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 Again
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From mi a tell ya bout dessert clarks deh, every crep a get fling weh
Streight wallabee, bank robba and dem ting deh. Gal a see mi n a ball seh
De ting deh. Victoria see n dem ting deh get fling weh.
Shee seh mi me smell nice seh mi feel sweet, seh mi shirt bad, seh mi jeans
Neat. Mi seh baby mi seh mi love freak. She seh she freaky she seh she wan
Clean skin deh ina ya black berry see mi pin deh scroll go dwn and come up
N dem ting deh
Shee seh mi me smell nice seh mi feel sweet, seh mi shirt bad, seh mi jeans
Neat. Mi seh baby mi seh mi love freak. She seh she freaky she seh she wan
Do it
Gal a mine mi fi wine mi, she love mi off. She seh she a go a town. Mi seh
Bring mi clarks. She seh wah kinda style yah wah n mi seh bing it in a
Suede n leather every material fi boss dem, bank robba wallabee dessert
Clarks dem a style we love in gaza. Represent fi di gaza.
Di typa a clarks mi a wait pon if haffi mek a england it haffi mek a
Vietnam, mi a beat it from mi inna grade one, papi love di leather, pim pim
Love de suede on.
Shee seh mi me smell nice seh mi feel sweet, seh mi shirt bad, seh mi jeans
Neat. Mi seh baby mi seh mi love freak. She seh she freaky she seh she wan
Do it
Fi get a child man and oman creation, 2easy it can don by a cave man. Mi
Haffi get picney from every nation, all color, all coordination.
Shee seh mi me smell nice seh mi feel sweet, seh mi shirt bad, seh mi jeans
Neat. Mi seh baby mi seh mi love freak. She seh she freaky she seh she wan
Do it.
Gal a mine mi fi wine mi, she love mi up. She gal a mine mi fi wine mi, she
Love mi off. She seh she a go a town. Mi seh bring mi clarks. She seh wah
Kinda style yah wah n mi seh bing it in a suede n leather every material fi
Boss dem, bank robba wallabee dessert clarks dem a style we love in gaza.
Represent fi di gaza.
Russian. Clean out ya closet deposit di clarks dem mi love it. Awo.
From mi a tell ya bout dessert clarks deh, every crep a get fling weh
Streight wallabee, bank robba and dem ting deh. Gal a see mi n a ball seh
De ting deh. Victoria see n dem ting deh get fling weh.
Vybz Kartel's song Clarks Again is an ode to Clarks shoes, which are popular in Jamaica. The lyrics boast about the love for Clarks and how they are a style staple in the Gaza community. The opening line, "Russian. Clean out ya closet deposit di clarks dem mi love it. Awo," refers to the practice of cleaning out the closet and depositing the old Clarks to make way for new ones. The song goes on to mention various Clarks styles such as wallabee, bank robba, and dessert Clarks. These shoes are so important that they even accompany Vybz Kartel's girlfriend when she goes out of town.
The song also touches on Vybz Kartel's love life and his desire to have children with women from all over the world. He declares that it's easy for him to have children with different women and that he wants children of all colors and nationalities.
Overall, Clarks Again is a celebration of the importance of Clarks in the music and fashion culture of Jamaica. It's a catchy song that showcases Vybz Kartel's love for the brand and how it reflects the community's unique style.
Line by Line Meaning
Russian. Clean out ya closet deposit di clarks dem mi love it. Awo.
I urge you to clean out your closet and deposit all your Clarks shoes, because I love them.
From mi a tell ya bout dessert clarks deh, every crep a get fling weh Streight wallabee, bank robba and dem ting deh. Gal a see mi n a ball seh De ting deh. Victoria see n dem ting deh get fling weh.
I'm telling you about the popular Clarks shoes, every footwear that is not Clarks will be discarded. This includes Wallabee, Bank Robba, and other shoes. When girls see me wearing Clarks, they react positively. Victoria saw them on me and became enamored as well.
Shee seh mi me smell nice seh mi feel sweet, seh mi shirt bad, seh mi jeans Neat. Mi seh baby mi seh mi love freak. She seh she freaky she seh she wan Do seh hey gal mek mi see dah tongue ring deh, all a de tattoo pon dah Clean skin deh ina ya black berry see mi pin deh scroll go dwn and come up N dem ting deh
She says I smell nice and feel sweet, my shirt looks bad and my jeans look sleek. I tell her I love being a freak. She offers to show me her tongue ring and tattoos, while browsing through my contact list on her BlackBerry phone.
Gal a mine mi fi wine mi, she love mi off. She seh she a go a town. Mi seh Bring mi clarks. She seh wah kinda style yah wah n mi seh bing it in a Suede n leather every material fi boss dem, bank robba wallabee dessert Clarks dem a style we love in gaza. Represent fi di gaza.
Girls adore me and want to dance with me. One of them is heading to town and I ask her to bring me my Clarks. She asks me what style I want, and I tell her I want them in suede and leather, because they are the style that we love in Gaza. I represent Gaza with my fashion sense.
Di typa a clarks mi a wait pon if haffi mek a england it haffi mek a Vietnam, mi a beat it from mi inna grade one, papi love di leather, pim pim Love de suede on.
I am waiting for a specific type of Clarks shoes, which I would get from England or Vietnam. I have been wearing them since grade one, and my dad loves the leather ones, while I prefer the ones made of suede.
Fi get a child man and oman creation, 2easy it can don by a cave man. Mi Haffi get picney from every nation, all color, all coordination.
To have children is easy, even cavemen can do it. I want to have children from every nation, regardless of their color or ethnicity.
Gal a mine mi fi wine mi, she love mi up. She gal a mine mi fi wine mi, she Love mi off. She seh she a go a town. Mi seh bring mi clarks. She seh wah Kinda style yah wah n mi seh bing it in a suede n leather every material fi boss dem, bank robba wallabee dessert clarks dem a style we love in gaza. Represent fi di gaza.
Girls adore me and want to dance with me. One of them is heading to town and I ask her to bring me my Clarks. She asks me what style I want, and I tell her I want them in suede and leather, because they are the style that we love in Gaza. I represent Gaza with my fashion sense.
Contributed by Zoe J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bubak Janneh
on Life We Living
life we living so hard
Bubak Janneh
on Ghetto Youth
some body send me this nonsese