Popcaan remembers Shagel in new song

It was in the wee hours of the morning of December 23, 2018, while on stage at his Unruly Fest, that dancehall front-runner Popcaan addressed the murder of his childhood friend, Shagel, for the first time.

The deejay had to fight back tears as he paid tribute to someone he said had grown to become 'family'.

Though he did his best to relay his pain that night, many still wondered whether the deejay would honour his slain friend with a song.

In a post to Instagram late Thursday evening, the Unruly Boss gave fans what they had been asking for.

Popcaan announced the official release of his song Traumatized, and packages all the emotions the entertainer went through from the moment he heard the news of Shagel's murder until now.

"It's been six months and still feel like yesterday," a part of the caption accompanying the video read. "Miss you bro. Keep watching over us from above. RIP bro, unruly fi life a swear blood."

The body of Junior 'Shagel' Thompson was found in Popcaan's home on December 5. It is believed that Thompson was killed in an attempted robbery.

The song, which is available on Popcaan's YouTube channel, was produced by Notnice. It begins with Popcaan reminiscing on how he and Shagel used to chill out in his home town of Morant Bay, before explaining why he finds it difficult to trust people.

" Dawg dis a mussi one sign, how mi fi go trust mankind. Coulda weh me bredda do yuh dawg mek yuh wah fi stab him 38 time. Mi nuh care who you are, karma ago show yuh sign. Me nuh care weh yuh a par, is only a matter of time," Popcaan sings in the first verse.

The deejay labels Shagel as a real friend describing him as ' the meaning a loyalty'.

DIFFICULT TIME

In the song, the deejay details how difficult the last six months have been for him, including visiting Shagel's family, particularly his mother.

The inspiration for the title of the song comes in the second verse, when he expressed the trauma Shagel's mother has been facing since his death.

He also addresses rumours that he was somehow involved in his friend's death.

" All kinda fake news a advertise, some a say me set yuh up and a sacrifice. But any boy ever say dat in front mi eyes, more dan a thousand rifle rise," he sings.

The song closes out with what seems to be a voice note sent by Shagel to Popcaan, the deceased telling the entertainer to read his messages, while informing him that the kids need to be taken to school.

The track racked up close to 20,000 views within the first two hours of its release. Many listeners have described the song as a touching and fitting tribute to one loyal friend from another.

In December, Popcaan recounted how he brought Shagel with him from St Thomas to Kingston to better their lives and that of their families, only for "some bwoy go inna me house go kill him".

"But guess wah, God see everything and God know everything 'cause Shagel a one a di realest yute weh me ever know inna me life, yuh hear dat, and a my bredda dat and me love him fi life," he said at the time.