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.
Real Friends
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Impossible to stop
Si mi a seh up to di time hi no
Dutty ni–a mi fraid a
Why yo don't wan to si di youths dem aim fi di sky
Like flash Gordon an dark vada
Si mi a seh wa yuh a seh yo know it's kartel
Yo no
A who dem a pussy dem
Dem wan mi life end
But when yo stop di food who a go mine mi pickiny dem
Go weh a pussy dem
The love no genuine
Such f–k pretender gun shot fi fuckry Friens
Who dem a pussy dem
No touch di henz again
No honour don't exist between friends again
If a pussy dem
Yo a hear mi don rise di calico an di woozy dem
Dem wan mi stumble an fell go down in a tunnel
Fi go tell yo no hear she dem kill kartel
Oh well yo buy weh obia man sell
But God repel yo black magic spell
Ii easier fi tred a eagle eye wid a camel
Than huno go a heaven Eden an infidel
Huno done book first class none stop to hell
Dem no have no identity like a kartel
A who dem a pussy dem
Dem wan mi life end
But when yo stop di food who a go mine mi pickiny dem
Go weh a pussy dem
The love no genuine
Such f–k pretender gun shot fi fuckry Friens
Who dem a pussy dem
No touch di henz again
No honour don't exist between friends again
If a pussy dem
Yo a hear mi don rise di calico an di woozy dem
Hey the love wa di almighty got put mi through
It's fatherly like jam is to jam tow
It's like death before dis honour Karate Kong fu
Clean heart over bad heart easy one two
Delavaga look what loving can do
When unity an strength hate no fi struggle through
Dj no want no war
If a no me den a who
Can stop di war an di voo
A who dem a pussy dem
Dem wan mi life end
But when yo stop di food who a go mine mi pickiny dem
Go weh a pussy dem
The love no genuine
Such f–k pretender gun shot fi fuckry Friens
Who dem a pussy dem
No touch di henz again
No honour don't exist between friends again
If a pussy dem
Yo a hear mi don rise di calico an di woozy dem
Dem wan mi stumble an fell go down in a tunnel
Fi go tell yo no hear she dem kill kartel
Oh well yo buy weh obia man sell
But God repel yo black magic spell
Ii easier fi tred a eagle eye wid a camel
Than huno go a heaven Eden an infidel
Huno done book first class none stop to hell
Dem no have no identity like a kartel
A who dem a pussy dem
Dem wan mi life end
But when yo stop di food who a go mine mi pickiny dem
Go weh a pussy dem
The love no genuine
Such f–k pretender gun shot fi fuckry Friens
Who dem a pussy dem
No touch di henz again
No honour don't exist between friends again
If a pussy dem
Yo a hear mi don rise di calico an di woozy dem
Hey the love wa di almighty got put mi through
It's fatherly like jam is to jam tow
It's like death before dis honour Karate Kong fu
Clean heart over bad heart easy one two
Delavaga look what loving can do
When unity an strength hate no fi struggle through
Dj no want no war
If a no me den a who
Can stop di war an di voo
A who dem a pussy dem
Dem wan mi life end
But when yo stop di food who a go mine mi pickiny dem
Go weh a pussy dem
The love no genuine
Such f–k pretender gun shot fi fuckry Friens
Who dem a pussy dem
No touch di henz again
No honour don't exist between friends again
If a pussy dem
Yo a hear mi don rise di calico an di woozy dem
The song "Real Friends" by Vybz Kartel touches upon the concept of fake friends who only show love and loyalty for their selfish gains. In the opening lines, Kartel drops some wise words about ambition and the need to aim for the sky. He then points out that some people are too scared to see young people succeed and achieve their dreams. Kartel boasts about his own identity, stating that he is not afraid of anyone who goes against him.
The chorus highlights his frustration with the so-called "friends" who are only pretending to care about him. He states that they wish him harm and when they remove food from his plate, they won't be there to help him take care of his children. According to him, fake love deserves nothing but fake bullets.
In the verses, he persists in condemning these fake friends as cowards who wish him dead. He goes on to call them shams because their love is not genuine. He believes they are always pretending, and if he stops supporting them, they will go away. In the end, he asserts his righteousness, mentioning that the love of God will always repel whatever black magic spells they put on him.
Line by Line Meaning
Don Corleon Productions
This song was produced by Don Corleon Productions.
Impossible to stop
Kartel's success is unstoppable.
Si mi a seh up to di time hi no
Kartel is speaking the truth.
Dutty ni–a mi fraid a
Kartel fears untrustworthy people.
Why yo don't wan to si di youths dem aim fi di sky
Kartel questions why people don't support the youth's ambitious goals.
Like flash Gordon an dark vada
Kartel compares the youth's ambition to comic book heroes.
Si mi a seh wa yuh a seh yo know it's kartel
Kartel is letting people know who he is.
A who dem a pussy dem
Kartel is questioning the character of some individuals.
Dem wan mi life end
These individuals want to see Kartel dead.
But when yo stop di food who a go mine mi pickiny dem
Kartel questions who will take care of his children if these people succeed in killing him.
Go weh a pussy dem
Kartel wants these individuals to go away.
The love no genuine
Kartel recognizes that the love these individuals show him is not genuine.
Such f–k pretender gun shot fi fuckry Friens
Kartel is willing to shoot fake friends who cause trouble.
No touch di henz again
These individuals should not touch Kartel's belongings again.
No honour don't exist between friends again
Kartel has lost faith in the concept of honor between friends.
If a pussy dem
Kartel still questions the character of these individuals.
Yo a hear mi don rise di calico an di woozy dem
Kartel is threatening to use firearms against these people.
Hey the love wa di almighty got put mi through
Kartel talks about the love that God has given him.
It's fatherly like jam is to jam tow
Kartel's love from God is like a father's love for a son.
It's like death before dis honour Karate Kong fu
Kartel is willing to die before losing his honor.
Clean heart over bad heart easy one two
Kartel believes that a clean heart is better than a bad heart.
Delavaga look what loving can do
Kartel points out what love can do.
When unity an strength hate no fi struggle through
Kartel believes that hate can be defeated with unity and strength.
Dj no want no war
Kartel does not want a war.
If a no me den a who
Kartel asks who else will stop the war if not him.
Can stop di war an di voo
Kartel can stop the war and violence.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ADIDJA PALMER, DONOVAN BENNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bridgette Tsikira
2022 and still loving it
david odhiambo
vybz kartel was the only dj alive that made music worth listening 2
Wineth Benjamim
Still is
Mistah Dutty
FINALLY THE REAL KARTEL IS BACK!!!!!! WELCOME BACK TEEEECHA!!!
ryan brooks
2023 this still relevant! Deh tune ya timeless
GAZATHUG CRUCIAL
KARTEL FOREVER! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #GazaNation #GazaRunDiTing #FromDemTimeTilNow #FreeWorldBoss 👽🌎🐐🎤🎧🎶💣😈
Naturally Empress Madde Pinkweightloss
lyrics sick,hate nuh fi smuggle through
Alex AI
2019 still here... High School classic
Jonathan Barbe
LOURD 😲
faderpimp
WHO DON'T KNOW THIS IS A 2005 SONG BUT BAD THOU. IT A SHOT.