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 Fraid a Nobody/ Neva Scared
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We nuh frighten suh easy
All when yuh rolling with the army dat nuh scare we
Mi represent di GAZA, ah, eh,
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Nuh fraid ah nobody
Nuh fraid ha nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
No,
When mi born, mi born alone
Mi rottweiler dem nuh short a bone
Mi nuh leff my mongrel dog a yawd
If a war yuh a defend, gwaan back home
Cray from Flankers nuh tek talk
Suh gwaan flip up, like Claro phone (brrrring)
A nuh farmer use corn alone
Salt Spring shoes tall like Carl Malone
White Knight
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Nuh fraid ah nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Nuh fraid ha nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Weh yuh come from, mi nuh care
Pimpin motto right now, right here
Run a survey, yuh wi hear
Mi nuh pay pon bus to how mi n'have fear
When yuh see GAZA approach wid care
Don't tek check from da apple tree there
Yuh cyaa dis di plum weh a bear
Even if yuh dis a mango, yuh mus dis-a-pear
Eh,
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Nuh fraid ah nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Nuh fraid ha nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
No,
When mi born, mi born alone
Mi rottweiler dem nuh short a bone
Mi nuh leff my mongrel dog a yawd
If a war yuh a defend, gwaan back home
Cray from Flankers nuh tek talk
Suh gwaan flip up, like Claro phone (brrrring)
A nuh farmer use corn alone
Salt Spring shoes tall like Carl Malone
White Knight
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Nuh fraid ah nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Nuh fraid ha nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Weh yuh come from, mi nuh care
Pimpin' motto right now, right here
Run a survey, yuh wi hear
Mi nuh pay pon bus to how mi n'have fear
When yuh see GAZA approach wid care
Don't tek check from da apple tree there
Yuh cyaa dis di plum weh a bear
Even if yuh dis a mango, yuh mus dis-a-pear
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Nuh fraid ah nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Nuh fraid ha nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
We nuh fraid ah nobody
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
Neva scared
A di teacha Adijah
The lyrics to Vybz Kartel's song Nuh Fraid a Nuhbody / Neva Scared emphasize the artist's fearlessness and lack of intimidation in various situations. The chorus repeats the phrase "We nuh fraid ah nobody" to drive home this point. The first verse references being part of the GAZA crew and rolling with an army that does not scare them. The second verse talks about not backing down from a fight and being prepared to defend oneself and one's crew. The bridge warns against crossing the GAZA crew and emphasizes that they are not to be messed with.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of toughness and a refusal to show fear or weakness. They also exude a certain level of pride in being part of the GAZA crew and a willingness to defend that identity at all costs. The message may be interpreted as a call to strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Leng tell Russian, Rise Di Russian
Long tells Russian to come forward and lead.
We nuh frighten suh easy
We are not easily intimidated.
All when yuh rolling with the army dat nuh scare we
Even when you are with an army that doesn't frighten us.
Mi represent di GAZA, ah, eh,
I represent the GAZA, oh, yeah.
We nuh fraid ah nobody
We are not afraid of anyone.
Nuh fraid ah nobody
Not afraid of anyone.
We nuh fraid ah nobody
We are not afraid of anyone.
Nuh fraid ha nobody
Not afraid of anyone.
We nuh fraid ah nobody
We are not afraid of anyone.
We nuh fraid ah nobody
We are not afraid of anyone.
Neva scared
Never scared.
Neva scared
Never scared.
Neva scared
Never scared.
Neva scared
Never scared.
Neva scared
Never scared.
When mi born, mi born alone
When I was born, I was all by myself.
Mi rottweiler dem nuh short a bone
My Rottweilers do not lack in strength.
Mi nuh leff my mongrel dog a yawd
I do not leave my mixed-breed dog at home.
If a war yuh a defend, gwaan back home
If you are defending a war, go back home.
Cray from Flankers nuh tek talk
Cray from Flankers does not take any nonsense.
Suh gwaan flip up, like Claro phone (brrrring)
So go ahead and get angry, like a Claro phone (ring).
A nuh farmer use corn alone
Not only farmers use corn.
Salt Spring shoes tall like Carl Malone
Salt Spring shoes are as tall as Carl Malone.
White Knight
The White Knight.
Weh yuh come from, mi nuh care
I don't care where you come from.
Pimpin motto right now, right here
Pimpin motto is right now, right here.
Run a survey, yuh wi hear
Take a survey, and you will hear.
Mi nuh pay pon bus to how mi n'have fear
I don't pay for a bus ride because I'm not scared.
When yuh see GAZA approach wid care
When you see GAZA approaching, be cautious.
Don't tek check from da apple tree there
Don't accept a bad deal.
Yuh cyaa dis di plum weh a bear
You cannot disrespect the person who has the power.
Even if yuh dis a mango, yuh mus dis-a-pear
Even if you disrespect a lower ranking person, you must disappear.
A di teacha Adijah
It's Teacher Adijah.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ADIDJA PALMER, TARIK LUKE JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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