Popcaan addresses Skatta Burrell dispute at Freedom Street, looks ahead
Published:Thursday | January 2, 2025 | 5:07 PM
A day after Cordel ‘Skatta’ Burrell, a producer and Downsound Entertainment executive, released a video in response to insults made by Popcaan towards him and his mother during his performance at Freedom Street, Popcaan's Unruly Entertainment has sought to address the issue to "clarify misunderstandings".
"Popcaan and the Unruly team approached this event with the utmost professionalism and respect, but certain operational challenges and miscommunications at the venue created unnecessary obstacles," a press release stated.
During his performance on stage at the National Stadium, Popcaan levied a widely recognised Jamaican insult against Burrell and his mother over allegedly having to wait three hours to be let inside the venue.
“How you have me and Chronic Law out a door three hour, cyaah come in?” Popcaan said while on stage on Wednesday morning.
In the release, Unruly Entertainment explained that Popcaan initially requested to use his band for the performance, which Vybz Kartel, the event's headliner, "graciously approved". However, as the event approached, "efforts to rehearse with the band were allegedly dismissed by Burrell, and it was later communicated to the team that the use of the band was discouraged as it might 'reflect poorly' on the event."
It says despite the difficulties, Popcaan was intent on performing.
"Popcaan remained committed to delivering for his fans. Upon arrival at the venue, however, access issues caused significant delays. At the main gate, Unruly team members were stopped, even when [the] accompanying artiste, guests and VIPs were wearing their armbands. This resulted in a delay of a few hours, leaving Popcaan and his team outside the venue until after midnight," the release said, pointing to what it calls "mismanagement" and "inconsistent instructions from gate personnel".
Indicating that the camp has had prior issues with Burrell, Unruly denies assertions that members of its team attempted to enter the venue with firearms.
"Unruly Entertainment firmly states that no member of our team attempted to enter the venue with any firearm. The safety and security of all patrons remain a top priority for us, and we operate with the highest standards of professionalism."
For Popcaan, he wants to move forward.
“It’s a new year. My team and I don’t have Skatta on our minds or thoughts. We’re focused on continuing to deliver for the fans and elevating dancehall culture,” said the entertainer in the release.