How Powerfull Is Popcaan's Music?

IT has been three weeks since Canadian Lucas DiPasquale took to YouTube with his acoustic cover of a medley of deejay Popcaan's Road Haffi Tek On, Party Shot and Only Man She Want. The response has been overwhelming.

The Internet video has already racked up more than 115,000 views, which is mind-blowing for the youngster from Markham — the fourth largest city in Ontario.

"I really just did it to impress my friends," DiPasquale told Splash. "They have Jamaican parents and have been trying get me into reggae and dancehall music for some time now. And I have really come to like it and just wanted to show them how much they have rubbed off on me," he continued.

This is his first attempt at covering a reggae/dancehall track, having previously put his spin on the works of North American rap and R&B acts.

"It's something I have always done. But based on the response to Popcaan I am working on something else."

He was guarded about revealing what he was working on, but when Splash pressed, he relented.

"It's something from Popcaan and Vybz (Kartel). I hope it is as good as this one. I'm kinda nervous, so I'm trying to make it perfect before I release it."

DiPascuale's current video has got to the eyes and ears of the deejay whose work he covered.

"Popcaan reached out to me. Someone tweeted the video and sent it to him and he got back at me just saying 'thanks, and no worries'. That was just great," he says.

Popcaan tops DiPascuale's list of Jamaican artistes he would love to collaborate with given the opportunity.

"I love all his music. It's just happy and exciting; whether I am listening to Ravin or any Popcaan track I just feel happy... it's a very rhythmic sound and I just love it. Not a lot of North American artistes do that for me," he stated.

Although he has never visited Jamaica, through his friends DiPasquale has been drawn to the music of local acts Popcaan, Tommy Lee, the incarcerated Vybz Kartel, and Mavado.

Even with making the video, it was his friends who helped him understand the lyrics of the tracks which are recorded in the Jamaican dialect.

"It wasn't really that hard, as it is very rhythmic and catchy, but my friends helped me out and even helped me pronounce some of the words," he said.