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.
Clarks
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There yeah, you know hotskull, but tell me something
Ah where you get that new Clarks there Daddy?
Ah which colour that? Mad inna party!
Ah you alone have that style there Daddy
The queen for England haffi love off yardie
Ah where you get that new Clarks there Daddy?
Ah which colour that? Mad inna party!
Ah you alone have that style there Daddy
The queen for England haffi love off yardie
Real badman no model inna shorts
Straight jeans cut off foot pants
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
The leather hard
The suede soft
Tooth brush get out the dust fast
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Me no love crepe you know
Clarks me prefer
Clarks for the leather (yea)
Clarks for the fur
Clarks for the summer
Clarks for the winter
Clarks for the sun
Clarks for the water
Me no wear Nautica (no!)
That ah for sailor
Polo for Tiger
Him ah the golfer
The new Wallabees hotter than sulfur
Me pattern my daddy from me was a youngster
Real badman no model inna shorts
Straight jeans cut off foot pants
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
The leather hard
The suede soft
Tooth brush get out the dust fast
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Me tell my man say
'Member proper hygiene and don't forget
Bag of sneakers give you cheesy foot
If yuh know what me know boy 'llow the crepe
'Member pointed mouth will corn you toe
Wear the dessert Clarks for easy step
To my court that can save you boy
Your athlete's foot ah go leave you dead
Real badman no model inna shorts
Straight jeans cut off foot pants
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
The leather hard
The suede soft
Tooth brush get out the dust fast
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Ah where you get that new Clarks there Daddy?
Ah which colour that? Mad inna party!
Ah you alone have that style there Daddy
The queen for England haffi love off yardie
Ah where you get that new Clarks there Daddy?
Ah which colour that? Mad inna party!
Ah you alone have that style there Daddy
The queen for England haffi love off yardie
Real badman no model inna shorts
Straight jeans cut off foot pants
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
The leather hard
The suede soft
Tooth brush get out the dust fast
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Real badman no model inna shorts
Straight jeans cut off foot pants
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
The leather hard
The suede soft
Tooth brush get out the dust fast
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
The lyrics to Vybz Kartel's song "Clarks" revolve around the artist's love for the brand of shoes and the status that comes with wearing them. The song starts with Popcaan admiring Kartel's new Clark shoes and asking where he got them. He proceeds to describe how everyone wants to know where he got his Clarks from and how the leather and suede versions of the shoe are his favorite. He also instructs his listeners on how to take care of their Clarks and warns against wearing crepe shoes.
The song touches on the Jamaican subculture where owning a pair of Clarks shoes is a symbol of status and wealth. The song describes how even the queen of England would appreciate "yardie" culture represented by Clarks shoes. It also highlights the importance of proper hygiene and taking care of the shoes. The song ends with Popcaan asking again where Kartel got his shoes from, revealing the obsession and hype around wearing Clarks shoes.
Overall, the lyrics of "Clarks" depict the importance of fashion and status in Jamaican culture, with Clarks shoes serving as a status symbol and source of pride.
Line by Line Meaning
Wha' go on Popcaan?
Hey Popcaan, what's up?
Ah where you get that new Clarks there Daddy?
Hey, where did you get those new Clarks shoes, my friend?
Ah which colour that? Mad inna party!
What color are they? They are really cool for a party!
Ah you alone have that style there Daddy
Wow, you are the only one with that unique style!
The queen for England haffi love off yardie
Even the Queen of England would love a Jamaican like you!
Real badman no model inna shorts
A true gangster wouldn't be caught wearing shorts.
Straight jeans cut off foot pants
Real bad men wear straight jeans, not pants that cover their shoes.
Everybody haffi ask where me get my Clarks
Everyone wants to know where I got my Clarks from.
The leather hard
The leather on my Clarks shoes is hard and durable.
The suede soft
The suede on my Clarks shoes is soft and comfortable.
Tooth brush get out the dust fast
I use a toothbrush to quickly remove any dust from my Clarks shoes.
Me no love crepe you know
I don't like crepe soles on shoes, you know.
Clarks me prefer
I prefer Clarks shoes over any other type of shoe.
Me no wear Nautica (no!)
I don't wear Nautica clothing, no way!
That ah for sailor
Nautica is for sailors, not for me.
Polo for Tiger
I wear Polo clothing, like a tiger.
Him ah the golfer
He's the one who wears golf clothing.
The new Wallabees hotter than sulfur
The new Wallabees shoes are really popular right now.
Me pattern my daddy from me was a youngster
I learned my style from my dad when I was young.
Me tell my man say
I tell my friends to remember something important.
'Member proper hygiene and don't forget
Remember to have good hygiene and take care of your feet.
Bag of sneakers give you cheesy foot
Wearing sneakers too often can cause bad foot odor.
If yuh know what me know boy 'llow the crepe
If you knew what I knew, you wouldn't wear crepe soles.
'Member pointed mouth will corn you toe
Remember that pointed shoes can cause corns on your toes.
Wear the dessert Clarks for easy step
Wear the desert Clarks shoes for a comfortable walk.
To my court that can save you boy
Wearing comfortable shoes can save you from embarrassment.
Your athlete's foot ah go leave you dead
If you have athlete's foot and don't take care of it, it can be very bad for you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ainsley Morris, Vanesssa Saddler, Adidja Palmer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marly3989
CLARKS OWE THIS MAN MONEY..
@twopocketsfull8859
Fr
@user-qg7ub2rf6s
LMFAO
@ghanziseuss
real talk
@thasski8802
him and Slick Rick 💯💯
@GlamFameKen555
Facts lol
@IIRighteousLEEII
Bought some Clark’s today and this is all I could think about while I was in the store!🤣
@j58634
Same here
@ashleighrussell8492
😂
@sunni9044
Hehehe cryin 🤣 😆