Injuries sustained while playing football during his years at St George’s College influenced Ade “Jellybads” May to switch to a career in music.

The 27-year-old is making strides as a producer. He produced his brother Popcaan’s 2018 hit song My Type. With Keron “KaleX” Alexander, he co-produced Billions by Popcaan featuring Quada, which is featured on the soundtrack to British television series Top Boy which was recently certified silver in the United Kingdom for sales exceeding 200,000 units.

“I felt elated and proud of the fact that, as a Jamaican producer, my music has reached these heights, especially so young in my career. I’m enthused about how it sets the scale of how well and how far the music can spread worldwide. I will work to ensure this achievement is the first of many,” said May.

It also justified his decision to leave the University of Technology, Jamaica after one semester to go into music production full-time. He was pursuing a degree in entrepreneurship.

The lanky May spoke about working with Popcaan and Quada on Billions.

“Being in the studio with Popcaan is always an amazing time, he’s quick, his sounds are refreshing, and the energy is always high. His work ethic is top class and working with people like that is always motivational, it keeps you going and believing,” he said. “Kalex and I worked together on the beat, I presented it to Popcaan and he loved the riddim so he started recording on it. I thought the song would be a good fit if I were to add Quada, so I ran it by him and allowed him to record his verse. This track with Popcaan and Quada was just as interesting as being in the studio with them every other time.”

Although he has been around music since 2008, May did not take it seriously until 10 years later. At St George’s, he played Colts and Manning Cup football, but when injuries forced a change in direction, he followed his famous sibling’s path into recording music.

“I got into music through Popcaan, he’s the first one who got the breakthrough in the family, so he’s the foundation. Back in 2008 he took me to the studio with him at Not Nice Records at the time, and that was my first real first-hand experience in a professional music studio. I found a deeper passion for music from that moment on, it was like destiny,” May shared.

My Type was his first crack at production. Since then, he has worked on projects with Projexx, Munga, Dre Island, Yaksta, Runkus, and acts from overseas, including Pa Salieu, Amaria Bb, Yxng Bane ,and Benny Jamz.

Along with KaleX and Riddim Boss, he recently started Eardrop Music.

May is not formally trained in music production. He learnt the ropes from KaleX, who taught him how to make beats. The success of My Type (released on his Jelly Records) and the Top Boy certification are highlights of his career to date.

As far as being the brother of Popcaan, he admits it makes it easier sometimes to get artistes to collaborate with:

“Somewhat, it has as there’s a network of artistes who are willing to work with me just because, but also not necessarily because I still face difficulties with quite a few artistes,” said May.