He was born at Kingston's Victoria Jubilee Hospital, and was one of six children. Originally from Waterhouse, Kingston, he was raised in the Waterford district in the community Portmore, Jamaica. Adidja attended Calabar High School in Kingston but was expelled as a teenager. Determined to continue his education, he completed his studies at a tutorial technical school.
He was exposed to a wide variety of music from a tender age by two uncles who were themselves aspiring musicians. Every weekend he was treated to new musical offerings, on his uncle's old component set, ranging from Sam Cooke to country and western ballads to Ninja Man, who became one of his musical heroes.
At 10 his favorites included artists as diverse as Ninja Man, Papa San, Charlie Chaplin, Will Smith and KRS-1, all of whose lyrics he would study word-for-word, performing them later for friends.
He decided he wanted to be a deejay and began writing his own lyrics when he was 11. Eager to flaunt his skills, Adidja and his friends frequented the weekly Gong Talent Show at the Coney Amusement Park on the outskirts of Kingston. To their chagrin, they were always gonged off when they got a chance to perform.
Undeterred by his weekly failure to impress the talent show audience, Adidja decided to hone his skills and concentrate on winning over his own community of Waterford until he was ready for bigger things. With that goal in mind, on weekends he would practise on neighborhood sound systems Soul Signal and Electric Force.
In 1993, Adidja recorded his first single, "Love Fat Woman," for Alvin Reid's One Heart Label under the name Adi Banton, a name he chose in tribute to a role model, Buju Banton. He recorded several more tracks for local producers, perfecting his craft.
In 1996 he and two friends, Mr. Lee and a singer called Escobar, decided to form a group. One night, after watching a movie about Pablo Escobar and his infamous cartel, Adidja came up with a name for his trio: Vibes Cartel.
Vybz Kartel's new role as Killer's protege caught the attention of the public and led to a meteoric career rise, first as a ghost-writer for Bounty, Elephant Man and other members of the Scare Dem Crew, followed by collaborations with Bounty Killer, such as "Gal Clown" and "Girls Like Mine (Liquid Riddim)."
He came into his own with early hits like "Gun Clown," "Guns Like Mine (Trafalga Riddim)," "Badman (Panty Raid Riddim)," "Bus Mi Gun Like Nuttn," "Most High (Mexican Riddim)" and "War Organizer (Clappas Riddim)." He also had a string of successful collaborations with Wayne Marshall, including "New Millennium (Mad Antz Riddim)," "Why (Krazy Riddim)" and "Why Again (Good To Go Riddim)." This unprecedented debut led to Vybz Kartel being crowned 2002 Deejay of the Year at Stone Love's 30th anniversary, a feat unmatched by any new artist in dancehall.
Kartel has--aside from incredible rhymes and subtle, clever pop culture references--a unique lyrical flow all his own. It is to be noted that Kartel rarely does dance "chunes" along the lines of Elephant man or Beenie Man. Nevertheless, he has already had several high-profile collaborations with international hip-hop and pop stars, and is being touted as the next big thing in dancehall.
In terms of singles sold, he has had the second-best year on the 2003 reggae charts, outsold only by Elephant Man, and has released two albums this year for UK label Greensleeves. He was featured twice on the Def Jamaica project, and nominated for Source, VIBE and UK MOBO awards. His MOBO nominations, along with those of Beenie Man, Elephant Man and Sizzla, were subsequently withdrawn over concerns of homophobia, a common issue with dancehall reggae in general.
His video for "New Millennium/Why," with Wayne Marshall, though decidedly low-budget, has seen play on MTV. His underground following is so large that a bootleg version of, in his own words, "a very, very low budget film" made in 2001 has begun circulating. He has two albums, several mixtapes and a prolific library of singles.
In 2005, Vybz and Bountkiller fell out after Vybz preformed a song with Di Angel, Beenie's former girl, "Yuh Know Yuh Baby Father." Vybz walked out of the Alliance. Aidonia also left, because he took Vybz side, falling out with Busy Signal and making the song "Adid A Mi Daddy Who Wa Vex Wan Vex." It was said Vybz took side with Beenie by showing up at his wedding. Vybz said Beenie was his artist and would not and that's as far as it went. Afterwards, he and Movado which led to throwing of words through songs like "Movado di Failla," "Them Start War and Dead" and "Them a Pu@#* Pon di Battle." But this mis happas only made Mr.Palmer express his war side.
Vybz is the head of the territorial gangland in Portmore known as the Gaza and Mavado is the same for the Gully. Due to their feud a physical war arose between people in the two areas. Fans loyal to each artist have taken part as well. Their fan base in the youths has been seen, as entire schools claiming to be Gully or Gaza supporters have been known not just in Jamaica but in other Caribbean countries such as Trinidad to break out into physical war resulting in stabbings and street fights.
Following the 2009 Summit of the Americas the Jamaican government called a meetings between Vybz Kartel and Mavado calling on them to end the war. Since its conclusion both artists have turned away from war songs and focused on different topics, Kartel on women and Mavado on uplifting the people, although both still make songs of all types.
Following differences with record label Greensleeves, Vybz Kartel changed his name to Addi Di Teacha near the end of 2006. All new material he produces will be released under this name. Greensleeves will continue to release his older, unreleased material under the name Vybz Kartel.
He now owns the label Portmore Empire, founded in 2007, on which releases new deejays' music. To clear up why this was done he had an interview with Antony Miller. "If I had join Moffia House, I would be taking side which I said I would not do," he said.
He owns a rum called STREET VYBZ as well as a condom line called DAGGERING.
Recently, he collaborated with artists like D.I. aka Daniel and Di Angel--Beenie man's former wife. But that's another story...
In 2011 Kartel has recently come under fire for bleaching his skin, something that is frowned upon in Jamaican culture and even Kartel spoken against it in past songs. He has come under even more fire for his rumored involvement in devil worship with a satanic group known as the Illuminati, which is known to have other popular musicains such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna.
Badda Dan Dem
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But we kill dem in real life
Up to di crime, I told dem it's Kartel (crime after crime)
Seem like dem forgot who we be (why?)
See me a seh (weh y'ah seh?)
Told dem we still roll with the guns
You know, shot by the tons (right away)
See me a seh, you know, badness, we build it
Me nuh care where you bad from
Or the ends where you trod from
Gunshot mek you fall like the bridge over London
When it kick you like Van Damme
Diss me out a East and me buck you over Boston
Head a buss like gas pan
Bullet with gunpowder, no Lasco, no lass man
Diss Kartel and Pantan
Push yuh head up inna yuh mudda pussy like tampon
Yeah, big up Buju Banton
When boy a kick like Jackie Chan over Hong Kong
Our gun go suh, pam pam
We a bad from before X-Men and Green Lantern
Before Snoop live a Compton
So nuh true boy hear Kartel do him gyal song
Me nuh easy fi walk pon, Teflon, Blackblunt, Carbon
Yo, we a badder than dem by far, badder than dem by near
Inna peace, inna war
Drive-by, walk-by inna car
Gun warfare, see di chief of staff here, 3-star
Badder than dem by far, badder than dem by near
Inna peace, inna war
Walk-by, drive-by inna car
Yo, yo (yo, yo)
Yuh brain will get float in with di big milli fourteen
My gun carry copper, no calcium, no protein
So you dead when e soak in
When me'd a run town with mi gun inna mi short jeans
You deh a country a plant greens
So you wan' war bad man now?
By all means, when you ready, bring it on, please
And bring yuh friend dem, small axe fall tall trees
Ah dem pussy deh you call G's
When gunshot a blow dem think a Christmas breeze
One catch you, you must freeze
Marrow fly from Jamaica 'cross the West Indies
Land a Belize, next please
When iron dog bite you, it wussa than rabies
And it a sting like pure bees
Mek big man a cry like ladies and babies
Timeless (timeless), ayy
Badder than dem by far, badder than dem by near
Inna peace, inna war
Walk-by, drive-by inna car
Gun warfare, see di chief of staff here, 3-star
Badder than dem by far, badder than dem by near
Inna peace, inna war
Walk-by, drive-by inna car
Gun warfare, ayy
Me nuh care where you bad from
Or the ends where you trod from
Gunshot mek you fall like the bridge over London
When it kick you like Van Damme
Diss me out a East and me buck you over Boston
Head a buss like gas pan
Bullet with gunpowder, no Lasco, no lass man
Diss Kartel and Pantan
Push yuh head up inna yuh mudda pussy like tampon
Yeah, big up Buju Banton
When boy a kick like Jackie Chan over Hong Kong
Our gun go suh, pam pam
We a bad from before X-Men and Green Lantern
Before Snoop live a Compton
So nuh true boy hear Kartel a do gyal song
Me nuh easy fi walk pon, Blackblunt, Teflon, Carbon (Timeless, yeah)
Badder than dem by far, badder than dem by near
Inna peace, inna war
Walk-by, drive-by inna car
Gun warfare, see di chief of staff here, 3-star
Badder than dem by far, badder than dem by near
Inna peace, inna war
Walk-by, drive-by inna car
Gun warfare
The opening lines of the song, "Me nuh care where yuh bad from, Or the ends where yuh trad from" indicate that the persona of the song does not care about an individual's gang or territory affiliations. He then goes on to describe the effects of gunshots on an individual, likening it to the falling of the London Bridge and Van Damme's kicks. The persona establishes his own territorial prowess by describing a situation where he meets someone from Boston and puts a bullet in their head, "Head ah buss like gaspan."
The lyrics of Vybz Kartel's Badda Dan Dem convey a message of power and dominance in gang violence while also alluding to the dangers and consequences of such violence. The persona of the song asserts his dominance over not just rival gangs but also references famous movie stars like Van Damme and Jackie Chan to indicate the extent of his powerful impact. He also mentions other gang leaders like Buju Banton, who acknowledges his power. He references previous times when gang violence was prevalent as opposed to today where people are more nonchalant about it. The lyrics serve to convey a message that in the present time, gang violence cannot be taken lightly.
Line by Line Meaning
Me nuh care where yuh bad from
I don't care about your upbringing or background
Or the ends where yuh trad from
Or the community where you are from
Gun shot mek yuh fall like the bridge ova London
A gunshot will have you falling just like the bridge over London
When it kick yuh like vandam
When it hits you hard like Van Damme
Dis me outa east and meh buck yuh up ah Boston
I'm from the East but met you in Boston
Head ah buss like gaspan
Your head will burst like a watermelon
Bullet with gunpowder
My bullets contain gunpowder
No lasco no lass man
No one will escape my wrath
Dis Bartel and pantan
It's me, Kartel, and Pantan (fellow artist) attacking you
Push yuh head in yuh mudda pussy like tampon
I'll make you regret ever being born with a vulgar attack
Yeh big up buju banton
Shoutout to Buju Banton (fellow artist)
When ah boy ah kick like Jackie Chan over Hong Kong
When a boy kicks like Jackie Chan over Hong Kong
Our gun go so pam pam
Our guns go 'pam pam'
We bad before xman and green lantern
We were bad before X-Men and Green Lantern were popular
Before snoop live ah compton
Before Snoop Dogg lived in Compton
So boy nuh tru yuh hear Kartel do him gyul song meh nuh easy feh walk pan
Don't think that because I sing romantic songs, I'm an easy target
Teflon black blunt carbon
My gun is made of strong materials
We ah badder than them by far
We are much more dangerous than them
Badder than them by near
Even when they're close, we're still more dangerous
In ah peace in ah war
Whether it's peace or war, we are always dangerous
Drive by walk by in car
We can attack from a vehicle or on foot
Gun war fare see the chief of staff here 3 star
In a gun battle, even high-ranking military personnel are no match for us
Yuh brain will get float in
Your brain will be damaged
With the big millie fourteen
Due to my powerful firearm
My gun carry copper no calcium no protein
My gun only carries copper bullets
So yuh dead when eh soak en
Once you're shot, you're as good as dead
When meh did ah run town with meh gun inna meh short jeans you there ah country ah plant green
When I used to run around town with my gun in my shorts, you were probably in the countryside planting vegetables
So yuh wah war bad man now
You want a war with me now?
By all means when yuh ready bring it on please
Whenever you're ready, go ahead and start something
And bring yuh friend them small axe fall tall tress
Bring some friends, but they won't stand a chance against us
Ah them pussy yuh call G's
Those weak guys you call 'G's'
When gunshot ah blow them think ah Christmas breeze
They'll be blown away by the gunshots like a cool breeze on Christmas
One catch yuh yuh must freeze
If I catch you, you'll be frozen with fear
Marrow fly from Jamaica cross the west indies
Bones will be flying all the way from Jamaica to the West Indies
Land ah Belize next please
Belize is the next stop for our violent ways
When iron dog bit it wussa than rabies and it sting like peer bees
When the powerful firearm bites, it's worse than rabies and the pain is like bee stings
Mek big man cry like ladies and babies
My attacks are so brutal even grown men will cry like babies
Timeless
My reputation as a dangerous person is timeless and won't fade away
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Adidja Palmer, Alberto Blackwood, Paul Henton, Sly Dunbar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jtrax3680
Still playing this in 2022. Favorite Kartel tune of all time.
@miskastewart8703
This song alone kill anybody who want to size up with w
World Boss.
@treahboss5998
2020 anyone??
#Worldgovernment
@dj19903
Love it
@garygtejada9768
(Still playing this 2023) Kasablanca Riddim๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
@learningkot
2024 son, I really am badder den dem ๐ฎ
@realgmusic7435
Timeless
@teslahdread7529
2024 still ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
@4lifersIvyAnnaAvery
almost 2024 still playing on my system
@sadiebanks9219
2017 and meh still badda dan dem by far๐