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.
Gun Clown
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How me fi tunn gun clown? Me nah do that
Man have gun bag round town, me nah do that
Have it and nuh know how it sound, me nah do that
Hype and yuh neva lick ah bank, me sey cou that
Tek yuh last gi man fi buy gun, me nah do that
Police hold yuh, yuh say ah my gun, me nah do that
Real thugs buss it dem nah come ask you that
Nuff bwoy ah nuh real gun man, a gun puppet dem
Real thugs want ah gun lock and run guh get dem
Di mount ah money dem bowy spend every weekend
Di shot dem him buy dem, load di gun and hide dem
Aright then, nah buss dem him ongle duss dem
Tek him time rub off di rust then di bwoy ah cruff then
Tell me bout him know Dudus dem sey Zeeks ah buss dem
As soon as him spoken some west man mek him head open
Listen, me have me own me own
Doh care If ah bwoy wha bend, gwaan guh bend then
Nah guh lock nuh big long gun fi none ah me friend dem
Yuh see Rohand and yuh see him gun will ah fi him gun
[Chorus]
Nuff bwoy wey sey dem ah bad man, dem ongle dream it
Nuff man wey sey dat a dem ah di big man, dem really nuh mean it
Me neva see them with no gun yet, rachette me see him with
Warlord, dig di pit and fling him in it
Kartel is di champion inna di shouting contest, me move strategic
This army friend man gi yuh fi keep it, hear it and squeeze it
Mac 90 rifle Boston beat it, yuh flesh ah guh beat it
Marrow fly go Egypt, man kick yuh head like dem ah tek free kick
[Chorus:]
Tru ah man From down suh guh gi him ah gun, yuh
It's like di bwoy nuh like fi see how di scheme ah run
Diss real thugs and get cut up like ah Easter bun
When dem check him ah come back fi war, him and police ah come
Thugs nuh run, cyaaa dem buss dem own gun ah nuh fi Peter gun
Hundred and fifty inna di clip, gi him di maximum
Sen fi taxi but him pronounce before di taxi come
Blood ah run like when voice champs ah keep ah stadium
Tru mo wild di bredda got him uncle license gun
Bwoy ah look trouble and ah run when him see trouble ah come
Nozzle inna yuh mouth blow copper like bubble gum
Juss like fan same suh him gal ah blow pan me
The lyrics to Vybz Kartel's song "Gun Clown" are a commentary on the culture surrounding gun violence and the glorification of those who carry guns without fully understanding the consequences. The chorus, "How me fi tunn gun clown? Me nah do that" expresses Kartel's reluctance to participate in the gang culture and emulate those who carry guns simply for the sake of appearing tough. Instead, he advocates for real thugs who use their weapons responsibly and with intention, rather than those who carry guns as mere props.
Kartel's lyrical style is characterized by his use of patois, which adds a layer of complexity to his message. In the song, he references several notorious criminals, such as Dudus and Zeeks, while also making a distinction between real thugs and those who merely pretend to be tough. The lyrics also touch on the financial implications of gun culture, with a reference to a man who gives his last money to buy a gun.
Overall, "Gun Clown" is a nuanced commentary on the complexities of gun violence and the impact it has on communities. Through his lyrics, Kartel is calling for a more responsible and measured approach to the issue.
Line by Line Meaning
How me fi tunn gun clown? Me nah do that
I cannot become a person who recklessly uses guns, that goes against my principles.
Man have gun bag round town, me nah do that
I do not carry guns around in public like some people do.
Have it and nuh know how it sound, me nah do that
I do not possess a gun if I am not familiar with how to use it properly.
Hype and yuh neva lick ah bank, me sey cou that
Just because someone boasts about having a gun, does not mean they have committed armed robbery before.
Tek yuh last gi man fi buy gun, me nah do that
I would not lend all my money to someone else just so they can purchase a gun.
Police hold yuh, yuh say ah my gun, me nah do that
I am not willing to take the blame for someone else's actions or possession of an illegal firearm.
Real thugs buss it dem nah come ask you that
Anyone who is a true violent criminal does not need to ask anyone else how to use a gun or what to do with it.
Man ah Kartel man ah nuh Carbon yuh get that
I am a Kartel man, not a Carbon copy of anybody else.
Nuff bwoy ah nuh real gun man, a gun puppet dem
Many people who pretend to be gun-toting tough guys are actually just blindly following the instructions of others.
Real thugs want ah gun lock and run guh get dem
Genuine criminals prefer to obtain and stash away a firearm without drawing attention to themselves by flaunting it around town.
Di mount ah money dem bowy spend every weekend
Many alleged gangsters are actually just spending their money recklessly and living beyond their means.
Di shot dem him buy dem, load di gun and hide dem
Some people stockpile weapons but keep them hidden so that nobody else knows what they have, and only use them for their own purposes.
Aright then, nah buss dem him ongle duss dem
Sometimes these people who possess a lot of firearms and are generally considered threatening may never even use them in reality.
Tek him time rub off di rust then di bwoy ah cruff then
It may take time for someone who is not a professional criminal to actually build up the nerve and expertise to use a gun in a dangerous situation.
Tell me bout him know Dudus dem sey Zeeks ah buss dem
Someone's alleged connections to a notorious criminal do not necessarily make them dangerous and trigger-happy themselves.
As soon as him spoken some west man mek him head open
If someone tries to brag or talk tough about having guns in certain areas of town, they may just get themselves shot by others who are more legitimately ruthless.
Listen, me have me own me own
I have my own way of doing things that does not rely on others or their advice.
Doh care If ah bwoy wha bend, gwaan guh bend then
I am not concerned with what people may think of me or my actions, I will do what I think is right.
Nah guh lock nuh big long gun fi none ah me friend dem
I will not be so foolish as to willingly take on the legal or social risks of owning a weapon that is not strictly for self-defense.
Yuh see Rohand and yuh see him gun will ah fi him gun
Some people are so intimately bonded with their firearms that it is pointless to try to separate them or deny their connection.
Nuff bwoy wey sey dem ah bad man, dem ongle dream it
Many self-proclaimed thugs and criminals are just living a fantasy that they cannot and will not ever truly fulfill in real life.
Nuff man wey sey dat a dem ah di big man, dem really nuh mean it
A lot of people will talk tough and act like they are in control, but they are really just bluffing and have no real authority or respect.
Me neva see them with no gun yet, rachette me see him with
I have yet to witness many of these self-proclaimed warriors actually brandishing or using a real firearm, while I have seen them using machetes and similar weapons instead.
Warlord, dig di pit and fling him in it
People who pretend to be big dangerous kingpins, but are actually impotent and misguided, should be dealt with harshly and unceremoniously.
Kartel is di champion inna di shouting contest, me move strategic
I do not need to be the loudest or most outgoing personality, but I still have a calculated plan of action and know how to assert my dominance effectively.
This army friend man gi yuh fi keep it, hear it and squeeze it
Sometimes an ally in the underworld will give you a weapon and tell you to hold onto it and use it as needed, and you can trust them to have your back if you need it.
Mac 90 rifle Boston beat it, yuh flesh ah guh beat it
A high-powered assault rifle like the Mac 90 is not only dangerous, but could actually cause severe injury or death to someone even by simple impact or vibration.
Marrow fly go Egypt, man kick yuh head like dem ah tek free kick
The injuries sustained by someone who is shot can be incredibly destructive and cause a lot of physical damage and even death, depending on where they are hit.
Tru ah man From down suh guh gi him ah gun, yuh
Sometimes people who live in rough neighborhoods or are part of certain social circles will give or lend a gun to someone else to use for protection or revenge.
It's like di bwoy nuh like fi see how di scheme ah run
Some people are so violent or angry that they will threaten anyone who seems to be working within their territory or not respecting their power.
Diss real thugs and get cut up like ah Easter bun
If you provoke or insult a genuine criminal or aggressive personality, you could end up getting physically attacked or killed like a vulnerable Easter treat.
When dem check him ah come back fi war, him and police ah come
Some people who claim to be part of a violent gang or squad will actually loop in law enforcement to help keep them safe or maintain a power dynamic.
Thugs nuh run, cyaaa dem buss dem own gun ah nuh fi Peter gun
Real criminals do not flee or back down from a fight or threat, but may also not need to use someone else's weapon to assert their dominance.
Hundred and fifty inna di clip, gi him di maximum
Sometimes it is desirable to have as many weapons or bullets as possible in order to establish power and deter enemies or rivals.
Sen fi taxi but him pronounce before di taxi come
People who are desperate or anxious to flee a dangerous situation may prematurely announce their intentions and draw even more attention to their plan.
Blood ah run like when voice champs ah keep ah stadium
The sight of someone who has been seriously wounded or killed can be very disturbing and traumatic, especially when there is a lot of blood involved.
Tru mo wild di bredda got him uncle license gun
Sometimes people inadvertently obtain weapons or protection from a family member or relative who is licensed to carry or own firearms.
Bwoy ah look trouble and ah run when him see trouble ah come
Some people talk tough, but when faced with real danger or threats, they quickly back off and retreat.
Nozzle inna yuh mouth blow copper like bubble gum
A gunshot wound to the mouth or head can be extremely debilitating and cause permanent damage or death, and should not be taken lightly.
Juss like fan same suh him gal ah blow pan me
Just as a fan will blow air, a woman may blow kisses or cause men to fall in love with her in order to manipulate or control them.
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Royalty Network
Written by: ADIDJA PALMER, WINSTON POWELL, ADIDJA AZIM PALMER, WINSTON EDWARD POWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ras Manjago
Lyrics always on point.Salute to the world boss
torontoyardy
I could listen this Bad Kalic riddim all day very underrated and nuff big artists on it including this one by Kartel
G A Z A B L E S S
I remember when Vybz was underground I was a fan from those times. I'm fucking old.
jr gittens
😂🤣
King Conrad
In my eyes Kartel was at his best 2003-2006, just before the gully gaza bizniz... Kartel best year 2004 by far. Up to di time! #JMT
Catherine
+King Conrad Nah man. He held it up to 2009/2010, then like every other artist, he went pseudo mainstream.
Naturally Empress Madde Pinkweightloss
+King Conrad but that song came out before 2003
King Conrad
+PinkWeightLoss1 Respect. I know, think this is like early 2002. I still own the Bad Kalic riddim album I used to collect a few of the greensleeves series... Gun Clown is a good track don't get me wrong. Just that most of my favourite Kartel tunes are inbetween 03 and 06. For me a lot of the gully gaza songs afterwards were big at the time but I wouldn't play them often now as the war against the alliance is now irrelevant... whereas you can play old tracks like 'picture me and you', 'emergency', 'i neva', 'new millenium' on repeat still... I'm liking a lot of Kartel recent material, i prefer the anti artist tracks
Naturally Empress Madde Pinkweightloss
King Conrad yeah real thing,tbut tracks like gal clown,kill bill,jamaica ah number one and some more were hot in 2002
King Conrad
+PinkWeightLoss1 Kill Bill. Big tune!