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.
Broken Cry
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Its clear to me
Knooow these people
Hmmmmm
[Chorus]
Madda bawl wen she see har son die(hear that broken cry)
Jacket and tie(hear that broken cry)
Food prices gon sky high
Mi want ah work but mi nuh see noweh fi apply
Ask di juvenile dem if yu tink ah lie
Yu fi(hear that broken cry)
Yu fi(hear that broken cry
Yu fi (hear that broken cry)
Black rhyno come teach dem
[Verse 1]
Mi nuh trust inna di leader dem
Di promise! mi nah go believe agen
Cah! cop sign inna di country
Nuh matta how we fight we nah guh get rid ah dem
Church money a fi di preacha dem
*Bere set ah speech from di speaker dem *
But all dem a talk dem still nuh(hear that broken cry)
Nuhhh
Di youte dem hungry
Ah pree fi draw fi dem pumpy
But yu cyah fight crime wid police
Yu haffi fight crime wid luxury
N inna we heart mi kno seh selassie i love we
But jacket and tie man still nah(hear that broken cry)
Ahhhhhh
[Chorus]
Madda bawl wen she see har son die
Jacket and tie
School fee get suh high
Food prices gon sky high
Mi want ah work but mi nuh see noweh fi apply
Ask di juvenile dem if yu tink ah lie
Yu fi(hear that broken cry)
Yu fi(hear that broken cry
Yu fi (hear that broken cry)
Black rhyno come teach dem
[Verse 2]
I have a dreamm
Fi own big house, chauffer wid limozine!
I have a dreamm
Fi every ghetto youte elevate inna dem scheme
I have a dreamm
Fi di system try supply and not deny
Dem fi ansa wen we reply
Come sit dung an(hear that broken cry)
Why police ah victimize
Politicians a give we lies
Gyal a sell di tits di thighs
Right infront them pitney eyes
No way nuh pay fi dem(learn from di elders)
Listen to di baby dem(hear dat broken dry)
[Bridge]
Yu fi
Its clear to me
Knooow
Knoooow these peolple
[Chorus]
Madda bawl wen she see har son die
Jacket and tie
School fee get suh high
Food prices gon sky high
Mi want ah work but mi nuh see noweh fi apply
Ask di juvenile dem if yu tink ah lie
Yu fi(hear that broken cry)
Yu fi(hear that broken cry
Yu fi (hear that broken cry)
"Black rhyno come teach dem"
In this song, vybz kartel is expressing his frustration with the political and societal system in Jamaica. He talks about the struggles that people face in trying to make a living in a country where job opportunities are scarce and the cost of living is high. He also touches on the issue of crime and corruption, stating that the police force is unable to fight crime effectively due to corruption and that people need to fight crime with "luxury" - this could mean that people need to work hard to achieve wealth and then use that wealth to help fight crime and improve society.
The chorus of the song features the phrase "hear that broken cry" repeated multiple times. This phrase refers to the cry of a mother who has lost her son - a cry that is filled with pain and sadness. The verses show how the system has failed the people and how they continue to suffer despite the promises of the politicians. Black Rhyno is also featured in the song, calling for him to "come teach them" - this could mean teaching people how to take control of their own lives and fight injustice.
Line by Line Meaning
teachaaa!
Addressing someone as a teacher or mentor
its clear to me
The singer is certain about what they believe
knooow these people
The singer understands the people and the situation they are in
madda bawl wen she see har son die(hear that broken cry)
A mother weeps in despair when she sees her son's death, and it's a heartbreaking sound
jacket and tie(hear that broken cry)
A sound of despair can be heard even from those who look powerful and privileged
school fee get suh high
The cost of education has become very expensive
food prices gon sky high
The cost of food has become very expensive
mi want ah work but mi nuh see noweh fi apply
The artist wants to work but cannot find a job opening
ask di juvenile dem if yu tink ah lie
The artist invites others to verify their claims with the youth
yu fi(hear that broken cry)
The listener must respond to the sound of despair
yu fi(hear that broken cry
The listener must respond to the sound of despair
yu fi (hear that broken cry)
The listener must respond to the sound of despair
black rhyno come teach dem
Black Rhyno is called upon to educate the people
mi nuh trust inna di leader dem
The singer does not trust the leaders
di promise! mi nah go believe agen
The singer has been disappointed by politicians' promises
cah! cop sign inna di country
The police have a stronghold in the country, and it's difficult to get rid of them
nuh matta how we fight we nah guh get rid ah dem
The artist feels that the police cannot be eliminated no matter how much they resist
church money a fi di preacha dem
The church's money is for the preachers
*bere set ah speech from di speaker dem *
Many speeches have been made, but the issues persist
but all dem a talk dem still nuh(hear that broken cry)
The people's cry of despair cannot be drowned out by words alone
di youte dem hungry
The youth are hungry
ah pree fi draw fi dem pumpy
They are considering using weapons to survive
but yu cyah fight crime wid police
It's not possible to fight crime with the police
yu haffi fight crime wid luxury
People should strive for economic success to fight crime
n inna we heart mi kno seh selassie i love we
The singer believes that Selassie loves them in their heart
but jacket and tie man still nah(hear that broken cry)
Even the well-dressed and well-off people suffer from the same issues and despair
I have a dreamm
The singer has a dream
fi own big house, chauffer wid limozine!
The dream is to own a big house with a chauffeur-driven limousine
fi every ghetto youte elevate inna dem scheme
The dream is to elevate the youth in the ghetto and help them succeed
fi di system try supply and not deny
The dream is for the system to provide opportunities, not deny them
dem fi ansa wen we reply
The singer wants a response when they speak out
come sit dung an(hear that broken cry)
Listening to the people's cries of despair is necessary
why police ah victimize
The police are victimizing people
politicians a give we lies
Politicians are lying to the people
gyal a sell di tits di thighs
Women are forced to sell their bodies to survive
right infront them pitney eyes
Children witness these things firsthand
no way nuh pay fi dem(learn from di elders)
There is no easy way to pay for things, and the singer advises learning from the elders
listen to di baby dem(hear dat broken dry)
The sound of babies crying due to despair is heartbreaking
yu fi
The listener should
its clear to me
The artist is certain about what they believe
knooow
The artist understands
knoooow these peolple
The singer understands the people
Writer(s): Adidja Azim Palmer, Ainsley Shomari Morris, Romaine Odene Anderson
Contributed by Elijah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
kxng kush
2020 still strong
Jomo Wynter
How am I just heating this song. 🔥🔥🔥
Jando 4L
Still playing this tune
ras man
Remedies ah strong fi dat song 🙏🙏🙏
Lucí
🔥🔥🔥
Nomad Matt
2020 🎶
Gaza Strong
TUNE
gazakid gazaworl
di song maaaaaaadddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
Ka Na
Hear that beoKen cry🗣
joshua Francois
maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad