Few artists in modern dancehall have built a catalogue as sprawling, genre-fluid, or globally resonant as Popcaan.
From his early days in Vybz Kartel’s Gaza camp to OVO Sound collaborations with Drake, the best Popcaan songs span raw street anthems, lush lover’s rock, dancehall-electronic crossovers, and spiritual reflections.
This ranked list draws on chart data, critical reception, and the historical weight each record carries in the Unruly boss’s career. If you are new to his work or simply need a definitive guide, start here.
Who Is Popcaan? A Brief Background
Born Andrae Hugh Sutherland on July 19, 1988, in Saint Thomas, Jamaica, the artist known as Popcaan is a master of dancehall and reggae fusion.
He grew up in Portmore on the southeastern coast of Jamaica in a housing project called “Gangsta City,” an environment that would fuel some of his most vivid early writing.
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 mentor, showing him the ropes of the music industry and introducing him to the public at festivals like Reggae Sumfest and Sting.
As Kartel landed in prison facing murder charges, Popcaan became the leading artist in his mentor’s camp, dubbed Gaza or Gaza Empire.
In 2013, Popcaan signed with Mixpak Records and released his debut studio album, Where We Come From.
In 2016, Popcaan signed with Canadian rapper Drake’s record label OVO Sound and Warner Records. The catalogue that followed is one of the most eclectic in Jamaican music history.
As of the time of writing, Popcaan’s discography consists of five studio albums, three mixtapes, five extended plays, 151 singles, 15 singles as a featured artist, and 26 music videos. Narrowing that output to 30 essential tracks is no small task. Here is our ranked selection.
The 30 Best Popcaan Songs, Ranked
30. Gangsta City (2010)
2010’s “Gangsta City” had Popcaan waxing poetic about the hard-knock life in his native St. Thomas Parish.
He has said that it was this song, more than any other, that made people start to take him and his music seriously. It is the foundation on which everything else was built.
29. Jah Jah Protect Me (2009)
One of the earliest solo records to circulate from the Gaza camp, “Jah Jah Protect Me” established the spiritual dimension that Popcaan would return to throughout his career.
Popcaan became a regular feature on Jamaican radio with singles like “It Nuh Work So,” “Jah Jah Protect Me,” “Hot Grabba,” and “Gangsta City.”
28. Hot Grabba (2009)
Another early fan favourite that circulated widely on the Jamaican sound-system circuit. Popcaan began making music for Adidjaheim Productions with then in-house producer NotNice, the first person to voice him professionally.
He got off to a strong start with “Gal Wine” on the Gal Farm riddim, following up with hits including “It Nuh Work So,” “Jah Jah Protect Me,” “Gangsta City,” “Dream,” and “Hot Grabba.”
27. Dream (2009)
An introspective cut from the Gaza sessions that showed Popcaan’s capacity for vulnerability alongside his more combative material.
Its melodic construction hinted at the crossover appeal he would fully realize later.
26. Ravin (2011)
At the Youth View Awards, Popcaan stepped away with “Favourite Summer Song” and “Local Chart-Topping Song of the Year” for “Ravin.”
The track cemented his post-Kartel solo identity on the Jamaican party circuit.
25. Party Shot (Raving Pt. 2) (2011)
In the summer of 2011, Popcaan released “Ravin” followed by “Party Shot” on T.J. Records’ Smudge Riddim and “Only Man She Want.” “Party Shot” extended the euphoric energy of “Ravin” and kept Popcaan on heavy rotation heading into 2012.
24. Unruly Prayer (2013)
A devotional track released during the period when Popcaan was establishing his own Unruly imprint, bridging the gap between his street credentials and the faith-based themes that would deepen on later albums.
23. El Chapo (2016)
One of the standout selections from the Gaza Unruly era that demonstrated Popcaan’s ability to craft an undeniable riddim-driven anthem with a cinematic character study at its centre.
His international singles include “Only Man She Want,” “Everything Nice,” “Ova Dweet,” “El Chapo,” and “Family.”
22. Should’ve Been Me (Naughty Boy featuring Kyla and Popcaan, 2016)
The record charted in the United Kingdom, with “Should’ve Been Me” by Naughty Boy featuring Kyla and Popcaan reaching number 61 in 2016.
Popcaan’s feature demonstrated his comfort operating within UK pop-leaning production while retaining his dancehall cadence.
21. Weed Is My Best Friend (2015)
A fan-favourite deep cut that thrived on the summer festival circuit and remained a perennial crowd-pleaser at Unruly Fest performances, representing the more playful, carefree side of his catalogue.
20. Family (2017)
Over the years, Popcaan’s own singles including 2016’s “Ova Dweet” and 2017’s “Family” ensured that he remained in the limelight as he prepared his second album.
“Family” leans into a warm, devotional register that points directly toward the spiritual themes of his later work.
19. Risky (Davido featuring Popcaan, 2019)
Popcaan’s collaboration “Risky” with Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido has officially surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, while also pulling over 50 million streams on Spotify.
Originally released ahead of Davido’s album A Good Time, “Risky” became one of Davido’s biggest international crossover records while further strengthening Popcaan’s global catalogue and reach.
18. Can’t Hold We Down (with Kano, 2019)
Popcaan earned his eighth silver certification in the United Kingdom with “Can’t Hold We Down,” a 2019 collaboration with British rapper Kano.
The track is a masterclass in cross-genre collaboration, with Popcaan’s Jamaican cadence and Kano’s East London flow making an unlikely but cohesive pairing.
17. Over (Jorja Smith featuring Popcaan, 2020)
On the Official UK Singles Chart, “Over” by singer Jorja Smith featuring Popcaan entered at number 35.
The collaboration bridged the British neo-soul world and Jamaican dancehall in a way that felt organic rather than calculated, and it stands as one of Popcaan’s most emotionally resonant guest appearances.
16. I’m in Control (AlunaGeorge featuring Popcaan, 2016)
“I’m in Control” is a song by English electronic music duo AlunaGeorge, featuring Jamaican dancehall singer Popcaan.
It was released on 21 January 2016 as the lead single from AlunaGeorge’s second studio album, I Remember. The track went to number 18 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Chart in 2016.
15. We Caa Done (with Drake, 2023)
Popcaan’s collaboration with Drake on “We Caa Done” in 2023 is the leading track from his fifth studio album Great Is He.
The record confirmed that the Popcaan-Drake chemistry had not cooled after a decade of collaboration, and it arrived as something of a mission statement for a new chapter.
14. Ova Dweet (2016)
One of the pivotal singles from the OVO Sound era, “Ova Dweet” showed Popcaan refining his melody-first approach and leaning into a more cosmopolitan sonic palette while keeping the Unruly swagger intact.
The single was among the tracks that ensured he remained in the limelight as he prepared his second album.
13. Kisses for Breakfast (Melissa Steel featuring Popcaan, 2014)
Released on 27 July 2014, “Kisses for Breakfast” is a song by British singer Melissa Steel featuring Popcaan. It was released as Steel’s first solo single.
The song entered and peaked at number ten on the UK Singles Chart. For many British listeners, this sun-drenched, lover’s rock-inflected single was their formal introduction to the Unruly boss.
12. Saturnz Barz (Gorillaz featuring Popcaan, 2017)
“Saturnz Barz” is a song by British virtual band Gorillaz, featuring Jamaican dancehall artist Popcaan. The song was released on 23 March 2017.
It was released as the lead single from their fifth studio album Humanz. “Saturnz Barz” reached number one on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart and number five on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.
Through this collaboration, Popcaan became the only Jamaican artist to have a song on the Rolling Stone 50 Best Songs of 2017 list.
11. I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times) (Jamie xx featuring Popcaan and Young Thug, 2015)
Popcaan’s last entry on an American mainstream chart before “Twist and Turn” was in 2015 with “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times),” which was credited to Jamie xx featuring Young Thug.
That song peaked at number 35 on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Chart.
The track became a crossover landmark, placing Popcaan in genuine pop-festival conversation for the first time.
10. Firm and Strong (2018)
Speaking to Billboard about the track, Popcaan said of “Firm and Strong”: “When I do good things, they don’t publicise it.
They don’t put those things in the media, but if they hear something negative about me, they’re quick to post it.
So I always try to stay away from the whole craziness with the media. Even in interviews, people like to get into your personal life. So a lot of the times I just go away until I have things to talk about, like now.
So that song, Firm and Strong, is just [about] things I’m going through in the industry. I was in a mood, so I just sang it and freed my mind.” That candour is precisely why it resonates.
9. Everything Nice (2018)
The album’s first single “Everything Nice,” produced by Dubbel Dutch, entered the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart at No. 2, while the video has since racked up over 30 million views.
A celebration of resilience delivered with Popcaan’s most polished melodic performance to that point, it remains the defining statement from the Forever era.
8. Forever (2018)
The title track from his second studio album is a sweeping piece of writing that fused the dancehall vocalist’s street instincts with an almost hymn-like arrangement.
His 2018 release Forever peaked at number 171 on the Billboard 200, and the title track functioned as its emotional anchor.
7. Twist and Turn (featuring Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR, 2020)
“Twist and Turn,” a track from his album Fixtape, debuted at number 38 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Songs Chart. The song features Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR.
The collaboration subsequently became Popcaan’s first song as a lead artist to surpass 100 million plays on Spotify.
The track also achieved BPI Silver certification in the UK and RIAA Gold certification in the United States.
6. Only Man She Want (2012)
Hot off the back of “Clarks,” Popcaan released a handful of mixtapes which featured “Only Man She Want” to win him stateside acclaim. The New York Times praised the tune and Busta Rhymes jumped on a remix.
In March 2012, “Only Man She Want” landed at number 89 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, his first appearance on a Billboard chart.
The song’s understated, swaying rhythm and romantic directness showed a side of Popcaan that international audiences had not previously encountered, and it opened every door that followed.
5. Inna Di Dancehall (various, Mixpak era)
The Mixpak era produced a number of club-ready cuts that crystallized what made Popcaan the dominant Jamaican dancehall voice of the mid-2010s.
Singles and mixtapes like 2013’s Yiy Change kept the Gaza Empire in focus, while 2014’s Where We Come From broadened Popcaan’s horizon with electro production coming from Brooklyn’s Dre Skull.
The Mixpak-era club material collectively represents some of the finest pure dancehall production of its decade.
4. Unruly (2013)
The record that gave his movement its name. “Unruly” functioned as a manifesto, a label identity, and an undeniable riddim piece all at once, and it arrived precisely at the moment when Popcaan was stepping out from under Kartel’s shadow and into full artistic independence. The reception in Jamaican dancehalls was immediate and definitive.
3. Where We Come From (2014)
The album-opening title track served as both autobiography and artistic declaration. His debut studio album “Where We Come From” was executive produced by Dre Skull and released in June 2014.
The 13-track album peaked at number 21 on the Billboard US Heatseekers Albums chart and debuted at number 2 on Billboard’s Reggae Album Chart.
The title track anchored that achievement and remains the purest expression of where Popcaan came from and who he resolved to become.
2. Clarks (with Vybz Kartel, 2010)
Popcaan 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. In 2011, Popcaan received the Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Award for “Best New Artist” and “Collaboration of the Year” for “Clarks” with Vybz Kartel and Gaza Slim, the song also winning the award for “Song of the Year, Dancehall.”
The tribute track topped dancehall charts from Brixton to Brooklyn. No single record did more to establish Popcaan as a force on the world stage.
1. Only Man She Want / Clarks (Legacy Tie)
After careful consideration, “Clarks” holds the historical edge as the record that launched everything, but “Only Man She Want” is the song that proved Popcaan could sustain that momentum as a solo artist on the global stage.
Together they represent the two pillars of his breakout, and either one makes a credible case for the number-one position depending on whether you measure by cultural impact or solo artistry.
Taken purely as a solo statement, “Only Man She Want” earns the top spot: The New York Times praised the tune and Busta Rhymes jumped on a remix, drifting in and out of patois in his guest verse.
All of this led to multiple spins on urban radio and Popcaan scored his first US Billboard chart entry.
It remains the record that proved a dancehall artist from St. Thomas Parish could command a global audience on his own terms.
Popcaan’s Career at a Glance
Popcaan has appeared on the cover of The Fader, obtained four consecutive nominations for MOBO Awards, two of which he won in 2015 and 2016.
On the heels of his feature on a leaked version of Drake’s global hit “Controlla,” Popcaan was asked by the hip-hop mogul to be the opening act for his Boy Meets World tour in 2017.
He is a genre-bending Jamaican dancehall singer equally popular among fans of reggae, hip-hop, and electronic dance music.
His most recent studio work, after the 2020 Fixtape mixtape, he focused on churning out singles including 2022’s “Skeleton Cartier” and “We Caa Done” with Drake off 2023’s Great Is He. He released another spiritually inspired full-length, Nothing Without God, in 2025.
The best Popcaan songs are not confined to one era, one genre, or one mood. That range is precisely what makes his catalogue worth returning to, and precisely why this list could have been 60 songs deep without padding.
