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.
Stop Gwaan Like Yuh Tuff
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yow yow
Suck pussy bwoy stop gwaan like yuh tough
Caw yo womean a beat yo wid draws yuh a cruff
A bad man alone mi a fuck
Weh mi man deh
Shot a dash like sand fi di Siva
Bleach mi face an bleach a yo gate
A no pizza mi come fi deliver
Everything in a di clip a nam him up like dinner
RUn in a di church mi no care mi a singer
All if a pastor lap yo sit down in a
Shot a drive in a yuh like Bugle black bimma
Mi no bad back a nothing dem a filla mi a killa
Claat it a buck as it a echo down a filla
The K wid di ban ugly than a gorilla
Plus one in a yo head swell it up like pilla
Kartel a one dan if a no me a Casha Milla
Man a lift wast bada dan chigger skiller
Big fat shot a fly through body builder
Likkle bwoy yuh a monkey mi gun a gorilla
Suck pussy bwoy stop gwaan like yuh tough
Caw yo womean a beat yo wid draws yuh a cruff
A bad man alone mi a fuck
Weh mi man deh
Suck pussy bwoy stop gwaan like yuh tough
Caw yo womean a beat yo wid draws yuh a cruff
A bad man alone mi a fuck
Weh mi man deh
One a mi bush master mi call it macavelly
Slow yo down wid two in a yo belly
Three more head a buss like jelly
Yo should a never fuck around Kartelly
When yo si di mack 11 tell Madness fet ready
Bay duppy show like chucky an Freddy
Yo shouldn't diss di gaza youth wa name tevi
A so mi know seh yo naw hold no medi
When yo si di chrome ruga pop off a him belly
And di place get Shelly
Bay blood a run mi si supn like jelly
Mi si ears, mi si foot, mi si piece a yo nose
Wa mi do take a picture wid bada don celli
Put hi pon face book an a bay gyal a seh mi too fuck up an cruel
That never necessary
So mi seh di gaza DP pon mi black berry
Suck pussy bwoy stop gwaan like yuh tough
Caw yo womean a beat yo wid draws yuh a cruff
A bad man alone mi a fuck
Weh mi man deh
Suck pussy bwoy stop gwaan like yuh tough
Caw yo womean a beat yo wid draws yuh a cruff
A bad man alone mi a fuck
Weh mi man deh
When di rifle a wave a no wave in a sea an a no river
Shot a dash like sand fi di Siva
Bleach mi face an bleach a yo gate
A no pizza mi come fi deliver
Everything in a di clip a nam him up like dinner
RUn in a di church mi no care mi a singer
All if a pastor lap yo sit down in a
Shot a drive in a yuh like Bugle black bimma
Mi no bad back a nothing dem a filla mi a killa
Claat it a buck as it a echo down a filla
The K wid di ban ugly than a gorilla
Plus one in a yo head swell it up like pilla
Kartel a one dan if a no me a Casha Milla
Man a lift wast bada dan chigger skiller
Big fat shot a fly through body builder
Likkle bwoy yuh a monkey mi gun a gorilla
Suck pussy bwoy stop gwaan like yuh tough
Caw yo womean a beat yo wid draws yuh a cruff
A bad man alone mi a fuck
Weh mi man deh
Suck pussy bwoy stop gwaan like yuh tough
Caw yo womean a beat yo wid draws yuh a cruff
A bad man alone mi a fuck
Weh mi man deh
The song "Stop Gwan Like Yuh Tuff" by Vybz Kartel, featuring Gaza Slim, is a hard-hitting dancehall track that talks about the artist's power as a bad man or gangster in the community. The lyrics contain strong language and graphic imagery, and are meant to convey a sense of dominance and intimidation. The chorus, repeated twice throughout the song, commands "Suck pussy bwoy stop gwaan like yuh tough. Caw yo womean a beat yo wid draws yuh a cruff. A bad man alone mi a fuck. Weh mi man deh" which can be interpreted as a warning to those who front about being tough when they're really not.
The verses of the song further illustrate this theme, with references to guns, violence, and the artist's status as a feared individual. Lines such as "Run inna di church mi no care mi a singer" suggest a disregard for authority and a willingness to use violence to get what he wants. The lyrics "Bleach mi face an bleach a yo gate, A no pizza mi come fi deliver" show the ability to infiltrate anyone's space or go anywhere by any means necessary.
Overall, "Stop Gwan Like Yuh Tuff" is a gritty and unapologetic song that highlights the often-violent world of Jamaican dancehall music and the power dynamics at play within it.
Line by Line Meaning
Yow yow some bwoy a pussy pum pum an punany
Hey hey, some guys act like they’re tough, but really they’re just weak and cowardly.
Suck pussy bwoy stop gwaan like yuh tough
Caw yo womean a beat yo wid draws yuh a cruff
A bad man alone mi a fuck
Weh mi man deh
Stop acting tough, because your woman beats you with her undergarments and I’m the only one who can handle being a true bad man. Where is your man?
When di rifle a wave a no wave in a sea an a no river
Shot a dash like sand fi di Siva
Bleach mi face an bleach a yo gate
A no pizza mi come fi deliver
Everything in a di clip a nam him up like dinner
RUn in a di church mi no care mi a singer
All if a pastor lap yo sit down in a
Shot a drive in a yuh like Bugle black bimma
Mi no bad back a nothing dem a filla mi a killa
Claat it a buck as it a echo down a filla
The K wid di ban ugly than a gorilla
Plus one in a yo head swell it up like pilla
Kartel a one dan if a no me a Casha Milla
Man a lift wast bada dan chigger skiller
Big fat shot a fly through body builder
Likkle bwoy yuh a monkey mi gun a gorilla
When I wave my rifle, it’s not like a wave in the sea or river. I’ll shoot you and your body will be thrown around like sand. I’ll bleach my skin and your gate (probably meaning your home). I didn’t come to deliver pizza. Everything in my clip will devour you like dinner. I’ll even shoot in a church, I don’t care if I’m a singer. Even if you’re sitting on a pastor’s lap, I’ll still shoot you. I’ll drive into you like Bugle’s black car. I’m not afraid of anything - I’ll kill them all. When I shoot, it echoes through your flesh. The K with the band looks uglier than a gorilla. One shot in your head will make it swell like a pillow. I’m the don, even if I’m not Casha Millah. I’m stronger than a chigger (small parasite) and my big shot can even take down a body builder. You’re a little boy, like a monkey, and my gun is like a gorilla.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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