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.
Mi Nuh Trust People
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi nuh trust, mi nuh trust people
Mi nuh trust, mi nuh trust people
Mi nuh trust people
Mi don't trust people
Mi seh yo cyaa trust people
Mi buy my car cash
Caw mi not even a trust vehicle
Hear mi nuh yow
Da obeah deh naw work
Hear mi nuh yow
Yo cyaa get mi password
Mi seh mi won't drop down
Mi nuh shop keeper
For mi no trust man
Cane shop up here mi seh supn must wrong
Yow a me alone born
A never plus one
So no friend cyaa trick mi fi kill mi
This a the bloodclaat truth like religious song
Si da wife deh a fuck pon her husband
Wickedest thing a me shi a sleep wid
And him swear shi a grass root when a just sand
Dutty people, nuh fi know whoa good, who a evil
Si da one deh a smile fi deceive yo
When him really red eye fi yo vehicle
Yo buy a pound a flour watch the weevil
Dem a sprinkle the oil a nuh desil
Yeah mi si in a mi head a nuh mesil
Vybz Kartel's song "Mi Nuh Trust People" is a reflection of his distrust for human beings. He repeats the phrase multiple times throughout the song in order to emphasize his message, stating that he does not trust people. He goes on to explain that he does not even trust his car, despite buying it with cash, and that he has no faith in people's abilities, as he doesn't even trust their vehicles. In the song, he mentions that he won't drop down, meaning he won't let his guard down, and he won't be tricked by friends to kill him. He even goes as far as to mention that he knows of a wife sleeping with someone other than her husband, emphasizing that people are deceitful and carry ulterior motives.
The song speaks to a general culture of distrust and suspicion that permeates society. Vybz Kartel's lyrics suggest that he has been hurt by people in the past and has learned not to trust them. He has hardened himself to the point where he's wary of even seemingly innocent actions. The lyrics also suggest that there is a level of manipulation and deception that exists within human interactions. People may appear to be innocent, but in reality, they can be harboring negative intentions.
Overall, the song is an examination of a culture of distrust that exists in many societies. It speaks to a sense of skepticism and cynicism that develops when people have been let down in the past. Vybz Kartel's lyrics suggest that he has learned not to trust anyone fully and that he is always on guard because he knows that people can be deceitful.
Line by Line Meaning
Mi nuh trust, mi nuh trust people
I don't trust people, and I don't trust them so much that I feel the need to say it multiple times.
Mi nuh trust people
My lack of trust applies specifically to human beings, as I have concerns about their motives.
Mi don't trust people
I do not have faith in the intentions or actions of others, and therefore I do not rely on or confide in them.
Mi seh yo cyaa trust people
I'm telling you that you cannot trust people, as their behavior can be unpredictable and deceitful.
Mi buy my car cash
Caw mi not even a trust vehicle
I purchased my car outright with cash, as I do not trust the reliability or honesty of the car dealership or the vehicle itself.
Hear mi nuh yow
Da obeah deh naw work
Listen to what I am saying, as the practice of Obeah (a form of black magic) will not have any effect on me.
Hear mi nuh yow
Yo cyaa get mi password
I am letting you know that I will not reveal my password to anyone, as I do not trust them with access to my personal information.
Mi seh mi won't drop down
Mi nuh shop keeper
I am stating emphatically that I will not let my guard down, as I do not work in retail and I do not trust others enough to become casual acquaintances with them.
For mi no trust man
Cane shop up here mi seh supn must wrong
I have a strong aversion to trusting other men, as I consider their motives to be questionable and perhaps unscrupulous, as evidenced by some mysterious activity that I've noticed in this particular location.
Yow a me alone born
A never plus one
So no friend cyaa trick mi fi kill mi
I was born by myself and not with a sibling, so I do not have any close family members to rely on for protection, and I am wary of friends who may deceive me for their own gain or even harm me.
This a the bloodclaat truth like religious song
What I am saying is the absolute and unvarnished truth, much like the message in a religious hymn.
Si da wife deh a fuck pon her husband
Wickedest thing a me shi a sleep wid
And him swear shi a grass root when a just sand
I observed a particularly unpleasant situation in which a woman is unfaithful to her husband by having sex with me, and he is foolishly unaware of her unfaithfulness and assumes she is virtuous.
Dutty people, nuh fi know whoa good, who a evil
People who are dirty or unclean cannot be trusted to discern right from wrong, or to behave morally.
Si da one deh a smile fi deceive yo
When him really red eye fi yo vehicle
I see a person who is grinning falsely in order to deceive others, when in truth he is resentful of the person's car.
Yo buy a pound a flour watch the weevil
Dem a sprinkle the oil a nuh desil
Yeah mi si in a mi head a nuh mesil
If you purchase a pound of flour, you must be vigilant for weevils (small beetles that can infest flour). Additionally, if someone is putting oil on your car, it may not be a high-quality grade of fuel. These thoughts are not crazed or irrational, but are based in reality.
Writer(s): ADIDJA AZIM PALMER, DAVID SPENCER HAYLE, JORDAN GREGORY MCCLURE
Contributed by Ella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lincolnhunter5524
2014....I WAS IN JAMAICA 4 ONE MONTH 4 MY FATHERS FUNERAL.... THIS WAS THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE ISLAND... EVERYWHERE YOU TURNED VYBZ WAS BEEN PLAYED..... HARD 2 FORGET.. BUT EASY TO REMEMBER..... ❤️💚💛🙏🏽
@stewtrs
🔥🔥🔥💯
@sharhondacollins4010
One of the realest vibes. Why trust people? What people dnt knw cnt hurt us!!! Love it!!!!!!❤💞❤💞❤
@adannateeddale8392
This one will forever be a big hit is everyday we living it seeing how we cant trust people, family, friends, siblings, mother,father, jah know it said when ppl betray
@vanessacarby5044
Anthem for 2020!! This can't get old 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@colinbernard86
2022....🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹
@empressriley2954
,
@1988floyd
Still listening in 2030!🔥🔥🔥
@raycharles1higrade
Its 2020 Now #FullyGaza...
@madelynpowe7503
Lmfao futuristic