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.
Court Case
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Full Versace from the suit, Versace boot, Versace lace
Is like a presidential race, the 'mount a people inna the place
Me see the whole a Waterford and Southside an' Spanish Town, crazy face
Me nuh come a court fi joke like Chevy Chase
(What's the charge?) Dem say me arms up like a military base
Perry Mason a mi lawyer from the United States
Him know the good, him know the bad, is like a two-sided face
Judge appear and start the hearing, Bible rise, people swearing
"Mr. Palmer," said the judge, "Entertainer come to court too?"
(She say) "What you here today for?"
(Me say) "That me want fi know too"
(She say) "Listen The officer dem charge you fi possession of a weapon
Plus the ammunition, that's another felon
Plus you're wanted in connection with a murder" (wah?)
"You have anything to say before the court goes any further?"
Me jus' say
Me never bring no gun that day, Your Honour
Me never bring no gun that day, jury
Me never bring no gun that day, God know
Me never bring no gun that day
Go fi the police make him testify
Subpoen' the police make him testify
'Cause he's telling all kind a lie
Mi lawyer say dah case yah fi sign a lie
Ay, time fi trial, first witness to the stands
Stephen McGregor, top producer of the reggae songs
"Raise your hands, do you swear to tell the right and not the wrongs?" (Yeah)
"On the day of question tell me everything you plan"
(Him say) "Your Honour when me did a drive go check somebody
When me reach a Barbican, me get pull over by a squaddy
As him see the entertainer, him say, "Who that, a Addi?
Long time me want fi buck him up and deal with you shabby"
Him say, "If a never day me make Madden pick up your body"
And a tell him 'bout him a go make me career end up shabby"
Objection overruled
"After that him rise the shotty
Put it inna the back of the car, go 'pon him radio like a cabby
"Back up Back up Suspect is armed with a shotty"
When me look me see the whole a Barbican and couple Ratty
To the station dem escort we, me reach them say dem a charge me
Me say, "Who fa murder that?"
Him say, "Shut up, and d'even ask me"
Dem say dem a go charge me fi the shotty and the cartridge
Plus couple nine rounds, speci' and some forties
Sitting in the court thinking 'bout Raheim, Jaheim an Shorty
Me jus' jump up an' bawl out, say
Me never bring no gun that day, Your Honour
Me never bring no gun that day, jury
Me never bring no gun that day, God know
Me never bring no gun that day
Go fi the police make him testify
Subpoen' the police make him testify
'Cause he's telling all kind a lie
Mi lawyer say dah case yah fi sign a lie
Yo, next witness, Arresting Officer, Mr. Mcgee, a no police a DC
Want fi sink Addi the Teacha from the Foster G.C
Him want me enterprise fi shut down like a PC
Testimony start, him a tell Your Honour fi him part, say him,
"Approach the suspect, right away him start rant
Right away him get boisterous and cuss up bare claat
When me see the rifle mouth, it skip the beat inna me heart" (bloodclaat)
The judge go gi' me a look wha' make me weak
Diarrhoea like me want fi make a toilet with mi seat
Me say, "Lawyer, how it look?"
Him shake him head and kiss him teeth
And whisper, "If you get no bail, leave town before this week"
The world a crumble, reality start to soak in
Same time Your Honour say, "Court is adjourned until the 14th"
(Wah?) Me fled the scene, pack up mi bag fi go El Paso
Worst me know say me no guilty? Me nah come back yahsuh" cah
Me never bring no gun that day, Your Honour
Me never bring no gun that day, jury
Me never bring no gun that day, God know
Me never bring no gun that day
Go fi the police make him testify
Subpoen' the police make him testify
'Cause he's telling all kind a lie
Mi lawyer say dah case yah fi sign a lie
In “Court Case,” Vybz Kartel describes the harsh reality of a criminal who becomes haunted by their actions after being caught and tried in court. The first two lines of the song talk about how some criminals believe that their friends will bail them out or that they can get out of trouble easily, but this is not the case. Then, Kartel notes that the murderer is crying and asking for forgiveness, but it is too late. The murderer is now in court and will face the consequences of their actions.
Kartel's lyrics depict the courtroom as a place of fear and desperation. The murderer is sweating and shaking because they know that they will face many years in prison. In the second verse, Kartel warns that those who choose a life of crime will eventually be caught and punished. He encourages individuals to seek job opportunities or trade work instead of resorting to illegal activities.
Kartel's “Court Case” is a cautionary tale about the dangers of criminal activity and the consequences that result from those actions. It is a reminder that there are real-life consequences for our actions, and that it is important to make wise decisions that we will not regret later.
Line by Line Meaning
How dem haunted
They are haunted by what they have done
Kill man and get wanted
They kill people and become wanted by the authorities
Yo think mi respond fi dem a no lawyer business
You think I am responsible for them in terms of legal issues when I am not a lawyer
Mama, yo murderer a cry
Mother, the murderer is crying
And a him same one a tell mi seh him a fry yie
And he is the same one who told me he was confident and had nothing to fear
Mama, watch murderer a fret
Mother, watch the murderer worry
Sit down in a court and a buss cold sweat
Sitting in court and sweating profusely
Mama, mi seh a pis him waan pis
Mother, I want to urinate on him
When him look in a the dock and him si the witness
When he sees the witness in the dock
Mama, the bwoy waan disappear
Mother, the boy wants to disappear
When him hear the judge tell him 25 year
When he hears the judge sentence him to 25 years
Member mi did warn yo
Remember, I warned you
But a true yo hard ears
But you are stubborn
Shi tell yo look a wuk or gwan go look trade
She told you to find work or go into a trade
Yo never did waan that, yo waan turn criminal
You did not want that, you wanted to become a criminal
Fi go nam people food like a wild animal
To steal people's food like a wild animal
But watch him all a pose and gun no legal
But look, he poses with an illegal gun
Police lock him up and carry him a central
The police arrested him and took him to central
In a the bull pen him seh him a general
In the holding cell, he claims to be a general
And in front the judge him start bwal like a gyal
In front of the judge, he starts crying like a girl
Mama, come check mi lata
Mother, come and see me later
Bring a soap, and a slippers, and two anthena
Bring soap, slippers, and two antennas
Mama mi waan come out yah
Mother, I want to come out of here
The ground too touch mi miss mi sofa
The ground is too uncomfortable, I miss my sofa
Dem haunted kill man and get wanted
They kill people and become wanted by the authorities
Yo think mi respond fi dem and court house business
You think I am responsible for them in terms of legal issues
How dem haunted
They are haunted by what they have done
Kill man and get wanted
They kill people and become wanted by the authorities
Yo think mi respond fi dem a no lawyer business
You think I am responsible for them in terms of legal issues when I am not a lawyer
Member mi did warn yo
Remember, I warned you
But a true yo hard ears
But you are stubborn
Shi tell yo look a wuk or gwan go look trade
She told you to find work or go into a trade
Yo never did waan that, yo waan turn criminal
You did not want that, you wanted to become a criminal
Fi go nam people food like a wild animal
To steal people's food like a wild animal
But watch him all a pose and gun no legal
But look, he poses with an illegal gun
Police lock him up and carry him a central
The police arrested him and took him to central
In a the bull pen him seh him a general
In the holding cell, he claims to be a general
And in front the judge him start bwal like a gyal
In front of the judge, he starts crying like a girl
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Adidja Azim Palmer, Stephen David McGregor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OpWell Forex TV
Crime pays... YES! Let no one lie to you that crime does not pay. It pays and the fruits are so bitter. Let's love one another.
Pito Love
They'll fight & give their lives for some celebrity but won't fight for a better life for themselves... Madness
Cane Hancho
There Tryna live through him and shit like he gonna give each one money
elysee
@Cane Hancho vybz is innocent tho
Debbie Thompson
World Boss now becomes jail boss...never mix music with badness
Breaking news on social media Tv
This reminds of a story in the bible when pilot said who should b free Jesus r Barabbas the murderer and the people shouted Free barabbas, so what about the family who lost their love one!
Star
Yo! free the world boss at all cost!
Jupiter Rueda de Leon
Exactly
Yvng Colour
free kartel
TALENTOS TV
Free kartel