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.
Bring It When You Ready
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dem tek ten step but my
Gun fasta'n federal express
Wrong man dem test
Rope round hand like bangle
Wrap rope round neck like necklace
When tec rest
In excess, blood wet dem chest mek bed rest
Bullet sting like wasp nest
Dem seh dem a gangsta, gangsta one-sta
When revolver press chemical bullet
Will dissolve at chest
Bullet a stop yuh like brake inna vehicle
Shoot we shoot to kill while
Dem ongle study people
Bring it when yuh ready badman
Nuh fraid a people
Desert joncrow nyam dem cause dem
Did a look fi people
Infrared wid di scope a yuh stoplight
Bulldogs love jumping fi stump inna cat fight
Gang up likkle neega
None a unnu mi nuh fraid a
More rifle dan Arabia
When yuh see me yuh fi act right
When di mag meet yuh chop up like hog meat
Glock weh mek Todd leak mi spray pon yuh
Body pon di Gully but yuh
Head deh pon dat street
Blood run like athlete
Cover dem wid dat sheet
Chattin dem love dweet, badman dem bloodcleet
Chattin dem love dweet, badman dem bloodcleet
Man wi bury dem unda di dirt weh di mud keep
More dirt we a throw pon it
Coo deh flowers a grow pon it
Mi nuh tek nuh press nuh tek no publishing
Dell a point rifle pon bwoy
Shot a flourish him, nourish him
Black scandal bag to di rubbish bin
Thuggish ting
War hot, peppa like pickle ting
Likkle likkle
So yuh likkle fren start go missing
AK sound like Wailers when Bunny sing
And no missing
None a my friend dem nuh Christian
We carry sin so if dem fool deh diss
Me that will be embarrasing
The lyrics to Vybz Kartel's song "Bring It When You Ready" vividly depict a violent and confrontational scenario, where the artist asserts his dominance and fearlessness. In the first paragraph, Kartel describes his opponents futilely running away, emphasizing their exhaustion with breathless panting. He boasts about his gun's speed, comparing it to a federal express delivery service, highlighting its capability to outpace his enemies. Kartel subtly threatens his adversaries, suggesting that any wrong move would result in severe consequences. The imagery of rope being wrapped around hands and necks further intensifies the sense of impending danger, hinting at potential strangulation and death. The line "When tec rest, In excess, blood wet dem chest mek bed rest" implies that the consequences of crossing him would be a bloody and fatal encounter.
In the second paragraph, Kartel dismisses his opponents' claims of being gangsters by indicating that his revolver is the true emblem of power. He suggests that his bullets are potent enough to dissolve within his enemies' bodies, leaving little evidence behind. Kartel also accentuates the effectiveness of his shooting, equating it to the force of a vehicle's braking system. He suggests that his intention is not merely to injure but to kill, contrasting it with his opponents' lack of strategic planning. Kartel challenges his enemies to face him directly, asserting his lack of fear and dauntlessness. He refers to himself as a "badman" and warns his adversaries not to underestimate him.
In the third paragraph, Kartel describes the gruesome impact of his gunshots. He mentions the disfigurement caused by a bullet, comparing it to the chopping of hog meat. He then refers to a specific type of gun, the Glock, which causes a victim's body to leak blood profusely. He mentions the location of the body and head, suggesting violence occurring in different areas, creating a sense of brutality and carnage. Kartel mocks his enemies' attempts to challenge him, dismissing them as chatterers or talkers who are incapable of backing up their words with actions. He underscores his own adherence to a violent lifestyle, contrasting it with the virtues of Christian faith. The final line suggests that anyone foolish enough to provoke him would face embarrassment and dire consequences.
In summary, the lyrics to "Bring It When You Ready" by Vybz Kartel evoke a sense of dominance, fearlessness, and violence. Kartel portrays himself as a formidable force, belittling his enemies and warning them of the potential harm he can inflict. The imagery of bloodshed, the potency of his bullets, and the disregard for human life contribute to a dark and intense portrayal of the artist's persona. The lyrics also demonstrate Kartel's embrace of a lifestyle centered around aggression and defiance against societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Watch dem a run run dem dung breathless
Observe them as they frantically flee, gasping for breath
Dem tek ten step but my Gun fasta'n federal express
They take ten steps, yet my gun fires faster than a federal express delivery
Wrong man dem test
They've tested the wrong individual
Rope round hand like bangle
A rope tightly encircles their hand, resembling a bangle bracelet
Wrap rope round neck like necklace
They tightly wrap a rope around their neck, akin to wearing a necklace
When tec rest, In excess, blood wet dem chest mek bed rest
When the trigger is pulled, an excessive amount of blood soaks their chest, causing them to rest in their death bed
Teacha nuh gi maths test
The teacher doesn't administer mathematical tests
Bullet sting like wasp nest
Bullets deliver a painful sting, similar to that of a wasp nest
Dem seh dem a gangsta, gangsta one-sta
They claim to be gangsters, but they are just imposters
When revolver press chemical bullet, Will dissolve at chest
When the revolver is fired and releases its chemical-laden bullet, it will dissolve upon contact with the chest
Bullet a stop yuh like brake inna vehicle
Bullets halt you abruptly, like the brakes in a vehicle
Shoot we shoot to kill while Dem ongle study people
We shoot with the intention to kill, while they only study people
Bring it when yuh ready badman Nuh fraid a people
Bring your challenge when you're prepared, badman, as we have no fear of people
Desert joncrow nyam dem cause dem Did a look fi people
Famished desert birds feast on them because they were seeking for others
Infrared wid di scope a yuh stoplight
With the infrared and scope, your body becomes a stoplight
Bulldogs love jumping fi stump inna cat fight
Bulldogs eagerly join in a chaotic fight like jumping to a tree stump
Gang up likkle neega None a unnu mi nuh fraid a
Gather together, little individuals, none of you can intimidate me
More rifle dan Arabia
Having more rifles than Arabia
When yuh see me yuh fi act right
When you encounter me, you should behave appropriately
When di mag meet yuh chop up like hog meat
When the magazine meets you, you are diced up like hog meat
Glock weh mek Todd leak mi spray pon yuh
Glock that causes leaks like Todd, I'll spray it upon you
Body pon di Gully but yuh Head deh pon dat street
Your body lies in the Gully, but your head remains on that street
Blood run like athlete Cover dem wid dat sheet
Blood flows rapidly like an athlete, covering them with a sheet
Chattin dem love dweet, badman dem bloodcleet
They enjoy talking but aren't capable of doing anything, those blood-soaked individuals
Man wi bury dem unda di dirt weh di mud keep
We will bury them beneath the dirt where the mud retains them
More dirt we a throw pon it Coo deh flowers a grow pon it
We keep piling more dirt upon them, creating a bed for flowers to bloom
Mi nuh tek nuh press nuh tek no publishing
I don't accept any pressure or publish any false stories
Dell a point rifle pon bwoy Shot a flourish him, nourish him
Dell points a rifle at the boy, shooting to flourish, nourishing him with bullets
Black scandal bag to di rubbish bin
The black scandal bag is discarded into the rubbish bin
Thuggish ting War hot, peppa like pickle ting
Engaging in thuggish behavior, the war is intense, like the spiciness of pickled peppers
Likkle likkle So yuh likkle fren start go missing
Little by little, your small friend begins to disappear
AK sound like Wailers when Bunny sing
The AK rifle sounds similar to the Wailers when Bunny sings
And no missing None a my friend dem nuh Christian
And not a single one missing, none of my friends are Christian
We carry sin so if dem fool deh diss Me that will be embarrasing
We embrace sin, so it would be embarrassing for them to disrespect and provoke me
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: ADIDJA AZIM PALMER, ANDRE QUENTIN CHRISTOPHER GRAY, CHRISTOPHER S BIRCH, DIANNE NATALIA STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ghanziseuss
most underrated song...am from St. Lucia n when this tune was released back in the day, bare thugs celebrate this tune...this and 'SEND A HELL' I believe kartel knew he possess telekinesis, that's why he don't disappoint
@ATO-YNWA
Baddest ting yuh here dat from yard!! Big up st. Lucian ppl dem eno tr888 #FREEWORLBOSS
@djfradomusic5873
I from lucia and you all shud check out my dancehall page with bare rare vybz and more
@Cahtame
2023 finally find it back ofter 14 years 😂🔥💯🔥 Gaza
@veli4979
💯💯
@nayansingh9034
Free Shawn strom and world boss and tommy lee Gaza for ever
@addijimmas
more dirt we a throw pon him..cuh deh flowers a grow pon him. Gaza!
@jonathanphiri9079
dis ah mawd dancehall, me still follow old xool till bomboclaat burn
@7god491
old skool weh dem know bout dis gaza from then till now
@clevonmendoza8027
Gaza since 2001