Popeye Caution is on the ball with dancehall

He may not have the powers to predict the next fashionable page that dancehall will turn, but Popeye Caution has created ripples in dancehall, from across the Atlantic Ocean to Jamaica, with his style from his breakthrough hit in 2010.

He says that right now it's about colours and designer brands, but up to seven years ago, it was about straight and fitted jeans. Popeye Caution emphasises, however, that the one thing that remains constant is that Jamaicans love a look that is clean and exclusive.

"You never really know when a trend is going to hit, but as an entertainer, you will do something today and tomorrow it blows up and before you know it, everyone is catching on," Popeye Caution told The STAR.

This is the expectation for the upcoming music video for the remix of his single Clothes Can't Done, which features Safaree. Already, the track is scoring in high-fashion circles, as it did on a New York Fashionweek runway show in September. Designer dress label Portia and Scarlett used several vocal sound effects from the artiste in the presentation of the self-titled line. With these successes, Popeye Caution is ready to make a three-pointer by launching a clothing line with stylish merchandise for both genders.

"I felt elated to be a part of something this big. Fashion and music have always been so natural to me, and seeing the fusion of both on a runway was a great experience. My music, next to my fashion sense, is extremely marketable and although I change it often, one characteristic is that it is always edgy, and I plan to invest in my own fashion brand," he said.

"The visuals are going to set the bar for fashionable, dancehall music and for productions in general because of the creativity of the team, doing what some persons don't dare to touch. Also, Safaree killed his verse and I can't wait for the world to see it."

The popularity of the former Hughenden, St Andrew resident grew organically from the electronic dance scene in South Florida, to which he migrated at an early age. There he founded one of the best underground dancehall/hip hop dance crews, inspired by Bogle's work locally. He was also given the opportunity to tour with Elephant Man, Mavado and Beenie Man.

He expressed, "The collaboration with Ding Dong, Good Ting Dem, was actually the track that redirected me to the dancehall and to follow up with a song ... I have thought about returning home, but my tracks are holding court on the international scene. A month or two wouldn't hurt; we'll see what happens when I visit in a few weeks."

Popeye Caution shared the spotlight with Aidonia on Saturday in the art district of Miami, Wynwood, for 'Smoke, Drink, Taste Live'.