Popcaan

Growing up in Portmore, Jamaica, Sutherland was introduced to music from an early age and became determined to pursue a music career from the age of seven. This turned to reality in 2007 when Popcaan was invited to join Vybz Kartel’s Portmore Empire who acted as his producer and mentor. On top of this Vybz Kartel showed Sutherland the ways of the music industry and accompanied him to huge shows including Sting and Reggae Sumfest. Showcasing his eclectic dancehall style and working with the group’s in-house producer NotNice, Popcaan issued the singles “Gal Wine”, “It Nuh Work So”, “Jah Jah Protect Me”, “Gangsta City”, and “Hot Grabba” in 2009.

The singles were well-received, regularly earning airplay on Jamaican radio, and significantly raised the national exposure of the deejay and songwriter. Subsequently however, Popcaan appeared on the remix of Kartel’s song about the British shoe institution, “Clarks”, which soon became his breakthrough hit in 2010. The following year the deejay won the “Best New Artist”, Best Collaboration of the Year” (“Clarks), and “Best Song of the Year - Dancehall” (“Clarks”) at the Excellence in Music and Entertainment awards.

In 2012 the musician released the mixtape “Chromatic presents Yiy Change”, featuring the single “Only Man She Want”. The single subsequently became Popcaan’s first single to chart on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Charts, peaking at No. 89, and earned an official remix by Busta Rhymes. Following tours across the Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean, the deejay released a video for his single “Unruly Rave”, which was directed by Drake’s October’s Very Own label director Niko. In early 2014, Sutherland signed with Mizpak Records who released his debut full-length “Where We Come From” in June 2014. Led by the single “Everything Nice”, the record debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums and earned a MOBO nomination for Best Reggae Act.