Popcaan’s “TWIST & TURN” with Drake and PartyNextDoor Strikes Gold in the U.S.
Jamaican dancehall star Popcaan has reached a major milestone with his hit single TWIST & TURN, featuring Drake and PartyNextDoor, earning Gold certification in the United States. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) confirmed the certification on November 14, 2024, recognizing over 500,000 combined units of sales and streams. This marks Popcaan’s first Gold single as a lead artist in the U.S.
Released in August 2020, TWIST & TURN was the flagship single from Popcaan’s acclaimed FIXTAPE album. Produced by Nineteen85, the track blended Popcaan’s dancehall roots with the international appeal of his high-profile collaborators. Nineteen85, famed for his work on Hotline Bling and Too Good, delivered a production that further propelled Popcaan’s global recognition.
While this achievement is a first for Popcaan as a lead artist, it is not his debut Gold certification. He previously gained recognition for his feature on Jamie xx’s I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times), also certified Gold. Popcaan’s songwriting prowess shines through as well—his work on Drake’s Too Good featuring Rihanna, which incorporates his track Love Yuh Bad, has been certified 5x Platinum.
On global charts, TWIST & TURN demonstrated Popcaan’s growing international appeal, peaking at No. 47 on the Canadian Hot 100 and No. 69 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart. In the U.S., it climbed to No. 19 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 and No. 36 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. The single has also surpassed 102 million Spotify streams and achieved Silver certification in the U.K. in 2022, crossing 200,000 units in sales and streams.
Popcaan continues to make waves in the global music scene. Since his breakout hit Clarks with Vybz Kartel in 2010, he has become one of Jamaica’s most-streamed artists on Spotify, amassing over 1.6 billion streams. His fans are eagerly awaiting his upcoming reunion performance with Vybz Kartel at the Freedom Street concert on December 31, 2024.
Recently, Popcaan declared his independence as an artist, emphasizing his loyalty to Drake’s OVO Sound. Speaking on Unruly Tash’s YouTube Live, he reflected on his tenure under OVO/Warner Music, which saw the release of two successful albums: FIXTAPE, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, and Great Is He (2023), which debuted at No. 3.
Despite previously expressing dissatisfaction with the label system, Popcaan remains focused on his growth as an independent artist. “I love the label, but I don’t like them,” he said in a 2023 interview with Crack Magazine. “I’ll be independent soon.”
With his recent Gold certification, Popcaan continues to solidify his status as a global dancehall icon and a trailblazer for Jamaican music on the international stage.
