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.
Pound of Rice
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Labour party, di Marcus Garvey party
But mi ah vote fi di pool party
One stop driver let mi off
You nuh si seh you a move too bloodclaat fast
Stop in a the bar buy a Shrups and a floss
Sanitary cup, mi nuh trust glass
Dem a seh dem waan turn making uh a breakfast
Style so sick unuh fi go fi redcross
Lui V T's and mi Levi Strauss
Mi si yo through bulgari eye glass
Man a war fi yo body mind, squaddy life lost
Ride pon mi toll road, ah di by pass
And you naw stop a toll boat you a fly pass
Shawn Storm nah di forcast
Take weh a bwoy gyal quicker than fast
Come in a mi classroom, nah the S class
Wind up like the window yo never exhaust
Pound a rice, and pound a chicken back
Pound a rice, and pound a chicken back
Pound a rice, and pound a chicken back
Yuh, I'm eating dat
Love the dumpling wid the chicken back
Love the white rice wid the chicken back
Love the bread back wid the chicken back
Yuh, I'm eating dat
One stop drive let mi out
Mi a go a Gaza, I wan stop a Portsmouth
Link up yanique, shi seh blinger drive out
Call Blinger phone: "pick mi up now"
Mi a go a Boston, hold a endz out
Bare man a circle dozer deh bout
Bare gyal a circle, Scarchy deh bout
Wa a gwaan Teacher? Mi get a shout out
Mi brother don copping nuh grow
Nuh cub scout
Real soldier a Gaza mi camp out
Big up the youth dem weh dem hear bout
500 thousand the don a share out
Is a party, the radio a blaze out
Shawn Chablanks speaker a tear out
Him aplay music weh everybody care bout
Everybody got a red cup a go a their mouth
Pound a rice, and pound a chicken back
Pound a rice, and pound a chicken back
Pound a rice, and pound a chicken back
Yuh, I'm eating dat
Love the dumpling wid the chicken back
Love the white rice wid the chicken back
Love the bread back wid the chicken back
Yuh, I'm eating dat
The lyrics to Vybz Kartel's song "Pound Of Rice" capture his perspective on the political landscape in Jamaica, specifically referencing the two major political parties, the People's National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party. However, he declares that he will vote for the "pool party," indicating his preference for a different alternative. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the corruption and inefficiencies of the existing political system in Jamaica, and his desire for a fresh approach.
The song also touches on various aspects of Kartel's lifestyle and experiences. He mentions stopping at a bar to buy a drink, expressing his preference for a sanitary cup rather than trusting a glass. He references encounters with women who express an interest in him, and he talks about his preference for certain fashion brands like Lui V T's and Levi Strauss.
The chorus emphasizes Kartel's enjoyment of traditional Jamaican food, particularly chicken back (a popular, affordable cut of meat) and rice. He expresses his love for dumplings, white rice, and bread back (a type of breadfruit).
Overall, "Pound Of Rice" showcases Vybz Kartel's unique perspective on politics, lifestyle, and Jamaican culture, offering a glimpse into his personal beliefs and preferences.
Line by Line Meaning
People's national party, Jamaica
Referring to the political parties in Jamaica, this line suggests that the artist is aware of the political landscape of his country.
Labour party, di Marcus Garvey party
The artist mentions the Marcus Garvey party, which is likely a nod to the Pan-Africanism movement and highlighting the influence of Marcus Garvey's ideology in Jamaican politics.
But mi ah vote fi di pool party
Contrary to the traditional political parties mentioned earlier, the artist jokingly states that he is going to vote for the 'pool party,' indicating his preference for a more leisurely and carefree lifestyle.
One stop driver let mi off
The artist requests the driver to stop at a specific location.
You nuh si seh you a move too bloodclaat fast
Using Jamaican slang, the artist tells the driver that he is driving too quickly and should slow down.
Stop in a the bar buy a Shrups and a floss
The artist stops at a bar to buy a drink and enjoy himself.
Sanitary cup, mi nuh trust glass
Expressing caution, the artist prefers to drink from a sanitary cup rather than a glass.
Pure gyal a pass and a seh 'Worl' Boss'
Women passing by acknowledge the artist and refer to him as the 'World Boss,' indicating his fame and influence.
Dem a seh dem waan turn making uh a breakfast
The women express their desire to spend the night with the artist, suggesting they want to wake up together in the morning.
Style so sick unuh fi go fi redcross
The artist's fashion sense is unique and impressive, prompting others to seek help from the Red Cross organization for their fashion needs.
Lui V T's and mi Levi Strauss
The artist mentions wearing expensive fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Levi Strauss.
Mi si yo through bulgari eye glass
The artist uses Bulgari sunglasses to observe someone or something.
Man a war fi yo body mind, squaddy life lost
People are fighting and competing for the artist's attention, causing conflicts and leading to casualties.
Ride pon mi toll road, ah di by pass
The artist emphasizes his authority and control over his own path, not following the usual routes.
And you naw stop a toll boat you a fly pass
The artist criticizes someone for not stopping at the toll booth and instead flying past it in a boat.
Shawn Storm nah di forcast
Shawn Storm, likely a fellow artist associated with the artist, is mentioned as being part of the forecast or future plans.
Take weh a bwoy gyal quicker than fast
The artist boasts about his ability to attract and steal someone else's girlfriend swiftly and effortlessly.
Come in a mi classroom, nah the S class
The artist invites others to join him in his lifestyle, comparing it to being in a classroom but with the luxury of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class car.
Wind up like the window yo never exhaust
The artist suggests that the energy and excitement in his life are endless and will never run out, similar to a car window being continuously rolled up.
Pound a rice, and pound a chicken back
The artist expresses his preference for enjoying traditional Jamaican food, such as rice and chicken back.
Yuh, I'm eating dat
The artist proudly states that he enjoys and consumes the mentioned Jamaican dishes.
Love the dumpling wid the chicken back
The artist expresses his fondness for eating dumplings alongside the chicken back.
Love the white rice wid the chicken back
The artist confesses his love for pairing white rice with the chicken back.
Love the bread back wid the chicken back
The artist declares his preference for enjoying breadfruit alongside the chicken back.
One stop drive let mi out
The artist requests the driver to stop at a particular location so he can get off the vehicle.
Mi a go a Gaza, I wan stop a Portsmouth
The artist states his intention to visit the Gaza, a neighborhood or a community, and mentions his desire to stop at Portsmouth, another location.
Link up yanique, shi seh blinger drive out
The artist plans to meet up with Yanique, who informs him that Blinger has left or driven away.
Call Blinger phone: 'pick mi up now'
The artist contacts Blinger through a phone call, requesting to be picked up immediately.
Mi a go a Boston, hold a endz out
The artist announces his intention to visit Boston, possibly referring to a specific area within Boston.
Bare man a circle dozer deh bout
Many men are out and about, riding motorcycles or 'dozers' in circles.
Bare gyal a circle, Scarchy deh bout
Numerous girls are also present, moving around in circles, and Scarchy, possibly another individual, is among them.
Wa a gwaan Teacher? Mi get a shout out
The artist greets his teacher or mentor and mentions that he received a mention or acknowledgment.
Mi brother don copping nuh grow
The artist's brother, named Don Copping, does not age or grow older.
Nuh cub scout
The artist emphasizes that his brother is not involved in any cub scout activities.
Real soldier a Gaza mi camp out
The artist states that he is a true soldier and supporter of the Gaza, suggesting his loyalty and dedication to his community or group.
Big up the youth dem weh dem hear bout
The artist gives recognition and praise to the young people who are well-known and respected in their communities.
500 thousand the don a share out
The 'don,' a figure of authority or power, distributes or shares 500 thousand, possibly referring to money, among others.
Is a party, the radio a blaze out
There is a lively party atmosphere, with the radio playing music at a high volume.
Shawn Chablanks speaker a tear out
Shawn Chablanks, another artist or individual, has a powerful speaker system that is causing the music to be extremely loud.
Him aplay music weh everybody care bout
Shawn Chablanks is playing popular music that everyone enjoys and pays attention to.
Everybody got a red cup a go a their mouth
At the party, everyone is seen holding a red cup and enjoying their drinks.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ADIDJA AZIM PALMER, SHAUN DURAMI CHABLAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrReddaifyable
A phenomenon. Stepping into LIVING LEGEND capacity. This man is truly amazing. The riddim & the lyric pitch perfect. Only the WorldBoss Gaza King Vybz Kartel can do it like this. Pound ah Rice. Wicked.
@riichbosss1604
I swear kartel on some out a this world level him a just the best .... I swear .... Alien meds
@nytrader8605
i concur....damn shame he turn to baddest
@anthonyglynn803
Shawn storm inna d forecast tek way ah boi gal quicker than fas. Mad sick world boss.
@sturridge5159
Dawg🤣🤣❗ me wonder how him dweet
@Billsonfridh
Perfect example of why kartel is the maddest #FreeWorlBoss
@Dragon-Slay3r
World economic forum 😭
@jamielangley9919
Vybz kartel Dancehall king to the world 👑
@fanuelmaodza6535
Just pay special attention to the lyrics, the rhyms and the metaphors, its out this world !!! Masterpiece
@ahmedudi8980
Style so sick unuh go fi red cross maaad😂😂2018 still listenin mad tunee