Vybz Kartel (born Adidja Palmer, Jan. 7, 1976) is a Jamaican dancehall deej… Read Full Bio ↴Vybz Kartel (born Adidja Palmer, Jan. 7, 1976) is a Jamaican dancehall deejay.

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.

MONEY
Vybz Kartel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dem seh it easier for a camel to enter through a needle
Than a rich man go to Heaven
If ah suh it go fi real and ah truth dem ah tell
Mi wan' go ah hell (ahwoo)

Mi need, mi need mi dough (mi wan' money)
Mi use it, star di show (mi wan' money)
Mi need it fi pay mi bills (mi wan' money)

Mi hustling, mi nah stop
So mi keep going, and going
And going, and going
And going, and going
Like di Energizer Bunny
'Til mi reach inna di casket (mi wan' money)
Mi hustling, mi nah stop

Yo, gi' mi di dolla sign paper money nuh dolla coin
Di US, Euro, di Sterling, nuh odda kind
Long time mi ah suffer but it soon come ah time
When mi bus' like di hydrant inna di summer time
Suh mi put in work
Hustle pon di asphalt
Money haffi run without nuh false start
'Til mi richer than di Walton weh own Walmart (uh)
Bag ah party nuh mention di gyal part
Everyday suh mi vision fi stay suh
Billionaire status
Mi no wan' Pesos
Lifestyle ah di rich and famous
Some die with the name some die nameless

Mi need, mi need mi dough (mi wan' money)
Mi use it, star di show (mi wan' money)
Mi need it fi pay mi bills (mi wan' money)
Mi hustling, mi nah stop
So mi keep going, and going
And going, and going
And going, and going
Like di Energizer Bunny
'Til mi reach inna di casket (mi wan' money)
Mi hustling, mi nah stop

Yo, mi nuh wah nuh check book
Mi want a check-tionary
Mi nuh wah nuh bank book
Mi want a bank library
Di gyal dem hot like torch, not BlackBerry
Model gyal, slim waist and flat belly
White gyal ah lust afa mi
Pretty black dolly
Gyal from Harper valley
Gyal ah Maverly
Di 'hole a dem ah seh Addi ah dem honey now
True dem hear mi have Rockefeller money now
Everyday suh mi vision fi stay suh
Billionaire status
Mi nuh wan' Pesos
Lifestyle a di rich and famous
Some die with the name some die nameless

Mi need, mi need mi dough (mi wan' money)
Mi use it, star di show (mi wan' money)
Mi need it fi pay mi bills (mi wan' money)
Mi hustling, mi nah stop
So mi keep going, and going
And going, and going
And going, and going
Like di Energizer Bunny
'Til mi reach inna di casket (mi wan' money)
Mi hustling, mi nah stop (stop)

Dre Skull
What mi tink mi deserve?
Di Federal Bank Reserve
The gold bully an' wah dem ah preserve
But dat alone cyan' calm mi nerve
Mmm
Mi wah own di mint yo
Mi fi have mi own money ah print yow
Millionaire as yuh 'quint yo
Mi nah stop (stop)

Mi need, mi need mi dough (mi wan' money)
Mi use it, star di show (mi wan' money)
Mi need it fi pay mi bills (mi wan' money)
Mi hustling, mi nah stop
So mi keep going, and going
And going, and going
And going, and going
Like di Energizer Bunny

'Til mi reach inna di casket (mi wan' money)
Mi hustling, mi nah stop

Overall Meaning

In Vybz Kartel's song MONEY, the lyrics express the importance of financial success and the lengths people will go to achieve it. The opening lines of "Dem seh it easier for a camel to enter through a needle, Than a rich man go to Heaven" is a reference to a biblical verse that says it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Kartel's interpretation of this verse is that it's easier to achieve material wealth than it is to gain entrance to heaven. The chorus emphasizes the importance of money to Kartel, stating that he needs it for bills, to be a star, and ultimately to continue hustling until he reaches the coffin. The chorus repeats that he won't stop hustling until he achieves his financial goals, comparing himself to the Energizer Bunny.

The verses in the song further highlight the importance of money to Kartel. He desires paper money over coins and longs for the US dollar, Euro, and Sterling. He talks about his past struggles and how he puts in hard work to build his wealth. He also mentions the desire for billionaire status and the need for the luxury lifestyle that comes with it. His desires extend beyond just money, as he also desires a level of fame and affection from women.

Line by Line Meaning

Dem seh it easier for a camel to enter through a needle Than a rich man go to Heaven
It's believed to be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a wealthy person to go to heaven.

If ah suh it go fi real and ah truth dem ah tell Mi wan' go ah hell (ahwoo)
If this is the way it truly is and they speak the truth, then the singer would rather choose hell over heaven.

Mi need, mi need mi dough (mi wan' money)
I need, I need money

Mi use it, star di show (mi wan' money)
I use it to be the star of the show

Mi need it fi pay mi bills (mi wan' money)
I need it to pay my bills

Mi hustling, mi nah stop So mi keep going, and going And going, and going And going, and going Like di Energizer Bunny
I am working hard continuously without stopping, like the Energizer Bunny.

'Til mi reach inna di casket (mi wan' money) Mi hustling, mi nah stop
I will continue to work hard for money until I die.

Yo, gi' mi di dolla sign paper money nuh dolla coin Di US, Euro, di Sterling, nuh odda kind
Give me paper money with dollar signs, not coins. US dollars, euros, and pounds sterling only - no other currencies.

Long time mi ah suffer but it soon come ah time When mi bus' like di hydrant inna di summer time Suh mi put in work Hustle pon di asphalt
I have been suffering for a long time, but the time is coming when I will explode like a fire hydrant in the summertime. So, I continue to work hard, hustling on the streets.

Money haffi run without nuh false start 'Til mi richer than di Walton weh own Walmart (uh) Bag ah party nuh mention di gyal part
Money has to come without any false starts until I become even richer than the Walton family, who own Walmart. While enjoying my riches, I must not forget about partying and having fun with women.

Everyday suh mi vision fi stay suh Billionaire status Mi no wan' Pesos Lifestyle ah di rich and famous Some die with the name some die nameless
Every day I envision myself as a billionaire with a lifestyle of the rich and famous. I don't want to have just pesos, but instead want to have various currencies. Some people die with their names known, while others die unknown.

Yo, mi nuh wah nuh check book Mi want a check-tionary Mi nuh wah nuh bank book Mi want a bank library
I don't want just a checkbook, I want a 'check-tionary' or a book of checks. I don't want just a bankbook, but instead, I want my own library inside a bank.

Di gyal dem hot like torch, not BlackBerry Model gyal, slim waist and flat belly White gyal ah lust afa mi Pretty black dolly Gyal from Harper valley Gyal ah Maverly Di 'hole a dem ah seh Addi ah dem honey now True dem hear mi have Rockefeller money now
The women I desire are hot like a torch, not like a Blackberry phone. They are model-like with small waists and flat stomachs. I attract both white and black women. Women from different areas such as Harper Valley and Maverley come after me, now that they have heard I have a lot of money.

Dre Skull What mi tink mi deserve? Di Federal Bank Reserve The gold bully an' wah dem ah preserve But dat alone cyan' calm mi nerve
Dre Skull wonders what he deserves, may it be The Federal Reserve Bank or even The Gold Bullion that the government keeps, but this still won't calm his nerves.

Mi wah own di mint yo Mi fi have mi own money ah print yow Millionaire as yuh 'quint yo Mi nah stop (stop)
I want to own the mint and have the power to print my own money. I want to be a millionaire in a single glance, and I won't stop until I achieve it.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Hershey, Adidja Palmer

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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