‘Me never figet weh me a come from’ - Popcaan makes epic entrance at Unruly Fest

W hen he made his entrance at Unruly Fest in Morant Bay, St Thomas, on Sunday morning, superstar Popcaan made a massive statement in being transported to the stage by a crane.

Dangling from the sky and strapped to a harness, the 'Unruly Boss' had the entire Goodyear Oval in awe at the lengths (or heights) that he would go to ensure that the show stamps its class on the live entertainment scene.

Clad in a silver 'spacesuit', the Inviolable singer made what was perhaps one of the best entrances we've seen from a local dancehall act in recent times, and he followed up the epic moment with a strong musical presentation.

As he opened with a commanding performance of his 2010 hit Dream, the moment was exactly as he had penned on that track.

"Dem seh mi clothes dem never clean

And mi nah live fi see seventeen

But now mi clothes dem ever clean

From mi get di big song pon di scene

All a dis come in like is a dream."

A more fitting opening song could not have been chosen.

Biggest acts

Having overcome tremendous obstacles on his journey to the top, Popcaan, whose given name is Andre Sutherland, started the decade as a rising star in dancehall, and he's closing it as one of the biggest acts in the industry.

"Me forward from a place round deh suh, round a Bath, round a Hayfield. Nuff people nuh know about it; dem probably never heard about these places. A deh so Popcaan forward from, up inna some bush," he shared during his performance.

He continued: "God bless me wid a talent weh me a share wid di world. Unnu know why mi keep da show yah a St Thomas? A because me never figet weh me a come from, yuh hear dat?"

Popcaan had the crowd completely captivated from the start of his set until the very end, so much so that even when the heavens opened up and it began pouring, patrons refused to move an inch, braving the downpour just so they could soak up every bit of his performance.

Saluting the 'thugs' and catering to the ladies, Popcaan ensured that all his fans were satisfied as he fed them hit after hit from his extensive catalogue. His set included deliveries of songs such as Only Man She Want , Party Shot , My Type , Firm and Strong , and Gangsters City. His delivery was so good, the crowd seemed not to have noticed that despite the heavy promotion of international acts, aside from a brief showing from American rapper Cassanova, there were no overseas guest appearances.

In any case, the absence of a Drake or Davido, who were rumoured to be the surprise acts, did not take away from the show. Big-league artise such as Sanchez, Bounty Killer, Stylo G, Chronic Law, Quada, Capleton, Mr Lexx, Frisco Kid, Agent Sasco, and Protoje all delivered commanding performances.

Event producer NotNice, in an interview with THE STAR, said that he is anticipating an even bigger event in 2020.

"I think dem need to dig off some more a di land and widen the road so we get some more space. Popcaan is for St Thomas, so me, personally, wouldn't want see him bring the show go a Town," he said.

"St Thomas people need this. People outside a park car, a sell dem chicken, dem soup. It's a hustling day, a source of income, and di people out here nuh normally see so much activity. Not even Paul Bogle bring so much activity inna di place, so we thankful for the festival, and we give thanks fi Popcaan."