartelâs posse and later through work with Dre Skullâs Mixpak label as well as Drakeâs OVO Sound roster, the versatile and prolific artist transcended genres through his own singles and on tracks like Jamie xxâs 2015 smash âI Know Thereâs Gonna Be (Good Times)â and Gorillazâs 2017 âSaturnz Barz,â all leading up to the release of his 2018 sophomore album, Forever. After the 2020 Fixtape mixtape, he focused on churning out singles including 2022â˛s âSkeleton Cartier,â and âWe Caa Doneâ with Drake off 2023â˛s Great Is He.
Popcaanâs dancehall journey began in 2007 when he joined Vybz Kartelâs posse and was introduced to the Jamaican public via Kartelâs shows at festivals like Reggae Sumfest and Sting. Singles like âIt Nuh Work So,â âJah Jah Protect Me,â âHot Grabba,â and âGangsta Cityâ helped make Popcaan a regular feature of Jamaican radio, but in 2010 he became a global reggae name when he landed on the remix of Kartelâs massive hit âClarks.â The year 2011 saw Popcaan hit big with the solo singles âRavinâ and âParty Shot,â but the next yearâs âOnly Man She Wantâ hit even bigger, winding up on reggae and R&B radio worldwide along with aptly titled compilations like Reggae Gold 2012 and Certified Boomshots.
As Kartel landed in prison facing murder charges, Popcaan became the leading artist in his mentorâs camp, dubbed Gaza or Gaza Empire. Singles and mixtapes like 2013â˛s Yiy Change kept the Gaza Empire in focus, while 2014â˛s Where We Come From broadened Popcaanâs horizon with electro production coming from Brooklynâs Dre Skull. The album was released by Skullâs Mixpak label and debuted at number two on Billboardâs Top Reggae Albums chart. In December of that year, a collaborative album between Popcaan and the still-imprisoned Kartel appeared under the title Gaza Unruly.
Over the next two years, Popcaanâs appearances on high-profile tracks like Jamie xxâs âI Know Thereâs Gonna Be (Good Times)â and AlunaGeorgeâs âIâm in Control,â as well as a bevy of his own singles including 2016â˛s âOva Dweetâ and 2017â˛s âFamily,â ensured that he remained in the limelight as he prepared his second album. In early 2017, he appeared on Gorillazâs track âSaturnz Barzâ and served as Drakeâs opening act during a stint in Europe. A year later, he delivered his sophomore full-length, Forever.
Continued associations with Drake led to Popcaanâs signing with Drakeâs OVO Sound label in late 2018. His first effort was the Vanquish mixtape, a ten-song project that saw release in December 2019. The Fixtape mixtape appeared a year later in 2020 and again featured Drake as well as guests like PARTYNEXTDOOR and Jada Kingdom, peaking at number 94 on the Billboard 200. Throughout 2021, he released and was featured on a barrage of tracks ranging from solo efforts like âWinâ and âWine All Dayâ to Solid Focus Riddim, a joint EP with Furnace and Zamunda. Popcaanâs first solo cut of 2022 was âSkeleton Cartier.â In January 2023, the singer again paired with Drake for âWe Caa Done,â the first track off his fifth studio album Great Is He. ~ David Jeffries