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.
Nuh Badda Try
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yow jeffery I
Get mi gun dem together like a puzzle, no
Mek mi exercise mi trigga finga muscle yo
Dem want fi test me wen dem no dem cyant so
If a war dem want
[Chorus:]
Caws dem nuh badda dan I
Mi bright cologne apply
Gun powda cloud di sky
A boy morrow fly
Like a NASA satellite
Bright mi k wid di light dem sing dem swear a scatta light
[Verse 1:]
Run guh fa wey yuh want guh fa madda f-a mi a wait
Yuh life expire and a today adi date
Likkle bait coppa tun yuh f-ing head ina gate
Mi bullet adi bomb a mek yuh body cremate
Why yuh want attack addi wid a tuttie eight
Wen di calico greeze up like a dutty gate
Meditate criminate nuh body nuh limitate
Neva no a adi chase coppa bruise my face
Strangle I'm cold like di ice wey di fridge freeze
Mek a snap like rat trap wid Swiss cheese
Bus like drum dat a wen mi shot gun mek
Hole like staina ah we di ice pick leave
War dem mad like mi use cockmistrieve
One shot yuh get di rest a shot ina di clip breeze
Tek my war title yuh mad all wen mi tek sick leave
[Chorus:]
Tell dem nuh badda try
Caws dem nuh badda dan I
Mi bright cologne apply
Gun powda cloud di sky
A boy morrow fly
Like a NASA satellite
Bright mi k wid di light dem sing dem swear a scatta light
[Verse 2:]
Dem boy dem a p- like wey unda ever gal
Kartel want compete like jerry gal
Rise up mi tugs from local to local crime fightas ina di force historical
Tugs from Tivoli Dena man, Israel lehbadan k long like guitar ina john Lennon hand
Gun mi nuh borrow mi wi len a man
Killa no nuff boy heart likkle like catalilla crew
Bomb in hand bin a ladden adi taliban
Gun play a base like, sly or robby band
Mo long gun dan soldier plus robby van
Drive by ina di bimma I caddy van
Gamble him life like a wheel of forchan
Murda friend dat muss geem a caution
Boy dead like baby, when virgin abortion Steven
[Chorus:]
Tell dem nuh badda try
Caws dem nuh badda dan I
Mi bright cologne apply
Gun powda cloud di sky
A boy morrow fly
Like a NASA satellite
Bright mi k wid di light dem sing dem swear a scatta light [x2]
Vybz Kartel's song Nuh Badda Try talks about the false bravado of his rivals to go to war with him. The lyrics seem to target those who want to clash with him, but have no chance of defeating him. He talks about how he has prepared for any possible fight, making sure his guns are in perfect condition, and his trigger finger is strong enough to exercise his guns. He is confident in his abilities, and warns his enemies not to try, as it would be a futile attempt. Vybz claims that his bullets can create a large gunpowder cloud that can block the sky and send his foes flying like a NASA satellite. The chorus repeats multiple times, emphasizing his confidence and superiority over his adversaries.
He conveys his message by using creative wordplay, metaphorical language, and Jamaican slang. Kartel uses several similes and metaphors, comparing his guns to a puzzle that can only be solved by him, and his bullets to bombs that will make the opponent's body creamate. He also uses enjambment in some parts of his lyrics to show the uninterrupted flow of his thoughts, adding a layer of intensity to his words.
The overall theme of the song is the comparison of the strength of the rapper and the weakness of his rivals. Nuh Badda Try is not just a song about warfare; it is also a warning to anyone who tries to mess with Vybz Kartel.
Line by Line Meaning
Yow jeffery I
Addressing someone named Jeffrey
Get mi gun dem together like a puzzle, no
Preparing his guns for a fight
Mek mi exercise mi trigga finga muscle yo
Getting ready to use his trigger finger
Dem want fi test me wen dem no dem cyant so
Challenging him even though they can't win
If a war dem want
If they want a war
Tell dem nuh badda try
Advising them not to try
Caws dem nuh badda dan I
Because they're not better than him
Mi bright cologne apply
Wearing bright cologne
Gun powda cloud di sky
The gunshots create a smoky atmosphere
A boy morrow fly
Someone will die tomorrow
Like a NASA satellite
Literally like a satellite launched by NASA
Bright mi k wid di light dem sing dem swear a scatta light
The gun flashes are like lightning
Run guh fa wey yuh want guh fa madda f-a mi a wait
Running away won't help, he'll still be waiting
Yuh life expire and a today adi date
Their death will be today
Likkle bait coppa tun yuh f-ing head ina gate
A small bullet can still kill
Mi bullet adi bomb a mek yuh body cremate
His bullets are like bombs that burn bodies
Why yuh want attack addi wid a tuttie eight
Why try to attack him with a small gun?
Wen di calico greeze up like a dutty gate
His gun is ready to shoot
Meditate criminate nuh body nuh limitate
No one is safe from his attacks
Neva no a adi chase coppa bruise my face
He's never been chased by the police
Strangle I'm cold like di ice wey di fridge freeze
He's cold-hearted
Mek a snap like rat trap wid Swiss cheese
Like a rat trap snapping
Bus like drum dat a wen mi shot gun mek
The sound of his gun is like a drum
Hole like staina ah we di ice pick leave
The holes are like those from an ice pick
War dem mad like mi use cockmistrieve
His enemies are crazy for challenging him
One shot yuh get di rest a shot ina di clip breeze
One shot is all it takes
Tek my war title yuh mad all wen mi tek sick leave
He's still the king of the war, even when he's sick
Dem boy dem a p- like wey unda ever gal
His enemies are weak like parasites
Kartel want compete like jerry gal
He wants to compete like Jerry Gal, a fictional character known for being ruthless
Rise up mi tugs from local to local crime fightas ina di force historical
His friends will help him in the fight
Tugs from Tivoli Dena man, Israel lehbadan k long like guitar ina john Lennon hand
His friends are from Tivoli Gardens and have long guns
Gun mi nuh borrow mi wi len a man
He owns his guns, he doesn't borrow them
Killa no nuff boy heart likkle like catalilla crew
He's not afraid, unlike his enemies who are like the Catalilla crew, known for being weak
Bomb in hand bin a ladden adi taliban
He's like a member of the Taliban, ready to bomb anything
Gun play a base like, sly or robby band
His gun sounds like a bass guitar in a Sly or Robbie band
Mo long gun dan soldier plus robby van
He has longer guns than a soldier or a Robbie van
Drive by ina di bimma I caddy van
He drives by in a Bimmer or a Caddy van
Gamble him life like a wheel of forchan
His enemies are risking their lives for nothing
Murda friend dat muss geem a caution
Killing his friend would cause problems
Boy dead like baby, when virgin abortion Steven
His enemies will die like babies during a virgin abortion
Contributed by Levi G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@andre4lyfe
He killed this riddim
@hazelmarina
Slaughter 4real. Its not even a easy riddim shows Kartel's skill and cadence to the fullest
@Deezyduffus
Stein did
@gpang6520
The intro alone kill everything 🔥🔥🔥🔥
@ambassadr8612
"Tek my war title yo mad‼️👑all when me tek sick leaf"😂uno need fi build...behave unoself #2019🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@1grabbadon586
2023
@PeterBagjuice
Sick LEAVE (like when you go pan vacation).
@mycollections2002
@Haskeno shit sherlockl45
@davidmcleod9974
2024
@skulladon676
I finally understand there is no one to take this man place in dancehall while he's alive....the deem impossible he's the best and the world need to accept the fact🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥