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.
Me A Pree
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Da one yah some like it to find behind the bars
Why pree, Worl' Boss fi wi
Hey Bubba
Hypocrite cyan come bout yah
Dutty mind cyan come bout yah
So mi cry protect mi oh Jah
Ah di Lord protect mi head
Nuff a dem well waan mi dead
Every night mi gone mi bed
Mi haffi read a psalms mi seh mm
Mi a pree mi nuh truss nobody
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
Lick mi ah pree mi nuh trust nobody
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
Dem a nuh fren dem a frenzy (mm mm)
Bare dutty talk dem a medzi
All dem a gwaan like dem with mi mi sensi seh
Dem badmine Addi fi di Benzi
So mi analyze dem like Claude Mckenzie
And mi si seh a Judas dem mi ?
Sell out Jesus fi totty piece a silver
So dem wi sell mi fi less than 20
Awhoe!
Ah di Lord protect mi head
Nuff a dem well waan mi dead
Every night mi gone mi bed
Mi haffi read a psalms mi seh mm
Mi a pree mi nuh truss nobody
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
(Awhoe) mi ah pree mi nuh trust nobody
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
Mi mi nuh know wah mek dem hate us
A mussi true dem catty rate us
But mi unstoppable mi infallible
Dat mi put pon mi Blackberry status
Pappi, wi granny and wi madda prayer save us
Nuff a dem vex cah di Dj buss (yeah)
People know di ting weh name "love"
But badmine dat was a famous
Awhoe
Ah di Lord protect mi head
Nuff a dem well waan mi dead
Every night mi gone mi bed
Mi haffi read a psalms mi seh mm
Mi a pree mi nuh truss nobody
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
Mi ah pree mi nuh trust nobody
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
Hypocrite cyan come bout yah
Dutty mind cyan come bout yah
So mi cry protect mi oh Jah
Dem a sprinkle dem oil and dash powda
Ah di Lord protect mi head
Nuff a dem well waan mi dead
Every night mi gone mi bed
Mi haffi read a psalms mi seh mm
Mi a pree mi nuh truss nobody
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
Mi ah pree mi nuh trust nobody
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
Dem a nuh fren dem a frenzy (mm mm)
Bare dutty talk dem a medzi
All dem a gwaan like dem with mi mi sensi seh
Dem badmine Addi fi di Benzi
So mi analyze dem like Claude Mckenzie
And mi si seh a Judas dem mi ?
Sell out Jesus fi totty piece a silver
So dem wi sell mi fi less than 20
Awhoe!
Ah di Lord protect mi head
Nuff a dem well waan mi dead
Every night mi gone mi bed
Mi haffi read a psalms mi seh mm
Mi a pree mi nuh truss nobody
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
(Awhoe) mi ah pree mi nuh trust nobody
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
The song Me A Pree by Jamaican artist Vybz Kartel is an anthem against jealousy and betrayal. The lyrics are a powerful message that encourages the listener not to trust anyone, as bad-minded people are the worst disease. The themes are commonly explored in dancehall songs, but Vybz Kartel's lyrics are more introspective and show his vulnerability to the negative energies that surround him. He addresses the issue of hypocrisy and the danger of people who pretend to be friends but are just looking for an opportunity to bring him down. He expresses a deep gratitude to God for protecting him every day and night and for giving him strength to ward off the negative forces that want to see his downfall.
The chorus, "Mi a pree mi nuh truss nobody / Badmind inna dem and ah di worsest disease," is a warning to those who are jealous and envious of him. The phrase "badmind" is a Jamaican term that means envy, jealousy, and malice. Badmind is a major hindrance to success and happiness, and it is something that needs to be avoided at all costs. The verses describe how people spread lies about him and try to sabotage his career, but he remains vigilant and keeps his faith in God. The line, "Dem badmine Addi fi di Benzi," means that people are jealous of him for having a Benz car.
Line by Line Meaning
Wah gwaan CocoSkull
Hey Bubba
Da one yah some like it to find behind the bars
Some people enjoy seeing me imprisoned
Why pree, Worl' Boss fi wi
Why not pay attention, we support World Boss
Hypocrite cyan come bout yah
Hypocrites cannot come around here
Dutty mind cyan come bout yah
Dirty minds cannot come around here
So mi cry protect mi oh Jah
So I pray, protect me oh Jah
Dem a sprinkle dem oil and ah dash powda
They are trying to harm me with their potions and powders
Ah di Lord protect mi head
The Lord protects my head
Nuff a dem well waan mi dead
Many of them want me dead
Every night mi gone mi bed
Every night when I go to bed
Mi haffi read a psalms mi seh mm
I have to read a psalm, I say mm
Mi a pree mi nuh truss nobody
I'm cautious, I don't trust anyone
Badmine inna dem and ah di worsest disease
Envy in them is the worst disease
Lick mi ah pree mi nuh trust nobody
I understand, I don't trust anyone
Dem a nuh fren dem a frenzy (mm mm)
They are not friends, they are frenzied (mm mm)
Bare dutty talk dem a medzi
They talk a bunch of dirty talk
All dem a gwaan like dem with mi mi sensi seh
They act like they are with me, my senses say
Dem badmine Addi fi di Benzi
They envy Addi for the Benz
So mi analyze dem like Claude Mckenzie
So I analyze them like Claude Mckenzie
And mi si seh a Judas dem mi ?
And I see that they are Judas to me?
Sell out Jesus fi totty piece a silver
Sold out Jesus for thirty pieces of silver
So dem wi sell mi fi less than 20
So they would sell me for less than 20
Mi mi nuh know wah mek dem hate us
I don't know why they hate us
A mussi true dem catty rate us
Maybe it's because they envy us
But mi unstoppable mi infallible
But I'm unstoppable, I'm infallible
Dat mi put pon mi Blackberry status
That's what I put on my Blackberry status
Pappi, wi granny and wi madda prayer save us
Pappi, our granny and our mother pray for us
Nuff a dem vex cah di Dj buss (yeah)
Many of them are angry because the DJ is successful (yeah)
People know di ting weh name "love"
People know the thing that's called 'love'
But badmine dat was a famous
But envy has also become famous
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ADIDJA PALMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Oshane Patterson
This song still jamming nearly 5 and half years later on 6/8/17. One of the G.O.A.T. The good ones always last!!
Shawn Pheku
i was expecting a badmind tune, if kartel is back i cant wait to listen to what this guy has to say , thumps up if u feel the samee
Mr Dejaunie
🔥2020🔊 STILL LISTENING 💯💯💯💯
Brian Stinger Obote
If this track caught you will your were in highschool you're a legend 🇰🇪
Jasmine Jiminian
i'm not Jamaican but i love love love Vybz Kartel <3
fun machine
Timeless!
arlene lee
i just loveeeeeeee this song it maddddddd
Iced Cold
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Kelly Watson
I miss Kartel :(
rayshaunmusic
imagine this tun up loud inna yuh car a drive through di town. world boss feels chilled.