Andrae Hugh Sutherland, known professionally as Popcaan, grew up in Portmore on the Southeastern coast of Jamaica in a housing project called ‘Gangsta City’. It was a rough upbringing, but Sutherland's childhood fed the roots that still ground him as an artist.
He joined Vybz Kartel’s Gaza Music Empire in 2007, after approaching the dancehall hero at a local jam. Kartel became Popcaan,’s producer and his mentor – showing him the ropes of the music industry and introducing him to the public at festivals like Reggae Sumfest and Sting.
Popcaan became a regular feature on Jamaican radio with singles like ‘It Nuh Work So’, ‘Jah Jah Protect Me’, ‘Hot Grabba’ and ‘Gangsta City’, but he landed on the global reggae scene in 2010 with massive hit ‘Clarks’; a Vybz Kartel collaboration and ode to the popular shoe brand. The song caused a nationwide spike in sales of the British shoe and in 2011 it won two Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Awards: Dancehall Song of the Year and Collaboration of the Year. Popcaan also received the award for Best New Male Artist.
2011 also brought Popcaan success with solo singles ‘Ravin’ and ‘Party Shot’ but it was 2012’s ‘Only Man She Want’ that placed him on reggae and R&B radio worldwide.
In 2013, Popcaan, signed with Mixpak Records through which he released his debut studio album, Where We Come From, in 2014. It debuted at number two on Billboard’s Top Reggae Albums chart and received universal acclaim. Popcaan, worked with several producers on the album but notably executive producer Dre Skull’s electronic influences broadened the dancehall artist’s horizon.
Over the next few years, Popcaan, was featured on Jamie xx’s ‘I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times), AlunaGeorge’s ‘I’m in Control’ and Gorillaz’ ‘Saturn Barz’. He also released singles in his own name, including ‘Ova Dweet’ (2016) and ‘Family’ (2017), and served as Drake’s opening act on a tour in Europe.
In 2018, Popcaan released his sophomore album, Forever, via Mixpak but later that year he signed to Drake’s OVO Sound. His first project became the 2019 mixtape Vanquish and his third album, Fixtape, arrived a year later featuring guests like Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR and Jada Kingdom.
Popcaan’s ever-expanding list of collaborations now also includes names like Pusha T, Giggs, Matoma, Wale, Davido, Burna Boy and Jorja Smith – to name a few.
The prolific Jamaican rang in 2023 with another Drake collab, ‘We Caa Done’; the lead single from his new album, Great Is He, which was released on 27 January, 2023.
