Skillibeng Praises Popcaan’s Mentorship: “Ah Mi G Like Dat”

Both the E Syde and Unruly Camp are showing out for St Thomas, as Skillibeng and Popcaan each just wrapped up a wildly successful year.  From video cameos to resort chillouts, Popcaan and Skillibeng ’s friendship was on full display in 2020.

The latter acknowledged the Unruly Boss as a mentor in his recent BBC 1Xtra interview, giving him props for looking out for himself as well as other young artists. 

Host Seani B referenced the track Pree  from Skillibeng’s new mixtape The Prodigy, calling it a “St. Thomas bedrin and bredrin link up”. The upbeat banger produced by Dane Ray sees Skillibeng dropping bars in Popcaan’s defense (How yuh fi badmind through Poppy trim ah buzz?/ From yuh violate Poppy, den di trigger pump) and the host wanted a breakdown of the artists’ bond. 

“Me an Poppy good like dat man, cah hear wah now,” Skillibeng began. “Poppy look out fi young artist dem inna one different way. An ah nuh now me know Poppy too. Me know Poppy from long time. Poppy eva ah a look out fi Skillibeng.”

The artist continued, “Him waah see Skillibeng reach ah some level weh nobody nah too pree fi Skillibeng, an mi respect him fi dat coz is a motivation to Sklillibeng too, cause if ah star ah tell yuh seh yuh need fi reach certain level an yuh have di talent fi dweet, dem ting deh kinda inspirational so big up to Popcaan.” 

He explained the full-circle moment of being under the 876GUD’s guidance having long been a fan.

“Popcaan is just a mentor fi Skillibeng an a example, coz mi grow ah listen to Gaza an di whole ah dem ting deh so mi jus have a level a respect fi Popcaan weh different, because him look out fi mi an mek sure seh everyting good wid di artist and mek sure seh mi always active musically so big up Popcaan. Ah mi G like dat.” 

Years of hard work and Popcaan’s knowledgeable patronage have officially put Skillibeng on the map, and the youngblood was blown away when told he was 1Xtra’s Hot For 2021 artist. “B—t!! he exclaimed, “Seani B, ah weh dem ah go do!”

When asked what the prestigious nod meant to him, Skillibeng quipped, ‘Dem ting yah mean everyting to me, dem ting ah weh we do music for. Fi wi numbers go up, fi wi ratings go up, fi  people respect we, an see wah we a do, an see di amount ah work weh we put in. Dem ting yah ah wah we go after, even di nomination mi did happy for. Dem ting yah ah wah we ah work for.” 

Check out the full interview below for reactions to the mixtape, his favorite track from the project, his defense of Trap Dancehall, and his 2021 itinerary.