Popcaan calls out gangs on new single

Dancehall star Popcaan issues a dire warning for the violence producers and gangs in Jamaica in his new single Find Dem.

"My friend Travis Chromatic introduced me to Popcaan. One Sunday, I made a rhythm and the following Monday, I linked up at Popcaan and played the rhythm and the rest was history. The making of the song was very unorthodox. It was recorded outside," producer Karey Kelly, CEO of Karey Records, said.

The single is a joint production with Karey Records and Popcaan's label, Unruly Entertainment. The music video depicts a pickpocket snatching a senior citizen's purse, and is subsequently chased through zinc fences and dirt lanes by an angry mob keen to administer a special brand of 'jungle justice'.

"The song is not condoning violence but it is a commentary on how much pent-up anger and frustration exists in Jamaica where thieves and criminals are running rampant in our communities," Kelly said. The producer, a graduate of Wolmer's Boys' School, has also worked with artistes like Vybz Kartel, Beenie Man, Intence and Jahvillani. He grew up in Kingston, and has always been fascinated by music.

"I was always fascinated by rhythms from when I was in prep school. I always thought that Stephen Di Genius' productions just sounded futuristic and cool, so by the time I started high school in 2009, I got FL Studio (a programme to make beats) from former music producer and now-athlete Julian Forte, and I started making beats," he said.

A junior national representative in track and field at the time, Karey found it difficult to do both music and sports. However, eventually music became his central passion.

"My first official production that got me a little buzz in the streets was Chronic Law's Wild Wild West in 2019 when the whole 6ixx movement was happening," he said.

Kelly will be releasing several other singles this year from artistes, including Popcaan.