Anju Blaxx from UIM Records, Uptempo International Music – just released a new hard hitting dancehall single from Jamaican dancehall artist Popcaan, titled “FRY YIY”, on Fry YiY Riddim.

Popcaan, real name Andre Sutherland, is one of the youngest members of Vybz Kartel’s Portmore Empire, also known as Gaza, that rose to big fame in the latest months.

Released in 2012, Popcaan’s “Fry Yiy” stands as one of the most defining dancehall records of the decade, marking a pivotal moment in both the artist’s career and the wider Jamaican music landscape.

Popcaan “Fry Yiy”: The Sound of a New Dancehall Moment

By 2012, Jamaican dancehall was in the middle of a subtle but decisive shift. The genre had already survived the digital explosion of the 2000s, the global crossover experiments, and what it needed next was a voice that could bridge the streets with international reach.

What made “Fry Yiy” particularly significant was its timing in Popcaan’s career. Still closely associated with Vybz Kartel’s Gaza camp, he was emerging as more than just a protégé. Where earlier tracks positioned him as a supporting character in dancehall’s ongoing narratives, “Fry Yiy” announced Popcaan as a standalone force. His vocal tone — nasal, slightly slurred, unapologetically Jamaican — cut through the riddim in a way that felt new, even though it was rooted in tradition.

Selectors played a crucial role in the song’s rise. “Fry Yiy” became a guaranteed reload in clubs and on radio mixes throughout 2012. Its structure made it ideal for transitions, clashes, and crowd control. Whether dropped early in a set to warm up the crowd or used later as a momentum booster, the record proved remarkably versatile. It was not uncommon to hear it multiple times in the same night, each spin greeted with the same enthusiasm.

That year, Popcaan’s “Fry Yiy” arrived and bridged exactly what was missing since Kartel arrest. Popcann was loud, irreverent, hungry and impossible to ignore. The song quickly became what it was supposed to: a big hit from a young artist cementing his name in dancehall history.

UIM Records designed an hypnotic rhythm engineered for sound systems, dance floors, and crowded street parties — spaces. Rather than overcrowd the beat, he let it breathe, punctuating it with sharp vocal bursts and a delivery that felt both playful and confrontational.

Built on the infectious Fry Yiy Riddim produced by UIM Records, the track quickly became a staple on sound systems, radio rotations, and international club playlists. As dancehall continued to evolve in the early 2010s, “Fry Yiy” captured the raw energy of the streets while signaling the arrival of Popcaan as a major global force. This article, written back then as soon as the song came out and updated now 14 years later,  revisits the song’s impact, atmosphere, and cultural significance within the context of 2012 dancehall and reggae music.

Following Vybz Kartel’s arrest Popcaan left the Empire and started pursuing a solo career, under a new management, causing some friction with the World Boss.

While Popcaan always bigs up his mentor, Kartel resented him, at the time, for leaving Gaza while keep saying Gaza.

Vybz Kartel signed and discovered Popcaan, also known as Poppi or Hotskull, the Unruly Boss some of his other monikers, and the two Jamaican artists recorded a lot of music together and spent a lot of hours in the recording booth crafting their hit songs. Vybz Kartel and his student Popcaan even went together in Europe for a mini tour back in 2010, click on the link for all the details.
These two artists go way back and while Popcaan has his own winning formula, Addi helped him develop his talent and bringing it to the world.

More than a decade later, “Fry Yiy” still resonates because it captures a specific energy that can’t be manufactured. It’s the sound of an artist stepping confidently into his identity, backed by a riddim that understood its purpose. In the crowded landscape of 2012 dancehall releases, Popcaan’s “Fry Yiy”  defined the moment.

The hit tune  keeps echoing through dancehall culture and modern playlists. Its success helped define the sound of 2012 dancehall, a year that also produced landmark riddims, breakout artists, and influential albums that shaped the genre’s global trajectory.

For listeners exploring the evolution of Jamaican music, the Fry Yiy Riddim stands as a clear example of how simplicity, energy, and timing can create a lasting impact. Whether revisited through archival listening or discovered by a new generation, Popcaan’s “Fry Yiy” remains a cornerstone of modern dancehall history.

Since departing from his old camp Popcaan has been dropping hits on hits and Fry YiY is one of  a long series of success and one of hottest dancehall anthems of the year in Jamaica and the rest of the World.

After voicing the single that made Fry YiY Riddim popular, Popcaan just debuted the official music video, that went quickly viral, I mean nuclear. Watch it below and get the whole riddim or just your favorite song on it clicking on the banners and links posted on this page.

Popcaan new landmark single is now available on iTunes, distributed by 21st Hapilos Digital. Check it out!

WATCH POPCAAN ‘FRY YIY’ OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO UIM RECORDS 2012

Popcaan‘s new and old fans can listen below to a new fresh release from the young Jamaican dancehall star for this month, titled ‘Diss Mi Friend’.