2016 Was The Unruly Boss’s Biggest Year, As Papi Showed The World How To Over Dweet
Earlier this week Popcaan dropped the official music video for “Nah Idle,” a tune produced by Mini for UK-based E5 Records that pretty much sums up the Unruly Boss’s amazing year. “We nuh beg people, so no bwoy can style me,” Andrae Hugh Sutherland sings in the video as a focused schoolboy does his best to concentrate inside the unruliest classroom imaginable. Way back in February Popcaan posted to his IG a prayer that he wrote when he himself was a schoolboy. “God is real and he did answer that prayer I pray to him a long time ago🙏🏼 #givethanks.” Around that same time Popcaan also released a web documentary called “Abundant Life,” which revealed a whole new side of the artist once known as the “Raving King” as he read from Psalms 40 and 59 above the sound of a crackling fire and the beat of Niyabinghi drums: “I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me out of the horrible pit and out of the miry clay. He set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song into my mouth…” Since that time what a year Popcaan has had: high-profile collabs, soundtracking Nike advertising campaigns, watching Bolt celebrate his Olympic gold with Popcaan’s tune “World Cup,” celebrating his second consecutive MoBO win for Best Reggae Act with a live performance in Scotland, rocking OVO Fest in Toronto, starring alongside Drake in a short film, winning the Red Bull Culture Clash with a custom dubplate of “One Dance.” While it’s true that Popcaan’s vastly superior version of “Controlla” was omitted from Drake’s album Views, so was Jay Z and Kanye West’s version of “Pop Style.” While Kanye ranted about the decision, Popcaan held his peace. Of course Unruly fans were disappointed on the morning the Drake album finally dropped, but while they were busy filling @ChampagnePapi‘s IG with 🍿🍿🍿 emojis, Popcaan was filling their ears with a brand new banger called “Over Dweet.” Although Popcaan’s Instagram seems to depict a mostly carefree life, none of the blessings he enjoys came easy. Video After The Jump…
“Idlers the devil will find you” Run that…
Popcaan continued to stack hits pon toppa hits throughout the year while skipping many of 2016’s biggest juggling riddims and working instead with a handful of trusted producers. And when a lyrical sparring match with Mavado started turning nasty, he opted to cease the hostilities, proving that he has his eyes on a bigger prize. “Hard work pay off, bredda,” Popcaan told Boomshots back in March. “My music is not just what every dancehall artist ah sing… People gravitate to things me ah do, so me have to always keep me focus. Me no take time time off and me no take vacation.” Where will 2017 take Popcaan? Only God knows. But the fact that his first major stage show for the year will be the roots-and-culture-themed Rebel Salute 2017 suggests that we should all continue to expect the unexpected. WHA?!??!
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