Rolling Stone Magazine has placed Popcaan’s debut album Where We Come From at No. 197 on its prestigious list of the 250 Best Albums of the 21st Century. This recognition cements Popcaan’s global impact on music and his role as a trailblazer in modern dancehall.
In their review, Rolling Stone wrote, “Popcaan’s Where We Come From is a major watermark for dancehall, and it is his most cohesive and fully realized LP to date. Reaching Number Two on Billboard’s Top Reggae Albums chart, Popcaan’s debut — whose lead single, ‘Everything Nice,’ garnered over 5 million YouTube views — is a mashup of politically charged hymns and seductive, dance-floor-filling riddims. The title track brims with uplifting mojo, with a chorus (‘Never forget the dump land/or where me come from’) that’s all about staying true while flinging off adversity. And ‘Cool It’ — all sparky synths and sexy percussion — is breezy and intoxicating. Where We Come From is coming from a spectacular place.”
Where We Come From is the debut studio album by the Jamaican dancehall artist, released on June 10, 2014, by Mixpak Records. The album features production from Dre Skull (also the executive producer), Dubbel Dutch, Anju Blaxx, Jaime YVP, and Adde Instrumentals.
Speaking to World Music Views on Friday, Popcaan expressed gratitude for the recognition:
“It’s an honour to see Where We Come From recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest albums of the 21st century. This means so much to me because the album represents my story, my journey, and where I’m coming from as an artist and a person — from St. Thomas, Jamaica, to the world. To know it has connected with people globally and now holds a place on such an iconic list is humbling. It shows the power of staying true to yourself and your roots.”
The St.Thomas deejay also reflected on the hard work and passion behind the album’s creation:
“Where We Come From is a decade old and was a work of love. I poured my heart and soul into every track, making sure it reflected my life, my experiences, and the stories of the people around me. It took countless hours in the studio, working with talented producers like Dre Skull and my team, fine-tuning the sound to make sure it was authentic and impactful. The goal was always to create something timeless, and seeing it still resonate with listeners years later means a lot to me.
The project received widespread critical acclaim, scoring 81/100 on Metacritic, indicating “universal acclaim.” Popcaan was praised for his emotional vulnerability and thematic depth, diverging from traditional dancehall bravado to explore romantic and introspective themes. Notable tracks include “Everything Nice,” “Love Yuh Bad,” and “Where We Come From.”
The album was featured on several year-end critics’ lists, with positive reviews from Pitchfork (8.0/10), The Guardian, Billboard, The Washington Post, and others. It peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Reggae Albums chart and #21 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.
On Spotify if has surpassed 70 million streams, his third studio album to reach the milestone.
English producer James Thomas Smith aka Jamie xx’ “In Colour” (2015) which features the track I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” with Popcaan and Young Thug made the list at No. 187.
Koffee’s “Gifted” landed at No. 156 and Sean Paul’s “Dutty Rock” also made the list at No. 189.
Burna Boy’s “African Giant” (2019) landed No. 120. Beyoncé’s Lemonade was ranked at No. 1.
