Teen Producer Joel Engineer Brings Vybz Kartel and Popcaan Together on Unlocked Riddim

While many teenagers are still finding their footing, Joel Engineer is already carving out space in dancehall with Unlocked Riddim, a new production package that brings together two of the genre’s leading figures: Popcaan and Vybz Kartel.

Joel, who is also Popcaan’s nephew, said landing both artists on one riddim represents a landmark moment as his profile continues to rise. “It feels great to have produced a Vybz Kartel song. It’s even better to have Popcaan and Vybz Kartel on the same riddim,” he said.

The producer recalled attending the same preparatory school as Kartel’s children during the deejay’s incarceration and noted that another track with one of Kartel’s sons is on the way.

Unlocked Riddim is slated to include no fewer than six songs, offering varied tones and viewpoints while showing how Joel’s sound is developing. “I hope the fans appreciate the music and what I’ve been doing and growing into,” he said. “I really want them to feel each song instead of just playing it.”

Joel said Kartel’s cut carries a lively summer-party feel, while Popcaan’s offering takes a harder, street-oriented direction, giving the package appeal across different corners of the dancehall audience.

Bringing two of the scene’s most influential voices onto one riddim underscores the momentum behind the teen producer. The release highlights his pull with established talent and points to a fresh wave of beat makers shaping Jamaica’s music landscape.

With interest building ahead of the drop, Joel said his aim is to make records that last—work listeners can hold onto well after the riddim has run its course.