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.
Poco Man Skank
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
hallelujah
Aye voon
duty mine wah see me drop dead
Iniquity wah see me drop dead
Dem nuh like me me nuh like dem
Obeah wuka lef jah jah children
Coubak coubak
Science again
Coubak coubak
Science again
Dem a laugh but dem anuh u fren
Jah jah sen a prayer pan dem
Poco man skank
Poco man skank
From u heart clean do the poco man skank
Poco man sknk
Poco man skank
From u heart clean do the poco skank
And nuh dem alone can bun bad lamp
Psalm 35 mek dem paralise
Psalm91 mek the woulda dem gram
Parasite unuh love spreed roamers
Unuh come like slave fi the hero
A couldnt me dem a talk me nuh hear u
Crowiss me nah stand up near u
Me neva tek no food from u table
This come like cane and able
Dem wah tek my life inna paradise jus true jah jah prefa my sacrifice
Poco man skank
Poco man skank
From u heart clean do the poco man skank
Poco man skank
Poco man skank
From u heart clean do the poco man skank
Anuh dem along can bun bad lamp (rept 2)
Psalms 35 mek dem paralise
And psalm 91 mek the woulda dem gram
Gwan back weh u come from vipa
Carry newz unuh would back fight
Me dem a fight but me born as a fighter (rept2)
Plead my cause ohh jahjah
Babilon unuh soon get conca
A coulda christian a coulda rasta
From u heart clean dont fraid a the fire
Poco man skank (rept2)
From u heart clean do the poco man skank
Poco man skank (rept2)
Anuh dem along can bun bad lamp (rept 2)
Psalms 35 mek dem paralise
And psalm 91 mek the woulda dem gram
duty mine wah see me drop dead
Iniquity wah see me drop dead
Dem nuh like me me nuh like dem
Obeah wuka lef jah jah children
aoubak aoubak
Science again
Coubak coubak
Science again
Dem a laugh but dem anuh u fren
Jah jah sen a prayer pan dem
Poco man skank
Poco man skank
From u heart clean do the poco man skank
Poco man sknk
Poco man skank
From u heart clean do the poco skank
And nuh dem alone can bun bad lamp
Psalm 35 mek dem paralise
Psalm91 mek the woulda dem gram
In "Poco Man Skank," Vybz Kartel speaks of people who are envious of his success and wishes to see him fail or even dead. Nevertheless, he advises other people to mind their own business and leave him alone. He invokes religious references, hallelujah, and Jah Jah to show that he trusts in God's protection. Poco Man Skank is a dance move that involves shaking the knees and performing small steps. The dance embodies a freeing and uninhibited spirit, which Vybz encourages by suggesting that it should come from a pure heart. He also references Psalm 35 and Psalm 91, which are used in Christianity to ward off evil and protect someone from harm.
Line by Line Meaning
See pple business and leave it alone
Mind your own business and don't interfere with others.
hallelujah
Expression of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Aye voon
Hey, friend.
duty mine wah see me drop dead
Enemies want to see me dead.
Iniquity wah see me drop dead
Malicious people want me dead.
Dem nuh like me me nuh like dem
I don't like them and they don't like me.
Obeah wuka lef jah jah children
Evil sorcery shouldn't be used against innocent people.
Coubak coubak Science again
Double-check the experiments and repeat the method.
Dem a laugh but dem anuh u fren
They are laughing, but they are not your friends.
Jah jah sen a prayer pan dem
God will judge them in the end.
Poco man skank
A dance move.
From u heart clean do the poco man skank
Do the dance move with a clear conscience.
And nuh dem alone can bun bad lamp
Not just them can bring harm to me.
Psalm 35 mek dem paralise
Psalm 35 will paralyze them.
Psalm91 mek the woulda dem gram
Psalm 91 will make them feel ashamed.
Parasite unuh love spreed roamers
You love spreading rumors like parasites.
Unuh come like slave fi the hero
You behave like a slave to the hero (society).
A couldnt me dem a talk me nuh hear u
I am not paying attention to those who talk about me.
Crowiss me nah stand up near u
I won't stand next to you.
Me neva tek no food from u table
I never accepted anything from you.
This come like cane and able
This is like a story of jealousy and murder in the Bible.
Dem wah tek my life inna paradise jus true jah jah prefa my sacrifice
They want to take my life because of my devotion to God.
Gwan back weh u come from vipa
Go back where you came from.
Carry newz unuh would back fight
You carry news that causes problems.
Plead my cause ohh jahjah
Ask God to help me.
Babilon unuh soon get conca
Babylon (society) will fall soon.
A coulda christian a coulda rasta
Whether you are a Christian or a Rasta...
From u heart clean dont fraid a the fire
If your heart is pure, you won't fear the consequences.
Poco man sknk
A dance move.
Anuh dem along can bun bad lamp (rept 2)
Not just them can bring harm to me.
Psalms 35 mek dem paralise
Psalm 35 will paralyze them.
And psalm 91 mek the woulda dem gram
Psalm 91 will make them feel ashamed.
duty mine wah see me drop dead
Enemies want to see me dead.
Iniquity wah see me drop dead
Malicious people want me dead.
Dem nuh like me me nuh like dem
I don't like them and they don't like me.
Obeah wuka lef jah jah children
Evil sorcery shouldn't be used against innocent people.
aoubak aoubak
Sound effects.
Science again
Repeat the method again.
Poco man skank
A dance move.
From u heart clean do the poco man skank
Do the dance move with a clear conscience.
And nuh dem alone can bun bad lamp
Not just them can bring harm to me.
Psalm 35 mek dem paralise
Psalm 35 will paralyze them.
Psalm91 mek the woulda dem gram
Psalm 91 will make them feel ashamed.
Writer(s): Evan Andre Jackson, Adidja Azim Palmer
Contributed by Avery V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@estherbaraka3876
This song was a banger back in highschool...and 4 years down the line it still is🥰
@metro_fm761
💯💯
@alphamurithi7851
well said
@annalisaaaaa416
This song is fiyah and it has killer beats .... Up up mi daddy !!
@syntaxradio2803
I am here enough. I love this one. 😂😂😂😂😂😂 huba Kaba poca man stamp lol kartel a d best.
@khairun-nisaaas-siddiq2116
syn tax poco man skank not stamp 😂😂😂
@tashekathomas4705
syn tax chug
@onedon3858
from you heart clean mek me see the likes👊👊👊#gazanation
@starcas7177
mi ah mi granny can listen to this... whoieee.. mi ah dip. then circle around the house.. 💃💃👳👳👔🔥🔥🔥
@dwaynedon4203
di boss a go hard pon di fool dem 💥