Popcaan In Concert
A Jamaican superstar who transcends any boundaries between reggae and contemporary R&B, Popcaan makes his mark with music that creates a positive impact without sacrificing any of dancehall's power to move. He continues to set new standards for the music he loves whether he's collaborating with Drake, AlunaGeorge, and Pusha T, or cultivating the talents in his own Unruly family of artists.
Born on the Caribbean island of Saint Thomas in 1988, the artist formerly known as Andrae Hugh Sutherland was still a teenager when he became a protégé of Vybz Kartel, one of dancehall's preeminent performers and producers. A thrilling feature spot on Kartel's 2010 hit "Clarks" served as the young singer's launching pad, winning him the best new artist prize in Jamaica's Excellence in Music Awards. Club anthems like "Ravin," "Party Shot," and "When Mi Party" established Popcaan as a singer whose supple, expressive voice had little need for the Auto-Tune enhancements so many of his dancehall peers relied on.
A single from his 2012 mixtape Chromatic Presents Yiy Change with DJ Niko Chromatic, "Only Man She Want" marked his international breakthrough when it became his first song to hit Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Appearances on Pusha T's Wrath of Caine mixtape and the rapper's Top 5 debut album My Name Is My Name in 2013 boosted his profile outside Jamaica, too.
After signing with Mixpack, Popcaan released his debut Where We Come From in 2014. Critics at Pitchfork, Billboard, The Guardian and many more media outlets praised its combination of inspirational messages, pop melodicism, deep-bottomed grooves, and innovative production. Along with the success of singles like "Everything Nice" and more releases on his own Unruly label, the album furthered Popcaan's rising popularity in the U.K. and U.S. Popcaan's credits include appearances on Jamie xx's "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)," AlunaGeorge's "I'm in Control," and Gorillaz's "Saturnz Barz." Drake — a friend since Popcaan came to Toronto to shoot his video for "Unruly Rave" — also invited him to perform on the European leg of his Boy Meets World tour.
In 2018, Popcaan confirmed his place as the new king of dancehall when his second album, Forever, entered Billboard's Reggae chart at No. 2 and spawned two of his sultriest and most irresistible hits in "Wine for Me" and "My Type."
