Vybz Kartel (born Adidja Palmer, Jan. 7, 1976) is a Jamaican dancehall deej… Read Full Bio ↴Vybz Kartel (born Adidja Palmer, Jan. 7, 1976) is a Jamaican dancehall deejay.

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.

Duppy Know
Vybz Kartel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mobay
Nuh fear dem no day!
Feel say yuh bad come touch me then,
come rush me den mussy supligen boost yuh
Any threat weh ya and ya friend, nuh try fi send mi can do
memba seh, Word a wind we, action we bring
yuh cudda big and thick and ugly like sin...
Gaza me seh anything ah anything

Nobody nuh fraid ah yuh talkin
Chorus:
Duppy know who fi frighten(repeat 3x)
Me granny seh duppy know who fi frighten(repeat)
Yah ah talk but ya caan do me nuttin(repeat)
Memba seh yuh haffi owe me dat, yuh caan tell me yuh haffi show me dat
Yuh nuh thuggy thuggy yuh a duppy bat, look inna di mirror yuh na see say is a idiot yuh lookin at
Me hotta dan de peppa weh ah cook di pot bad in a yuh area, out a road yuh softer than ah soursop
Memba seh de macka tree ah our crop, When yuh ah pretend me plane like di ting weh mek di twin tower drop
tougher than di steel wool weh scour pot
(chorus)
Duppy know who fi frighten(repeat 3x)
Mi granny seh duppy know who fi frighten(repeat)
Yah ah talk but yuh caan do me nuttin(repeat)
Yuh shudda know gaza man dem nuh ramp ah nuh kiddies inna playpen
we a real thuggy thuggy we nuh fear pen
ME haffi sen fi de thugs from lakes bend, shudda neva dis a man from maypen
Yuh love screamin? yuh worser dan fear dem
An so yuh gi gi when yuh buck up inna mayhem

chorus
Duppy know who fi frighten (repeat 3x)
me granny seh duppy know who fi frighten(repeat)
Yah ah talk but ya caan do me nuttin(repeat)
Feel say yuh bad come touch me then,
come rush me den mussy supligen boost yuh
Any threat weh ya and ya friend, a try fi send mi can do
memba seh, Word a wind we, action we bring
yuh cudda big and thick and ugly like sin...
Gaza me seh anything ah anything
Nobody nuh fraid ah yuh talkin
chorus
Duppy know who fi frighten (repeat 3x)
me granny seh duppy know who fi frighten(repeat)
Yah ah talk but ya caan do me nuttin(repeat)
Memba seh yuh haffi owe me dat, yuh caan tell me yuh haffi show me dat
Yuh nuh thuggy thuggy yuh a duppy bat, look inna di mirror yuh na see say is a idiot yuh lookin at
Me hotta dan de peppa weh ah cook di pot bad in a yuh area, out a road yuh softer than ah soursop
Memba seh de macka tree ah our crop, When yuh ah pretend me plane like di ting weh mek di twin tower drop
tougher than di steel wool weh scour pot
chorus
Duppy know who fi frighten (repeat 3x)

me granny seh duppy know who fi frighten(repeat)
Yah ah talk but ya caan do me nuttin(repeat)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Vybz Kartel's "Duppy Know" speak about fearlessness and determination in the face of perceived threats. The song is addressed to an unknown person who supposedly wishes harm on the artist, but he is undaunted by this and insists that his words of caution (Word a wind) will be accompanied by action. The artist also asserts that he is tougher and braver than his perceived threat and that he is backed up by supporters from his hometown (Mobay) and the Gaza crew. The chorus repeats the phrase "Duppy know who fi frighten," which means that ghosts (duppies) know better than to confront someone who is brave and fearless.

Throughout the song, the artist uses several metaphors to emphasize his strength and dominance, such as comparing himself to a hot pepper, a steel wool pad, and a macka tree. He also insults his perceived threat by calling him a "duppy bat" and an "idiot" and suggests that he is all talk and no action. The song ends on a note of triumph, with the artist repeating his declaration of fearlessness and warning anyone who dares to cross him.

Overall, "Duppy Know" is an anthem of resistance and defiance against perceived threats. It celebrates bravery and perseverance in the face of adversity and inspires listeners to stand up for themselves against those who would try to harm them.

Line by Line Meaning

Mobay
Referring to Montego Bay, a city in Jamaica

Nuh fear dem no day!
I am not afraid of them at any time

Feel say yuh bad come touch me then, come rush me den mussy supligen boost yuh
If you believe that you are tough, come and fight me, then you will need some energy drink to boost yourself

Any threat weh ya and ya friend, nuh try fi send mi can do
Do not try to threaten me or send your friend, it won't work

memba seh, Word a wind we, action we bring
Remember, we don't just talk, we take action

yuh cudda big and thick and ugly like sin...
You could be big, thick, and ugly like sin, but that does not scare me

Gaza me seh anything ah anything Nobody nuh fraid ah yuh talkin
I am from Gaza and we do anything, and nobody is afraid of your talking

Duppy know who fi frighten(repeat 3x) Me granny seh duppy know who fi frighten(repeat) Yah ah talk but ya caan do me nuttin(repeat)
I am reminding you that the unknown spirits know who to scare and not me, so you can't do anything to me

Memba seh yuh haffi owe me dat, yuh caan tell me yuh haffi show me dat
Remember you owe me something, don't just tell me, you must show me

Yuh nuh thuggy thuggy yuh a duppy bat, look inna di mirror yuh na see say is a idiot yuh lookin at
You are not a real tough guy but rather a crazy person who does not realize how stupid they look

Me hotta dan de peppa weh ah cook di pot bad in a yuh area, out a road yuh softer than ah soursop Memba seh de macka tree ah our crop, When yuh ah pretend me plane like di ting weh mek di twin tower drop tougher than di steel wool weh scour pot
I am hotter than the pepper used to cook bad food in your area, and outside your territory, you are softer than a soursop fruit. Remember, the machete tree is our cash crop. And when you try to act like you bring down the twin towers, I am tougher than the steel wool used to scour pots

Yuh shudda know gaza man dem nuh ramp ah nuh kiddies inna playpen we a real thuggy thuggy we nuh fear pen ME haffi sen fi de thugs from lakes bend, shudda neva dis a man from maypen Yuh love screamin? yuh worser dan fear dem An so yuh gi gi when yuh buck up inna mayhem
You should know that people from Gaza are not playing with children in a nursery. We are real tough guys and we have no fear of the penitentiary. I have to send for my thugs from Lakes Bend because you should never mess with someone from Maypen. You love screaming, and you are worse than people who are scared. And now you are screaming when you are caught up in the middle of chaos

Writer(s): Shaun Durami Chablal, Adidja Palmer

Contributed by Mia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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