amaicas Andrae’PopcanSutherland broke through with a bit of cultural cross-pollination. In 2010 he shared the single Clarks with the more established names dance hall musician Vybz Cartel, a lively paean to Britain’s eternal high street shoe store. “Everyone should be asking if we dust off my Clarks/Di leather hard, di suede soft/Toothbrush,” they chanted, without adding that the back to school range is an ideal blend of hard-wearing and affordable .
Today he is a huge star in his home country, running his own festival, Unruly, in his home parish of St. Thomas and carrying the flame for the energetic dancehall sound, as well as acting as a bridge to all sorts of other musical styles. He has been on UK rap tracks with Giggs and Kano, made dramatic electronic pop with Gorillaz, soul with Jorja Smith, dance music with Jamie xx and melodic afrobeats with Nigerian superstar Burna Boy.
Most lucratively, he continues to work with Canadian giant Drake, who has long been a vacuum cleaner for international sounds and has found his meandering vocals to be a sweet counterpoint to Popcaan’s layered Auto-Tuned voice. Drake signed him to his record label OVO Sound, took him on a European tour and sings with him again on this fourth album on We Caa Done. Popcaan’s urgent vocals scrape attractively against Drake’s more relaxed tones while warm piano chords and twisted female voices provide the melody.
He’s more old-fashioned on another Burna Boy duet, with a scintillating saxophone sample that keeps the mood upbeat. Popcaan’s voice is lighter and less gruff than many of his dancehall peers, and he likes to embrace his cornier side, especially on Next to Me, a very melodic love song in which he duets with his rumored girlfriend, Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh, and suggest, “We could go anywhere / Anywhere you want / Take you on a cruise / Girl you’re so pretty.”
Skeleton Cartier is as sunny as he is modest, and only halfway through a long collection does he try something tough. Set It is minimal and fast, dominated by rough electronic bass tones.
Overall, it all flows almost too smoothly, touching on his upbringing on St. Thomas Native and praising God on the slower title track. There aren’t enough songs that stand out to reach an even bigger crossover audience, but he’ll certainly be able to afford as many new pairs of shoes as he needs.
(OVO sound)