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.
Fix Up
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fix up, fix up, you, you ago get
Fix up, fix up, you ago get
Fix up, fix up
Yeh!
See di little youth and you wah grad fone
Yow dat a suhmn weh mi cah condone
Down a manuel road full a bruk rock stone
Anything you see me walk wid a my own
Weed weh you seh me smoking a my own
Feel so high like me a fly trone
So clean to the bone skeletone a try clone
You a move shady you ago get fix up
Like when a mechanic a deal wid a big truck
Food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
Food food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
You a move shady you ago get fix up
Like when a mechanic a deal wid a big truck
Food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
Food food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
A nuh everything glitter is gold
Labor fi learn all wen you get old
Every ghetto youth should a have a pay roll
Babylon you too cold cartman a pay toll
Fi a cell fone nuh a dem a sell soul
Fi a blackberry shy guy a get bold
Tek weh u self wen gaza a roll
Are lay down flatta than a sheet weh nuh fold
You a move shady you ago get fix up
Like when a mechanic a deal wid a big truck
Food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
Food food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
You a move shady you ago get fix up
Like when a mechanic a deal wid a big truck
Food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
Food food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
Gwan stand up and pose
Swear say you smart like salomon clothes
Wul a dem a blow weh wul a dem a blow weh
Like smoke fire come outta badadan nose
Genuine clark pon top a man toe
Have a gal inna mi room weh a holla one souls
Yeh! Mowet inna fridge draw and a one rose
Red grabba hotta than 31 stove
You a move shady you ago get fix up
Like when a mechanic a deal wid a big truck
Food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
Food food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
You a move shady you ago get fix up
Like when a mechanic a deal wid a big truck
Food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
Food food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
Fix up, fix up, you ago get
Fix up, fix up, you, you ago get
Fix up, fix up, you ago get
Fix up, fix up
Yeh!
See di little youth and you wah grad fone
Yow dat a suhmn weh mi cah condone
Bet you say you get a fone call unknow
Down a manuel road full a bruk rock stone
Anything you see me walk wid a my own
Weed weh you seh me smoking a my own
Feel so high like me a fly trone
So clean to the bone skeletone a try clone
You a move shady you ago get fix up
Like when a mechanic a deal wid a big truck
Food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
Food food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
You a move shady you ago get fix up
Like when a mechanic a deal wid a big truck
Food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
Food food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
In the song "Fix Up" by Vybz Kartel, the artist is sending a message to those who are not living up to their potential and resort to shady behavior to get ahead. He starts by condemning those who steal or use illegal means to acquire things like cell phones or expensive clothes, and boasts about his own possessions, which he has earned honestly. The chorus warns that those who move in a shady manner will receive their comeuppance, just like a mechanic would fix up a truck that is not running smoothly.
Vybz Kartel also references the struggles of growing up in the ghetto, where many youth do not have access to steady jobs or commensurate salaries. He questions the tactics employed by those in power and how they have created a society where people have to compromise their values to get ahead. However, he encourages the youth to stay true to themselves and learn a trade or skill, emphasizing that it is never too late to learn.
The lyrics also touch on Vybz Kartel's signature topic of marijuana use. He acknowledges the potential negative side effects and stigma surrounding it, but still finds joy in the experience of getting high. Overall, the song encourages people to work hard, stay true to themselves, and not resort to illegal, shady behavior in their pursuit of success.
Line by Line Meaning
Fix up, fix up, you ago get
You need to get your act together and improve your situation
See di little youth and you wah grad fone
You see the young person who wants to get a phone
Yow dat a suhmn weh mi cah condone
But that is something I cannot approve of
Bet you say you get a fone call unknow
I bet you say you received a phone call from an unknown number
Down a manuel road full a bruk rock stone
In a street full of broken rocks and stones
Anything you see me walk wid a my own
Anything you see me with, I own
Weed weh you seh me smoking a my own
The weed that you see me smoking is mine
Feel so high like me a fly trone
I feel so high, like I am flying on a throne
So clean to the bone skeletone a try clone
My style is so unique and perfect, that others try to imitate me
You a move shady you ago get fix up
If you are doing something shady, you will face the consequences and need to improve your ways
Like when a mechanic a deal wid a big truck
Just like a mechanic handling a big truck, your actions need to be precise and not shady
Food me a pree mi nuh inna mix up
I am focused on my own goals and not getting caught up in drama
A nuh everything glitter is gold
Not everything that looks good is actually good
Labor fi learn all wen you get old
You need to work hard and continue learning, even as you age
Every ghetto youth should a have a pay roll
Every person from the ghetto deserves success and financial stability
Babylon you too cold cartman a pay toll
The system is unfair and treats people poorly, even forcing them to pay tolls for basic necessities
Fi a cell fone nuh a dem a sell soul
Some people are willing to sacrifice their values and morals just to have a cell phone
Fi a blackberry shy guy a get bold
Some people may feel more confident with a certain brand or possession, like a BlackBerry phone
Tek weh u self wen gaza a roll
Get out of the way when the Gaza crew rolls through
Are lay down flatta than a sheet weh nuh fold
People who try to oppose the Gaza crew end up flattened
Gwan stand up and pose
Go ahead and try to act cool
Swear say you smart like salomon clothes
Thinking you are smart like a high-end fashion brand
Wul a dem a blow weh wul a dem a blow weh
A lot of people are talking nonsense
Like smoke fire come outta badadan nose
Their lies and deceit are so obvious, like smoke coming out of their nose
Genuine clark pon top a man toe
Authentic Clarks shoes on a man's feet
Have a gal inna mi room weh a holla one souls
There's a woman in my room who is moaning loudly
Mowet inna fridge draw and a one rose
A bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne in the fridge, and a single rose
Red grabba hotta than 31 stove
A type of marijuana cigarette (grabba) is so hot that it's hotter than a stove set to 31 degrees Celsius
Writer(s): Adidja Palmer
Contributed by Zachary J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ariana Davis
di greatest fi eva dweet 🔥🔥🔥
reuel fonrose
Driving comin through to the party with this 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Paradox Martin
Da song ya hard but alka fuck up the riddim wicked 🔥
real laye Kaba
Cartel international dancehall super star ❤🇮🇹✌
Tanaka Wiseman
Gaza commander ten voice in 1 songs big up👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊
onebossvk
Kartel rule dancehall
Collins Nwabanne
Classic🔥🔥🔥#Gazatilldeath
Jehiel Joseph
Not gonna lie,this entire riddim was hard asf...im a kartel fan but alka killed this riddim
G.A.D❄️🌌
No jokes💯
Triston Wynter
Up to di time from then till now, still the baddest thing.