Music might be a big part of his life, but for Popcaan, family is just as important.
A son, brother and father, Popcaan always takes time out of his busy schedule for his family. "I'm very close to my family, I have to have my family day inna di week for them, which is mostly on a Sunday," he said recently.
The deejay says he is especially close to his mother, who always supports his music. However, her favourite songs, he says, are not the 'hot skull songs' that have made him popular in the streets. "She likes a lot of my conscious songs weh a lot of people don't even know about. Songs like Ask Jah Jah, Gangsta City Part 2, Ghetto Alert, among others," he said.
In addition to being close to his parents, three brothers and sister, Popcaan is also close to the 'apple of his eye', his five-year-old daughter Rihanna.
"Popcaan is a very very great father, I play my part as a father, mi nuh lef my daughter. Mi haffi mek sure my daughter she nuh unhappy, mek sure she nuh short of nutten, even though me and her mother hardly talk," Popcaan said.
Even though embattled Reggae superstar, Buju Banton is currently serving a ten year prison term in Texas, his musical legacy continues to shine, in part,thanks to his son.
17 year old Meadowbrook High School graduate and son of Buju Banton, Markus Myrie has started his own record label, Markus Records; following in his iconic father’s footsteps. According to Myrie, he’s been a producer since 13 years old but became a professional at it last year.
"I've always had the love for music and I grew up around it. Especially with my father and the situation, I decide to lift up the banner and continue the legacy," Markus Myrie told the Jamaica STAR.
According to Myrie, he had a natural desire towards becoming a musician; but revealed that his father did play a role in his decision to pursue such a career. "He influenced it 50 per cent because just by being around him and seeing how he does it, plus the success, it just attracted me from I was young. Apart from that, I have a natural love for music. In a sense, I want to lift up the banner and show dem seh things can still gwaan,” Myrie intimated.
While his father was out on bail last December, Markus teamed with Buju to record the single, Lose Your Love. The single built his confidence with regards to his musical abilities and just last week, unveiled his first mainstream production, the Beating Stick Riddim, via the Gargemel Music imprint . The Riddim features singles such as Black Ryno with Gaza Beating Stick and DJ Sunshine with Badness. Additionally, Markus has produced singles for fellow prominent Dancehall & Reggae acts such as Lutan Fyah and Kiprich while promoting artistes from his new label, Humble Lion and Minando.
Currently, Myrie is taking an audio engineering course at the Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC) and is planning to release a new song featuring Black Ryno entitled, Wine Me. However, Myrie is hesitant towards recording songs of his own going forward, though it is a possibility.
Buju Banton is currently serving a ten year sentence in Groesbeck, Texas after being convicted of three drug-related charges stemming from an incident at a police-controlled warehouse in Tampa, FL. He’s expected to be released in February 2019.
However, a benefit concert, scheduled for December 3rd in Tampa, will be used to help fund Buju’s legal team in an effort to fund his appeals case. The concert will feature Gramps Morgan, Norris Man and Delly Ranx amongst several others.
Last week it was Sizzla who was pronounced dead via broadcast messages and social media. Yesterday, it was Andrew Blood who was rumoured to have been killed in a motor vehicle accident.
The message that was making its rounds on BlackBerry broadcast messenger and social network websites like Twitter and Facebook yesterday said: "Andrew Blood just crash inna a bus, yellow tape round him car and he's still inside not moving. This look serious forward this till it reach his family so they can assist him."
Some hours after the hoax began spreading, Andrew's brother, Wada Blood, refuted the claims, saying, "Some bwoy fi go look a job and stop spread rumours pon artiste. Mi and Andrew good, safe, sound and alright."
When contacted, Andrew Blood was most upset.
"Mi good, mi alright. Nutten like dat, a rumour. Mi alive and well. A just some unscrupulous people a try sup'm. Dem really go over the line and dem need fi stop. You can't just blast sup'm like that," the son of veteran reggae artiste Junior Reid told THE STAR.
"Mi madda deh a England and get the message and she call and a cry. She is very sickly and she have high blood pressure. Mi a nuh di only person weh this happen to but mi hope mi a di last. Dem nuffi run dem joke deh 'cause it nuh funny. Why dem neva blast out one a mi song or seh mi a shoot a video this Saturday?"
He added that the message had his family, friends and fans from all over the world worrying. Andrew Blood said the worrying seemed to intensify when his phone died and people weren't able to get through to him. Many of these persons, he said, sourced his office number to verify the information.
"Dem call and a cry like wow. It's not a good feeling," he said, reflecting on the recent death rumour involving fellow dancehall artiste Sizzla.
While the situation isn't ideal, Andrew Blood said it also showed how much he is loved.
"Just mek everybody know seh mi alright and the entire 'Blood' family good. Give thanks for the concern and showing support. Mi neva know seh a so much people love me. Mi glad fi see the energy weh out fi see seh mi alright. Mi sorry to anybody weh get dat message. Mi alive and well, bun out badmind and negativity," he said.
More artistes have been confirmed for Buju Banton’s benefit concert this December; aimed at funding the Reggae legend’s upcoming appeal regarding his 10 year sentence this past February.
Prominent Reggae artistes, Norris Man and Glen Washington have been confirmed to perform at Buju’s benefit concert along with “High Grade” singer, Tony Curtis and Miami-based Reggae/Roots singer, Gail Ann. The event, promoted by Taranee J Production in coalition with Supa D Promotions, is scheduled to take place Saturday December 3rd at the Supa D Tropical Bar & Grill in Tampa, Florida; commencing at 1pm. Patrons seeking to attend the special, outdoor event will donate US$20 to support the cause.
In addition to the aforementioned artistes confirmed for the event, internationally acclaimed Reggae artiste, Capleton is a strong probability to perform at the concert, according to the promoters of the event. Meanwhile, other Reggae acts such Lutan Fyah, Jigsy King, Morgan Heritage singer, Gramps Morgan & Big Ship master, Freddie McGregor have yet to be confirmed for the benefit concert. However, they have all expressed interest in performing at the Florida-based stage show while many surprise artistes are also expected to perform at the event.
Buju Banton was convicted on three drug charges in relation to a December 2009 incident in which he conspired to organize a drug deal in a police controlled warehouse. He is currently serving his ten sentence at the Limestone County Correctional Institution in Groesbeck, Texas. The “Destiny” singer is scheduled to be released from prison on February 1, 2019; counting time already served between his two drug trials. However, Buju’s legal team has long indicated that they would appeal his conviction in an effort to reduce his sentence.
Not necessarily an alter ego just yet, but Assassin has recorded a song with a new name and a different voice.
Under the moniker 'Wash Belly', Assassin has done a song called Up In A Life on Boardhouse Records' 'Big Dog' Rhythm that was released more than a month ago.
He explained that the Wash Belly character came about when he was writing a song for someone on the rhythm and then went on to do a demo. After the song was complete, "somebody was saying it sounds good as it is."
Assassin said it was then released as a song done by Wash Belly. However, the artiste said he would not necessarily say it is an alter ego.
"It wouldn't be an alter ego 'cause I had no intention of claiming credit for it. I was just putting songs out as somebody else who doesn't exist. The initial idea was to just put this song out as a mystery artiste kinda vibe," said the artiste, who refers to his more conscious side as Agent Sasco.
new challenge
Since the release of the song, even without the name Assassin being attached to it, he said the reviews have been good.
"Everybody a seh da artiste ya must buss. I take it as a new challenge that I am looking forward to. It is just something interesting to do," he said.
But as for the future of Wash Belly, Assassin said he does not have another song lined up as yet, but he might explore the idea of making it an alter ego.
"I guess I will go into the alter ego kinda vibe and find a personality for the character. For now, it's recording a song with a different vibe that is not Assassin or Agent Sasco. Where it goes from there? I am still trying to figure that out," he told THE STAR.
While the experience is new and fun, Assassin said there is also a sad reality in the story. The deejay said that despite the good reception on the Internet, the song is not played on the air.
"People appreciate the song when they hear it but the song doesn't get played. It highlights a sad reality that not a lot of people are willing to play new artistes. If we don't introduce new artistes and new talent, what is going to be the future?" he questioned.
Nonetheless, he said he is currently pushing upcoming artistes like Ricky Frass, Lady Ali, Max Element and Tajii.
In addition, he said he is contemplating a music video for his song Late and another song, JPS, which is also doing well.
Reggae ambassador Duane Stephenson recently arrived in the island after a historic performance in the Asian country of Taiwan alongside The Wailers Band at the Rainbow Bay Festival in Yancheng district, Kaohsiung.
Stephenson, who travelled to Taiwan days after completing his month long tour of South America, has been spreading the positive values of reggae all year round having toured the US from January to June, and Europe with Tarrus Riley during the summer.
Now back for a short rest break, Duane Stephenson will hit the road again in a few days making his first stop at the 16th staging of the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. The international multi-sport event which is said to attract some 6,000 athletes from over 42 nations will commence on October 14 and run up until October 30.
Duane Stephenson is now gearing up to release a brand new music video for the single Sufferer's Heights which is featured on his Black Gold album. The video comes on the heels of a successful promotional campaign for his Better Tomorrow song which is a charge to save humanity from self destruction.
