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.
Ghetto Life
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I pray the lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray di lord mi soul fi take
Yow di city don't love me
Mi know seh di city don't love me
Mi don't have a job no money
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
Wi need a way to survive
Hoowuhooowu
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
The system traumatize
Listen to di elder
Mi granny never tell mi no lie
When shi seh di system it don't right
Dem don't have no mercy society
Yo don't listen to di ghetto youth voice
Meck di ghetto youth dem strive
Every body pikiny waan fi know life
A di prison an di jail dem find
Tell mi wa dem waan wi dead fa
Every ghetto youth waan money yeh
And dem waan buy a house for mommy yeh
In di streets everyday don't funny yeh
Mi no know when di hearse coming for me yeh
Every ghetto youth waan money yeh
And dem waan buy a house for mommy yeh
In di streets everyday don't funny yeh
Mi no know when di hearse coming for me yeh
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
Wi need a way to survive
Hoowuhooowu
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
The system traumatize
Listen to di elder
Colonial brutality
Innocent youth get shoot Addi si
Society no do nothing fi me
Caw mi scheme never benefit through charity
Ghetto youth have di true quality
Marcus Garvey philosophy
Something a go happen in a di inner city
And mi granny seh di longest liver haffi si
Every ghetto youth waan money yeh
And dem waan buy a house for mommy yeh
In di streets everyday don't funny yeh
Mi no know when di hearse coming for me yeh
Every ghetto youth waan money yeh
And dem waan buy a house for mommy yeh
In di streets everyday don't funny yeh
Mi no know when di hearse coming for me yeh
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
Wi need a way to survive
Hoowuhooowu
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
The system traumatize
Listen to di elder
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
Wi need a way to survive
Hoowuhooowu
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
The system traumatize
Listen to di elder
In "Ghetto Life," Vybz Kartel describes the harsh realities of living in the ghetto. He acknowledges that the system doesn't work for people like him, and that life is a constant struggle. The song opens with a prayer: "Before hi lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray di lord mi soul fi take." This suggests that he lives in a world where life is uncertain at best and that death is always lurking in the shadows.
He then goes on to talk about the lack of love and opportunities in the city. The pain of hunger and poverty is ever-present, and the only way to survive is to keep searching for a way out – a paradise that seems unattainable. The system is traumatizing, and he urges listeners to listen to the wisdom of the elders who understand the realities of ghetto life.
The lyrics also touch on the desire for money and a better life that motivates many young people in the ghetto. They dream of buying a house for their mothers and living a life that doesn't involve constant fear and uncertainty. Yet, the realities of the streets are far from funny, and death can come at any moment. The song speaks to the frustration and anger that many people in the ghetto feel, as they struggle to find a way out of poverty and marginalization.
Line by Line Meaning
Before hi lay me down to sleep
I pray the lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray di lord mi soul fi take
The singer asks for protection from the lord in case of their death.
Yow di city don't love me
Mi know seh di city don't love me
Mi don't have a job no money
Lord di pain mi hungry
The singer feels neglected by the city due to their poverty and hunger.
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
Wi need a way to survive
Hoowuhooowu
Living in the ghetto is a constant struggle for survival in search of a better life.
Listen to di elder
Mi granny never tell mi no lie
When shi seh di system it don't right
Dem don't have no mercy society
Yo don't listen to di ghetto youth voice
Meck di ghetto youth dem strive
Every body pikiny waan fi know life
A di prison an di jail dem find
Tell mi wa dem waan wi dead fa
The artist highlights the injustices faced by the ghetto youth and urges society to listen to their voice and give them opportunities to succeed instead of pushing them towards crime and violence.
Colonial brutality
Innocent youth get shoot Addi si
Society no do nothing fi me
Caw mi scheme never benefit through charity
Ghetto youth have di true quality
Marcus Garvey philosophy
Something a go happen in a di inner city
And mi granny seh di longest liver haffi si
The artist acknowledges the historical impact of colonialism and the lack of support from society. However, they also have hope for change and draw inspiration from Marcus Garvey's philosophy of self-determination for black people.
Every ghetto youth waan money yeh
And dem waan buy a house for mommy yeh
In di streets everyday don't funny yeh
Mi no know when di hearse coming for me yeh
The singer expresses the universal desire for financial security and the uncertainty of life in the ghetto.
Lyrics © ONErpm
Written by: ADIDJA PALMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ergis krist
Before hi lay me down to sleep
I pray the lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray di lord mi soul fi take
Yow di city don't love me
Mi know seh di city don't love me
Mi don't have a job no money
Lord di pain mi hungry
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
Wi need a way to survive
Hoowuhooowu
A just ghetto life
Wi a search fi di paradise
Da one yah name ghetto life
The system traumatize
Listen to di elder
Mi granny never tell mi no lie
When shi seh di system it don't right
Dem don't have no mercy society
Yo don't listen to di ghetto youth voice
Meck di ghetto youth dem strive
Every body pikiny waan fi know life
A di prison an di jail dem find
Tell mi wa dem waan wi dead fa
Every ghetto youth waan money yeh
And dem…
Brocco 420 TV
Songs like these need to be billions of viewsss😢❤❤
Stanar Brown
No joke👌
Ken Kendrick
real talk bredda
Adapt or Die
So true
ShottaKenya
I remember when this dropped same day as "Death Row"... the 2-3 years leading up to the arrest and the year after had so much quality and quantity of music from Vybz Kartel.
georgie waweru
Unakumbuka jo bana hizo enzi kartel alikuwa anataka kutumurder na hitz
T.357 Music Group
Powerful message within this song no doubt about it. Vybz Kartel I consider as a great iconic artist for this era of dancehall music. Many ignorant minds might have something else to say but facts a facts and Vybz Kartel is the only dancehall artist that illustrate strong poetical artistic ways throughout his music like "Tupac">>>Free The World Boss Which IIz Rite!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gaza Balla
If dem free him buy June by December he will get "Artist of the year", This man is a Legend! Greatest Dancehall ever see
Samantha
2022 n still a hit song 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Ken Kendrick
STILL LISTENING TO THIS ANTHEM MASTERPIECE IN 2023 FROM THE DANCEHALL GREATEST OF ALL TIME