‘Wah gwan, Popcaan?’, Vybz Kartel inquires knowingly of his top protégé on the 2010 worldwide, shoe-lovers anthem, “Clarks.” Popcaan replies eagerly, but with questions of his own for the dancehall ‘teacher’. ‘A weh yuh get deh new Clarks deh, dawdi?’, before deciding, ‘The queen fi England affi love off yawdi.’ Since that monster hit, the pair have been inseparable, even during Vybz Kartel’s thirteen-year incarceration.
Popcaan, born Andrae Hugh Sutherland, knew humble beginnings in the eastern Jamaica countryside, in the parish of St. Thomas. At a young age, Popcaan moved to the city of Portmore, in St. Catherine parish, on the southeast side of the island. Portmore would be where he met Vybz Kartel, inking his first record deal with the Portmore Empire Music Group in 2008. In early 2010, Popcaan released his first solo single, “Gangster City.” The track that introduced the artist to the world recalls his “rough” upbringing in the so-called Gangsta City housing project in Portmore. He describes it as a place “where dog eat dog” and where neither he nor any of his friends were raised “like girls.”
Best Mood, his latest project, is a “fixtape” released on Christmas Day, 2023. It is the younger, leaner, more versatile twin of Popcaan’s magnum opus, Great Is He, released in January of the same year. The artist’s second LP of 2023 unwraps like a gift to his loyal fans. Here, Popcaan stays lithe and composed, as the tracks seamlessly drift one into the other. The record almost feels like one song divided into fifteen pieces, with a variety of toppings.
In Jamaica, dancehall is a lifestyle, and the male dancehall artist is an apex predator. With the highest murder rate in the Caribbean, security is paramount in the island’s cutthroat climate. The self-described “unruly boss” takes a self-defensive posture with “Gun Necessary.” A ubiquitous survival tune with anti-violence sensibilities. ‘Me nah push no violence’, he declares, ‘but me gun necessary.’
Popcaan has come a long way from the days of being known as Vybz Kartel’s apprentice, and despite his short stature —standing at only five feet, five inches— Popcaan is already a giant locally and overseas, in his own league. He has climbed the global music charts with hits including “Twist & Turn,” featuring Canadian rappers Drake and PartyNextDoor. More recently he stood toe-to-toe with Drake on “We Caa Done.”
“Tequila Shots—Remix” is a full-circle moment featuring Popcaan’s mentor, Vybz Kartel. Produced by TRAVISYNAD, the track was recorded and mixed while Vybz Kartel was still serving time at a maximum-security prison in Kingston, for murder charges that have since been dismissed. It is a smooth, cooling down for the rollercoaster ride that is Best Mood, boasting a minimalist beat with an inspired backing autotune hum.
The independently released project features production from a number of the deejay’s frequent collaborators, such as Dre Skull, Anju Blaxx, and Fanatix. Guest appearances also include New York-based Fivio Foreign and Jamaica’s own Shane-O. Popcaan’s flow is effortless, juggling songs about women, to non-stop partying, to Second Amendment rights anthems. At its core, Best Mood is a ceaseless, high-energy, dancehall dance party.
The Christmas fixtape culminates with the sobering duo of “Save Energy” and “Life Is Real.” The former, a reminder for conservation, ‘Save energy fi the next round’, while the latter reflects on the gift of life, ‘Can’t make them take mine away.’ “The struggle” is a constant theme spanning his fifteen-year music career. “Life is Real” is no different, highlighting how isolating ‘pain’ can feel. Best Mood further solidifies Popcaan as the quintessential Jamaican dancehall artist of his generation, showing off growth, versatility, and range. G&S
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