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.
Kill Dem
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Run some bwoy file and find out dem ah barber
Jah kno star, weh dem ah try
Yuh mussi bloodclat fool
Heck un tek, tell Rambo
Kill dem all and done,
Kill dem all and done
Bwoy life ah done
Body deh pan di fucking ground
Madda bawl out
Kill dem off and done,
Face drop off pan ground
Gunshot chop off one lung
Bwoy life ah done
Body deh pan di fucking ground
Coof cuff cueff
Bwoy ah choke inna blood
Body stiff like it ah float inna flood
Don't come inna Waterford wid a slug
Gaza rise di rifle weh soak inna mud
Wen mi ah war, memba seh noweh no deh far
Glot inna mi jansport, mi dress up inna khaki
Like di seed ah calabar
Don't grab yuh gal, mi follow har
Wen she go pick up yuh little bwoy
Like scarface wid di bomb me drive behind har
Him neva dweet but me nuh care who inna di car
Kill dem all and done,
Kill dem all and done
Tall rifle or handgun
Bwoy life ah done
Body deh pan di fucking ground
Madda bawl out
Kill dem off and done,
Face drop off pan ground
Gunshot chop off one lung
Bwoy life ah done
Body deh pan di fucking ground
Dem ah gwan like dem ah gangsta
Mi wan kno which God ah dem sponser
Tun di AK cross di banks and question dem
Mi nuh get nuh ansa
Inna di white Mitsubshi Lancer
Surprise di ends like mi afi bonanza
Stun to dem cah dem ah grow like cancer
Weh yuh think goom a twelve vein
Giv mi di six sponsa fa
Fi jus
Kill dem all and done,
Kill dem all and done
Tall rifle or handgun
Bwoy life ah done
Body deh pan di fucking ground
Madda bawl out
Kill dem off and done,
Face drop off pan ground
Gunshot chop off one lung
Bwoy life ah done
Body deh pan di fucking ground
Mi full ah gun pan di Gaza
Run some bwoy file and find out dem ah barber
Jah kno star
Kill dem all and done,
Kill dem all and done
Tall rifle or handgun
Bwoy life ah done
Body deh pan di fucking ground
Madda bawl out
Kill dem off and done,
Face drop off pan ground
Gunshot chop off one lung
Bwoy life ah done
Body deh pan di fucking ground
The lyrics to Vybz Kartel's song "Kill Dem" are about gang violence in Jamaica. He talks about being armed and ready to defend his territory, urging his enemies to back down or face the consequences. The chorus, "Kill dem all and done," is a clear message that he and his gang are not to be messed with.
In the first verse, Kartel tells his enemies that they are foolish to try to challenge him. He references a gang member named Rambo and tells him to "heck un tek," meaning to take action and attack. The second verse is more graphic, with Kartel describing the brutal violence that he and his gang are capable of. He talks about shooting someone in the lung and leaving their body on the ground, causing their mother to cry out in grief.
Throughout the song, Kartel emphasizes his dominance and control over his neighborhood. He warns his enemies not to come to Waterford, where he is based, and says that he is always ready for war. He also describes how he follows his enemies and even targets their families, showing that he has no mercy when it comes to defending his turf.
Overall, the lyrics to "Kill Dem" paint a picture of Jamaica as a violent and dangerous place, with gangs vying for power and control.
Line by Line Meaning
Mi full ah gun pan di Gaza
I am heavily armed in the Gaza region
Run some bwoy file and find out dem ah barber
Investigate some men and you'll find out they're just talk
Jah kno star, weh dem ah try
God knows what they're attempting
Yuh mussi bloodclat fool
You must be a foolish person
Heck un tek, tell Rambo
Take up your weapon and inform Rambo
Kill dem all and done,
Eliminate them all and it's over
Tall rifle or handgun
Use a long rifle or a handgun
Bwoy life ah done
The boy's life is over
Body deh pan di fucking ground
The body is lying on the ground
Madda bawl out
The mother cries out
Face drop off pan ground
The face falls onto the ground
Gunshot chop off one lung
A gunshot causes one lung to detach
Coof cuff cueff
The sound of choking in blood
Bwoy ah choke inna blood
The boy is choking on his own blood
Body stiff like it ah float inna flood
The body is stiff and appears to be floating in a flood
Don't come inna Waterford wid a slug
Don't come to Waterford with a gun
Gaza rise di rifle weh soak inna mud
We in Gaza will use the rifle that has been soaked in mud
Wen mi ah war, memba seh noweh no deh far
When I am at war, remember that nowhere is too far for me
Glot inna mi jansport, mi dress up inna khaki
My gun is in my Jansport bag, and I am dressed in khaki
Like di seed ah calabar
Like the descendant of Calabar
Don't grab yuh gal, mi follow har
Don't grab your girl, I will follow her
Wen she go pick up yuh little bwoy
When she goes to pick up your little boy
Like scarface wid di bomb me drive behind har
Like Scarface with a bomb, I drive behind her
Him neva dweet but me nuh care who inna di car
He didn't do anything, but I don't care who is in the car
Dem ah gwan like dem ah gangsta
They are acting like gangsters
Mi wan kno which God ah dem sponser
I want to know which God sponsors them
Tun di AK cross di banks and question dem
Turn the AK gun towards them and interrogate them
Mi nuh get nuh ansa
I don't get any answers
Inna di white Mitsubshi Lancer
In a white Mitsubishi Lancer
Surprise di ends like mi afi bonanza
Surprise the area like a Bonanza episode
Stun to dem cah dem ah grow like cancer
Stun them because they're growing like cancer
Weh yuh think goom a twelve vein
Where do you think the goons are headed?
Giv mi di six sponsa fa
Give me the six sponsors for them
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: ADIDJA PALMER, DAVID HARRISINGH, LINTON WHITE, VICTOR EDMUND, DAVID ANTHONY HARRISINGH, VICTAN PAUL EDMUND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@djgarrikz
This song alone can take down anyone who tries to tackle world boss !!! Baddest of this generation.
@masterah2926
Dj-Garrikz MixTapes & Entertainment true!
@NikoDubzilla
u right bredda.. killa and kiprich will give him headache.. dem 3 dem bad !!
@oshanepatterson5452
@Senpie Sensie Him still deh bout just not as famous as b4.
@oshanepatterson5452
@Senpie Sensie Yeah, I heard that too.
@schoolboy7193
Facts. Dem cyan test
@unwrapthrills
Me wah this song ah mi funeral. All wen me dead me ah rock it
@marshapitter8948
SKᗩᎥᗰᗴᗪZ TV lol
@antwandarellefenton
SKᗩᎥᗰᗴᗪZ TV loll
@terondavis3843
SKZ TV dwl