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.
Late Night
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch yuhself, watch yuhself now
Yo, pass that (on the streets at night)
No, not the .45 (watch yuh head back at night)
(Shit is dangerous, yeah) yeah, yeah, yeah
Watch yuhself when yuh rolling in di scheme
(Load up di AK) this is for the daytime
In the middle of the night
(In the middle of the night, oh) bring dem two grenade deh
Late night in di scheme
Thugs on the scene with some Russian machine (Russian machine, yeah, yeah)
Don't try intervene or come in between
When you hear things a clean, sweep (hear things a beat, yo)
Late night on the block, AM on the clock
Clocking the fools and the cops (clocking the fools, yo)
We see di red light, don't stop (yo, yo)
Press on di gas, petrol will splash
Late night like Dave Letterman wid di uzi, haffi wet a man
Marshall a run di beretta-ton
Two thugs lock di first road, two more lock di neda one
A wah dat a sing suh like Celine Dion?
Nuh Escobar clapping di AK wid a single hand?
Bulletproof bore like di net pon di tennis field a Wimbledon
Blass buss 'e Bryco weh leave niggas' body colder
Than di winter in England
Slash badder dan thirty Palestine, seven Pakistan
Plus Afghanistan, pussy and gun mek e cocky stand
Talk 'bout black heart? Me have di blackest one
Kuku tell me from experience, thirty-five meter a di shotty span
Fi you, no tomorrow like Alice inna Wonderland
Go six feet under land, y'ah understand?
We a gi' dem brain excursion like surgeons
We throw bombs like Taliban in turbans and urban
Late night in di scheme
Thugs on the scene with some Russian machine (lock it, lock it, real rude boy)
Don't try intervene or come in between
When you hear things a clean, sweep (don't come 'round)
Late night on the block, AM on the clock
Clocking the fools and the cops
We see di red light, don't stop
Press on di gas, petrol will splash (ow)
Esco, we kill more dan a Tsunami
We kill more dan every AIDS infected punanai
Missile clap like di Diwali
Me mek pilot bawl, "Emergency, one, two Charlie"
Me connected spiritually to Adolph Hitler's two army
So warning to who wan' me
Y'affi owe me, hold me
'Cause me control nuff more militia dan Mugabe
Me will do to yuh girl like weh Ken doll do to Barbie
AM, 4:30
Di streets of Portmore dirty and merky
Me have more rifle than the rebels of Turkey
Late night in di scheme
Thugs on the scene with some Russian machine (lock it, lock it, real rude boy)
Don't try intervene or come in between
When you hear things a clean, sweep (don't come 'round)
Late night on the block, AM on the clock
Clocking the fools and the cops
We see di red light, don't stop
Press on di gas, petrol will splash
"Late Night" by Vybz Kartel is a gritty and intense song that explores the dangerous and violent world of the streets at night. The lyrics depict a scene of lawlessness and criminal activity, with references to weapons such as AKs and grenades, as well as the need to watch oneself and be cautious. The song highlights the brutal reality of life in the scheme (a Jamaican term for a low-income neighborhood) after dark, where thugs armed with Russian machine guns dominate the scene.
Throughout the song, Kartel warns against intervening or getting in between the thugs and their activities, as it could result in lethal consequences. He describes the intricate network of criminals, their weaponry, and their willingness to use violence to maintain control. References to notable figures like Celine Dion, Escobar, and Alice in Wonderland add an interesting layer of contrast and irony to the lyrics, emphasizing the surreal and dangerous nature of the world being portrayed.
Overall, "Late Night" serves as a vivid and cautionary depiction of the dark underbelly of nighttime in the schemes. It sheds light on the harsh realities faced by those involved in criminal activities and provides a glimpse into the mindset and experiences of individuals caught up in this violent world.
Line by Line Meaning
Marshall, you ready?
Get ready, Marshall.
Watch yuhself, watch yuhself now
Be cautious and alert.
Yo, pass that (on the streets at night)
Pass that item (on the dangerous streets at night).
No, not the .45 (watch yuh head back at night)
Not the .45 caliber gun (be cautious of your surroundings at night).
(Shit is dangerous, yeah) yeah, yeah, yeah
(It's very dangerous) yes, yes, yes.
Watch yuhself when yuh rolling in di scheme
Be careful when you're moving around in the area.
(Load up di AK) this is for the daytime
(Load up the AK-47) this is for use during the daytime.
In the middle of the night
During the late hours of the night.
Middle of the nighttime (hear dem a blast)
In the middle of the nighttime (hearing the sound of guns being fired).
(In the middle of the night, oh) bring dem two grenade deh
(In the middle of the night, oh) bring those two grenades.
Late night in di scheme
During the late night in the area.
Thugs on the scene with some Russian machine (Russian machine, yeah, yeah)
Criminals present with powerful Russian firearms.
Don't try intervene or come in between
Do not attempt to interfere or get in the middle.
When you hear things a clean, sweep (hear things a beat, yo)
When you hear things being resolved, swiftly take control.
Late night on the block, AM on the clock
Late night on the streets, with the morning approaching.
Clocking the fools and the cops (clocking the fools, yo)
Monitoring both the foolish individuals and the police.
We see di red light, don't stop (yo, yo)
We see the warning sign, don't halt.
Press on di gas, petrol will splash
Accelerate, and fuel will be splashed.
Late night like Dave Letterman wid di uzi, haffi wet a man
Late night, similar to Dave Letterman with an uzi, must shoot someone.
Marshall a run di beretta-ton
Marshall is handling the Beretta handgun.
Two thugs lock di first road, two more lock di neda one
Two criminals block the first road, while two more block the other one.
A wah dat a sing suh like Celine Dion?
What is that sound, like Celine Dion singing?
Nuh Escobar clapping di AK wid a single hand?
Isn't it Escobar firing the AK-47 with one hand?
Bulletproof bore like di net pon di tennis field a Wimbledon
Bulletproof vest, similar to the net on a tennis court in Wimbledon.
Blass buss 'e Bryco weh leave niggas' body colder
Gunshot shatters the Bryco firearm, leaving bodies lifeless.
Than di winter in England
Colder than the winter in England.
Slash badder dan thirty Palestine, seven Pakistan
More intense than conflicts in Palestine and Pakistan.
Plus Afghanistan, pussy and gun mek e cocky stand
Including Afghanistan, the combination of females and firearms make it firm.
Talk 'bout black heart? Me have di blackest one
Speaking of having a cruel heart? Mine is the cruelest.
Kuku tell me from experience, thirty-five meter a di shotty span
Kuku tells me based on experience, the shotgun's range is 35 meters.
Fi you, no tomorrow like Alice inna Wonderland
For you, there is no tomorrow, just like Alice in Wonderland.
Go six feet under land, y'ah understand?
Go six feet under the ground, do you understand?
We a gi' dem brain excursion like surgeons
We are giving them a mind-boggling experience like surgeons.
We throw bombs like Taliban in turbans and urban
We detonate explosives like the Taliban, both in traditional attire and in urban areas.
Esco, we kill more dan a Tsunami
Esco, we kill more people than a Tsunami.
We kill more dan every AIDS infected punanai
We kill more people than every AIDS-infected vagina.
Missile clap like di Diwali
Missiles explode loudly, like during the Diwali festival.
Me mek pilot bawl, "Emergency, one, two Charlie"
I make pilots shout, "Emergency, one, two Charlie."
Me connected spiritually to Adolph Hitler's two army
I am spiritually connected to Adolph Hitler's two armies.
So warning to who wan' me
A warning to those who want to confront me.
Y'affi owe me, hold me
You have to owe me, control me.
'Cause me control nuff more militia dan Mugabe
Because I control more armed forces than Mugabe.
Me will do to yuh girl like weh Ken doll do to Barbie
I will treat your girl like how Ken doll treats Barbie.
AM, 4:30
In the early morning, at 4:30 AM.
Di streets of Portmore dirty and merky
The streets of Portmore are dangerous and murky.
Me have more rifle than the rebels of Turkey
I have more rifles than the rebels in Turkey.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Craig Parkes, Wayne Mitchell, Donovan Keith Bennett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bubak Janneh
on Life We Living
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on Ghetto Youth
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