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 Why U Never Stay
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vybz Kartel's song "Money Why U Never Stay" is a reflection on the fleeting nature of money and the way it seems to slip through our fingers despite our best efforts to hold onto it. The song is a contemplative exploration of the love-hate relationship we all have with money, and how it seems to come and go at will, leaving us feeling helpless and frustrated.
Through the lyrics of the song, Vybz Kartel speaks to the power of money to sway our emotions and influence our decisions. The song also touches on themes of greed, materialism, and the destructive ways in which we can be blinded by the pursuit of wealth.
Line by Line Meaning
Money, why you never stay?
Money, why do you always seem to come and go so quickly and easily?
Every time mi get a likkle bit of pay
Whenever I receive a small amount of money
A you run weh, you gone pon holiday
You tend to disappear on a vacation
Mi need you fi stay, money
I require your presence and stability, money
Cah mi bills and mi rent a wait
As I have bills and rent to pay, which are due soon
'Round the world you Tek a cruise and a skate
You go around the world, taking cruises and enjoying yourself
But mi need you fi hold a steady base
Nonetheless, I need you to stay in my possessions to provide a stable and secure foundation
Fi mi have some money save, yah
So that I can save some money
Money, why you never stay?
Money, why do you always seem to come and go so quickly and easily?
Every time mi get a likkle raise
Whenever I receive a small increase in salary
A you run weh, a you mi haffi chase
You tend to disappear, and I have to pursue you
Mi need you fi stay, money
I require your presence and stability, money
Fi mi have some funds fi inves'
So that I can have some money to invest
Mi need a house, mi need a home
I require a house, a place to call home
Money, mi need a loan
Money, I need to take out a loan
Even though mi waan fi own
Though I desire to own it outright someday
Money, why you never stay?
Money, why do you always seem to come and go so quickly and easily?
Every time mi get likkle cash
Whenever I receive a small amount of cash
A you mi see runnin' fast, yah
I see you running away quickly
Mi need you fi stay, money
I require your presence and stability, money
Fi mi have some money gate, show, mi
So that I can have some money banked and set aside, seen?
Money, why you always flee?
Money, why do you always flee so quickly?
Every time mi check mi balance, mi fi see
Whenever I check my balance, I should see
More than ten thousand dollars easy
An easy ten thousand dollars or more
Money mi need fi see, yah
Money is what I need to see, seen?
Money, why you never stay?
Money, why do you always seem to come and go so quickly and easily?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Vybz Kartel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mad Bludd Productions
2019 and this song still relevant
residentofsalem
2013 n still luv this song....classic
Norega Radoli
This is my only song I love the most and is my ringtone it reminds me how far I come to get the money
Ni Wright
2020 an dah song yah still relevant
Busky KreachaNga1K
2018 still a listen
Prince Dale
Seriously this is 2017 and me still a listen this song, how people question the Worlboss talent, No life f-%# up.#freedom is a must
Nick Lewin Construction
Prince Dale still listening 2018 #freeworlboss
SlickJhaunell
mad tune
Drop Top
End a 2019 still listening free up worlboss
Ben Charm
2022 still a bangler..like a yesterday it drop