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.
Not a Love Song
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is not a love song
Da sad song
Wi don't have, wi don't have clothes
Wi don't have, wi don't have food
Wi don't have, no jobs
How mi a go send my youths gone school
Ghetto youths need help
Society mi see seh you nuh care
Di system gi wi more than we can bear
Life don't fear
[Chorus:]
Where is the love society
You destroy the ghetto fambily
Promise without no guarantee
Wi just can't badda wid dat no more
Di same bread fi yuh di same fi mi
While women dem live inna luxury
Dem waan wi born and dead inna poverty
Wi just can't badda with dat no more
[Verse 1:]
Wi have it hard yeah
Ghetto youth but wi neva fall, down
Sell some herb, build up a stall
Through gone work now run at all noo
Mek wi circle gericho wall
Inna di mental not the physical cah
Den done send nuff a wi inna di cemetery
Yo nuff a wi behind di prison wall
[Hook:]
Inna my scheme weh mi come from
Everyday a di same ting
Nuttn nah gwaan
Lord a weh dem go do fi Big Yard
This yah a nuh no love song it is a sad song
Inna my scheme weh mi come from
Everyday a di same ting
Nuttn nah gwaan
Lord a weh dem go do fi Big Yard
This yah a nuh no love song it is a sad song
[Chorus:]
Where is the love society
You destroy the ghetto fambily
Promise without no guarantee
Wi just can't badda wid dat no more
Di same bread fi yuh di same fi mi
While women dem live inna luxury
Dem waan wi born and dead inna poverty
Wi just can't badda with dat no more
[Verse 2:]
Pree di war and pree di vibes, dem nuh want di youths survive
Dem nuh believe inna saving a life
Church and state a mash wi up
Den tell wi bout believe inna Christ
While we nuh gaze dem raise the price
Dem tell wi lies and lies how wi dem victimize mi cyan believe
[Hook:]
Inna my scheme weh mi come from
Everyday a di same ting
Nuttn nah gwaan
Lord a weh dem go do fi Big Yard
This yah a nuh no love song it is a sad song
Inna my scheme weh mi come from
Everyday a di same ting
Nuttn nah gwaan
Lord a weh dem go do fi Big Yard
This yah a nuh no love song it is a sad song
[Chorus:]
Where is the love society
You destroy the ghetto fambily
Promise without no guarantee
Wi just can't badda wid dat no more
Di same bread fi yuh di same fi mi
While women dem live inna luxury
Dem waan wi born and dead inna poverty
Wi just can't badda with dat no more
The song "Not a Love Song" by Vybz Kartel is a poignant commentary on the struggles and hardships faced by ghetto youths in Jamaica. The lyrics express the frustration and disillusionment felt by those living in poverty, who are unable to provide for their families, send their children to school, or secure jobs. The chorus asks, "Where is the love society? You destroy the ghetto family. Promise without no guarantee. We just can't badda with that no more." The artist questions why society has abandoned the poor and left them to fend for themselves.
The song's verses describe the harsh realities of life in the ghetto - how selling drugs or turning to crime is sometimes the only means of survival, how so many young men end up in jail or dead, and how the promises made by politicians remain unfulfilled. The lyrics also touch upon the corruption and greed that keep people in poverty, as the same bread is eaten by the wealthy while the poor continue to suffer.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of hopelessness and dejection, as the artist paints a picture of life without any real prospects or opportunities for improvement. The phrase "this yah a nuh no love song, it is a sad song" reinforces the sense of despair and loss that permeates the track. Overall, the song is a powerful statement on the need for change and for more equitable treatment of those who are struggling to make ends meet.
Line by Line Meaning
Is not a love song
This song is not about love
Da sad song
It's a sad song
Wi don't have, wi don't have clothes
We don't have any clothes
Wi don't have, wi don't have food
We don't have any food
Wi don't have, no jobs
We don't have any jobs
How mi a go send my youths gone school
How am I supposed to send my children to school?
Ghetto youths need help
The young people in the impoverished neighborhoods need assistance
Society mi see seh you nuh care
I can see that society doesn't care
Di system gi wi more than we can bear
The system gives us more than we can handle
Life don't fear
Don't fear life
Where is the love society
Society, where is the love?
You destroy the ghetto fambily
You destroy families in the ghetto
Promise without no guarantee
You make promises with no guarantee
Wi just can't badda wid dat no more
We just can't deal with that anymore
Di same bread fi yuh di same fi mi
The same bread for you is the same for me
While women dem live inna luxury
While women live in luxury
Dem waan wi born and dead inna poverty
They want us to be born and die in poverty
Wi have it hard yeah
We have it very difficult
Ghetto youth but wi neva fall, down
We are from the ghetto but we never give up
Sell some herb, build up a stall
Sell some herb and set up a stall
Through gone work now run at all noo
Despite losing our job, we will not give up
Mek wi circle gericho wall
Let's build a wall like Jericho
Inna di mental not the physical cah
It's more of a mental struggle than a physical one
Den done send nuff a wi inna di cemetery
They have sent many of us to the cemetery
Yo nuff a wi behind di prison wall
Many of us are behind bars
Pree di war and pree di vibes, dem nuh want di youths survive
Pay attention to the war and energy, they don't want young people to survive
Dem nuh believe inna saving a life
They don't believe in saving lives
Church and state a mash wi up
The church and the state are causing us problems
Den tell wi bout believe inna Christ
Then they tell us to believe in Christ
While we nuh gaze dem raise the price
They raise the price without our approval
Dem tell wi lies and lies how wi dem victimize mi cyan believe
They keep lying and lying, I can't believe how they victimize me
Contributed by Brody O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@princessfinavevo2898
I will be listening to this song for life, who else is with me.
@UniversaltruckBelize
Me I'm rii here
@rehanatheodore4656
Seein that
@trescoronas1847
Listening this for life from colombia
@Sophie-qh3lx
Forever and ever bby girl forever x
@lolajayne723
I have been for years 🔥... 🙏🏼reminds me of todays society and the economy 💯🙏🏼🙏🏼❤😔💚
@ziziy3561
This man should be making the most money in Jamaica for his talent
@jaespinnaz
he threw it all away fi 2 shoes.
@aaronrodrick9125
@J-ayeR an im still richer than ur lame ass artiste 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@deonlion
Vybz for the people!!! Peace and love ☮️☮️💜💜🌿🌿