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.
Kartel and Kardinal
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dat deh boy yuh nuh fi joke wid
Breed dem ones
Dat deh man dem want fi smoke wid
Breed dem ones
Dat di gal dem a cry fah
Dat di gal dem a die fah
Imperial New Millenium Serial
Legendary and historical
Gal get hysterical
Mad sexy gal celebrate wi like a festival
Mi smoke trees
Till mi high like an alien
Star Trek di mission
Like Mediterranean
Deep is di vision
Mr Canadian in
Ford Expedition
An me drive a different version
Di Ford X-cursion
Mi rug a Persian
Mi gal a Asian
Mi house a mansion
Mi gun pump action
Mi jewels real karat
A nuh turnip a no onion
My ladies dem a number one
From Waterfrod to Cumberland
Reagan inna him Timberland
Me Karl Kani
Tough a lie
Clarkes from England
Sneakers mi used to
Tennis shoes more dan Wimbledon
Guns mi have enough ammunition dan Bush
An mi badda dan di Taliban
Breed dem ones
Dat deh boy yuh nuh fi joke wid
Breed dem ones
Dat deh man dem want fi smoke wid
Breed dem ones
Dat di gal dem a cry fah
Dat di gal dem a die fah
Kartel and Kardinal
Imperial New Millenium Serial
Legendary and historical
Gal get hysterical
Mad sexy gal celebrate wi like festival
Twenty-three inch rims rollin over and over and over
When we range di rover
We nuh need no chauffeur
A-K rest cross mi shoulder
'Cause a soldier weh
Nuh have nuh rifle
Is like a Ras weh nuh know Jah
Truck load a gal from out Nova Scotia
Seh widout a doubta pullover
Step out a Toyota Lexus
Come over to two outta di crowd
A seh a mi dem a scouta
Wi nuh mek out paper fibre
Weh ride a tough tide a glide
You lied I want lie beside bona fide
A badman she want ride
Breed dem ones
Dat deh boy yuh nuh fi joke wid
Breed dem ones
Dat deh man dem want fi smoke wid
Breed dem ones
Dat di gal dem a cry fah
Dat di gal dem a die fah
The song "Kartel and Kardinal" by Vybz Kartel and Kardinal Offishall talks about breeding and the importance of finding the right person to be with. The chorus emphasizes the value of specific people, whether it's a man to smoke with or a woman to cry for. The rappers appear to be celebrating their status as legendary figures in the music industry, as women get hysterical and come out to celebrate them. The lyrics also mention material possessions like the Ford Expedition, Persian rug, mansion, and karat jewels. The rappers boast about their skills, with Kartel bragging about his ability to smoke so much that he's high like an alien and Kardinal mentioning his toughness and his Clarkes from England.
The song is filled with references to different parts of the world, including Mediterranean, Nova Scotia, and Waterford to Cumberland. The rappers also mention various types of footwear, from tough Clarkes to tennis shoes more than those worn at Wimbledon. The song is brimming with confidence, with the rappers stating that they're better than those who ride paper fibers and glide on tough tides. The song ends with the rappers talking about wanting to be with bona fide women who want to ride with bad men.
Line by Line Meaning
Breed dem ones
Identify and breed the tough ones
Dat deh boy yuh nuh fi joke wid
Those boys are not to be taken lightly
Dat deh man dem want fi smoke wid
Those men are sought after for their smoking abilities
Dat di gal dem a cry fah
The girls are crying for them
Dat di gal dem a die fah
The girls are dying for them
Kartel and Kardinal
Vybz Kartel and Kardinal Offishall
Imperial New Millenium Serial
Royalty of the new millennium, an untouchable reputation
Legendary and historical
Known and respected for historical achievements
Gal get hysterical
Women become emotional and overwhelmed in their presence
Mad sexy gal celebrate wi like a festival
Women are attracted to them and celebrate their presence like a festival
Mi smoke trees
I smoke marijuana
Till mi high like an alien
Smoke until I am highly intoxicated
Star Trek di mission
On a specialized mission like Star Trek
Like Mediterranean
Exotic and unique like the Mediterranean
Deep is di vision
The vision is profound and meaningful
Mr Canadian in
Kardinal Offishall is representing Canada
Ford Expedition
Driving a Ford Expedition vehicle
An me drive a different version
Driving a modified version of the Ford Expedition
Di Ford X-cursion
Modified version of the Ford Expedition
Mi rug a Persian
My rug is made of Persian material
Mi gal a Asian
My girlfriend is Asian
Mi house a mansion
My house is a luxurious mansion
Mi gun pump action
The gun is a pump action shotgun
Mi jewels real karat
Wearing real high-quality jewelry
A nuh turnip a no onion
The women are not mediocre
My ladies dem a number one
My ladies are the highest quality
From Waterfrod to Cumberland
From one location to another, covering a wide area
Reagan inna him Timberland
Wearing Timberland boots like President Reagan
Me Karl Kani
Wearing clothes designed by Karl Kani
Tough a lie
It's no lie, it's the truth
Clarkes from England
Wearing shoes made by Clarks, a British company
Sneakers mi used to
I used to wear sneakers
Tennis shoes more dan Wimbledon
Wearing high-end tennis shoes
Guns mi have enough ammunition dan Bush
Having more ammunition than even President George W. Bush
An mi badda dan di Taliban
I am more reckless and dangerous than the Taliban
Twenty-three inch rims rollin over and over and over
Driving a car with large and expensive rims
When we range di rover
Driving a Range Rover
We nuh need no chauffeur
We don't need a driver
A-K rest cross mi shoulder
Carrying an AK-47 rifle on my shoulder
'Cause a soldier weh
Because I am a soldier
Nuh have nuh rifle
Those who don't have a rifle
Is like a Ras weh nuh know Jah
Are like Rastafarians who don't know Jah (God)
Truck load a gal from out Nova Scotia
Transporting many women from Nova Scotia
Seh widout a doubta pullover
Cannot resist pulling over for a closer look
Step out a Toyota Lexus
Getting out of a Toyota Lexus car
Come over to two outta di crowd
Moving over to them and away from the crowd
A seh a mi dem a scouta
They are scouting for me
Wi nuh mek out paper fibre
We are not easily fooled
Weh ride a tough tide a glide
We are comfortable and confident in any situation
You lied I want lie beside bona fide
I only want to be with someone who is real and honest
A badman she want ride
She wants to be with a dangerous and exciting man
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DONOVAN BENNETT, JASON HARROW, CHRISTOPHER PALMER, CRAIG PARKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bubak Janneh
on Life We Living
life we living so hard
Bubak Janneh
on Ghetto Youth
some body send me this nonsese