Dancehall artist Popcaan and Canadian rapper Drake have collaborated on multiple songs, building one of the most recognizable musical friendships between Jamaica and mainstream hip-hop over the past decade.
Their latest collaboration, Amazing Shape, which is featured on Drake’s Maid of Honour album, debuts at No. 76 on the Billboard Hot 100.
This marks Popcaan’s first entry on the all-genre chart, which ranks the most popular songs in the United States.
Amazing Shape contains elements of the Beenie Man hit Who Am I (Sim Simma), a Billboard-charting song from 1998.
The Maid of Honour album, which sold 110,000 album-equivalent units in the United States in its first week, also features the song New Bestie, produced by Montego Bay-based producer Mxssivh.
Maid of Honour has so far charted at No. 6 in the United Kingdom and has reached the top 10 in Austria, Australia, Lithuania, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Sweden.
Popcaan and Drake’s friendship dates back more than a decade and has played a significant role in exposing dancehall to a wider international audience. Drake has long credited Jamaican music and culture as major influences on his sound, while frequently praising Popcaan’s artistry and authenticity.
Their relationship grew stronger after Popcaan joined Drake’s OVO Sound label roster in 2018. Since then, the two have maintained a close musical partnership, with Drake often bringing Popcaan out during concerts and publicly supporting his projects.
The pair first gained major attention with songs such as Controlla, All I Need, and Twist & Turn, the latter also featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR. Twist & Turn became one of Popcaan’s biggest international hits, helping further cement his presence in global music markets.
Popcaan and Drake later reunited on We Caa Done, which peaked at No. 37 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart in 2023. Meanwhile, Twist & Turn peaked at No. 30 on Rhythmic Airplay, No. 26 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and No. 36 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in 2020.
Beyond music, the two artists have frequently shown public support for each other on social media and in interviews, with Drake often referring to Popcaan as family. Their collaborations have also become highly anticipated among fans, particularly for the fusion of dancehall, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and hip-hop influences they bring to each release.
Popcaan also has new music on the way. On Monday, he premiered a new track titled Goodas Anthem.
