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.
TATTOO
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See me a seh (weh you a seh?)
I love to see di ladies (me too)
Looking like (tattoo)
'Maculate, natural work of art (tattoo)
(Like a portrait)
You know? (I know) (tattoo)
In yuh life I want to be apart (why not?)
Cah yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you, fi nyam di cookie, not you
Cah yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you
You tattoo yuh man name, but yuh pum pum split inna two
Mek me hickie di breast, that a titty tattoo
You a no country owl or city potoo
Me see you a It's A Party and Cinema Two
Gi' me you number, phone call no limit at you
Like a swing song, cocky me a swing it at you
A no stone, naturally me fling it at you
If a fi mek you suck me hood, me nah go bring it at you
Cah yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you, fi nyam di cookie, not you
Cah yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you, fi nyam di-
Me love di one pon you ankle and di one above di rear
You see da hipster jeans deh, love di pair
Shorty got di breast with di teddy di bear
Jahiem pon her foot and it very did dare
Anyweh di gyal dem deh, I'll be there
Breast stiff with hips fi share
Don Corleone get a letter from Britney Spear
Say she want him fi fix di chair
'Cause she too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you, fi nyam di cookie, not you
Gyal, yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you (ayy)
You tattoo yuh man name, but yuh pum pum split inna two
Mek me hickie di breast, that a titty tattoo
You a no country owl or city potoo
Me see you a It's A Party and Cinema Two
Gi' me you number, phone call no limit at you
Like a swing, the cocky me a go swing it at you
A no stone, naturally me fling it at you
And if a fi mek you suck mi hood, me nah go bring it at you
Portmore gyal yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you, fi nyam di cookie, not you
Gyal, yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you
Me love di one pon you ankle and di one above di rear
You see da short up shorts deh, love di pair
Shorty got di breast with di teddy di bear
Jahiem pon her foot and it very did dare
Anyweh di gyal dem deh 'round, we'll be there
Breast stiff with hips fi spare
Cool Face (wah?), You get a call from Britney Spear
Say fi, she wan' you fix di chair
Dat gyal too boasty, cuh di tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do di tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you, fi nyam di cookie, not you
Cah yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you
You tattoo yuh man name, but yuh pum pum split inna two
Mek me hickie di breast, that a titty tattoo
You a no country owl or city potoo
Me see you a It's A Party and Cinema Two
Gi' me you number, phone call no limit at you
Like a swing, the cocky me a go swing it at you
A no stone, naturally me fling it at you
And if a fi mek you suck mi hood, me nah go bring it at you
Cah yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you, fi nyam di cookie, not you
Cah yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you, fi nyam di-
Me love di one pon you ankle and di one above di rear
You see da hipster jeans deh, love di pair
Shorty got di breast with di teddy di bear
Jahiem pon her foot and it very did dare
Anyweh di gyal dem deh, I'll be there
Breast stiff with hips fi share
Don Corleone get a letter from Britney Spear
Say she want him fi fix di chair
'Cause she too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you, fi nyam di cookie, not you
Gyal, yuh too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo
You and yuh crew, where did you do yuh tattoo?
Skin smooth, fi show di green, red and di blue
Me love looking at you
The lyrics to Vybz Kartel's song "Tattoo" depict the artist's admiration for a woman's body art while also making clear his intentions towards her. The song opens with the lines, "Gal you too boasty, cuh yuh tattoo," which indicate that the woman in question is showing off her tattoos. The artist then asks where she got her tattoo and compliments her smooth skin. While he enjoys looking at her, he makes it clear that he is only interested in her body and not her personality, stating "Fi nyam di cookie not you," which translates to "I want to eat your genitals, not you as a person." The artist also mentions that the woman has a tattoo of a man's name on her body, highlighting the level of intimacy she may have had with the person. Despite this, the artist still expresses his sexual interest in her.
The song further emphasizes the objectification of women, as the artist only cares for the visuals of her body, including the tattoos and the body parts that appeal to him. He mentions different tattoos she has, including a "titty tattoo" and implies that he enjoys watching her movements. The artist also refers to other women he has seen in "It's A Party" and "Cinema Two" and asks for the woman's number so that he can contact her whenever he desires. This song highlights the objectification of women and the negative impact it can have on women's bodies and self-esteem.
Line by Line Meaning
Gal you too boasty
Girl, you are too arrogant
Cuh yuh tattoo
Because of your tattoo?
You and yuh crew
You and your group of friends
Where did yuh do yuh tattoo
Where did you get your tattoo done?
Skin smooth
Your skin is so smooth
Fi show di green red and blue
To show off the green, red, and blue colors of your tattoo
Mi love looking at you
I love looking at you
Fi nyam di cookie not you
I want to eat the cookie, not you
You tattoo you man name but
You got your man's name tattooed, but
Yuh pum pum split inna two
Your vagina is split in two
Mek mi "icky di breas"
Let me suck your breasts
Dat a titty tattoo
You got a tattoo on your breast
You a no country owl
You're not a country girl
Or City Patou
Or a city girl
Mi si yuh a "It's A Party"
I saw you at 'It's A Party'
And Cinema Two
And at Cinema Two
Gimme you number
Give me your phone number
Phone call no limit at you
I'll call you without limits
Like a swing cocky
Like the way I swing my penis
Mi a swing it at you
I'm swinging it at you
A nuh stone naturally
It's not a natural stone
Mi fling it at you
I'm throwing it at you
If a fi mek you suck mi hood
If it's to make you suck my penis
Mi nah bring it at you
I won't bring it to you
Mi love di one pon you ankle and
I love the one on your ankle and
Di one above di rear
The one above your rear
You si dat hipster
You see those hipster jeans
Jeans deh
Those jeans
Love di pair
I love that pair
Shorty got di breast
Shorty has big breasts
Wid di teddy bear
With the teddy bear
Jahiem pon har foot
Jahiem tattooed on her foot
And it very dare
And it's very daring
Any weh di gal dem deh
Anywhere the girls are
I'll be there
I'll be there
Breast stiff
Breasts that are firm
Wid hips fi share
With hips to share
Don Corleon get a letter from Britney Spear
Don Corleon received a letter from Britney Spears
Seh she want him fi fix di chair
She said she wants him to fix the chair
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Donovan Bennett, Christopher Palmer, Craig Parks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
xiTKxix
Vybz can sing about taking a dump and still have it heard big in clubs. Half these people criticizing him don't even know what epidermis is.
utterbullspit
Child kaboom! He ain't got no damn epidermis.
STR8NATION
July 23 Gazzzza thuuuug 0:54
Lorenzo Harewood
Kartel has to do what he has to do to ensure people keep talking and discussin and wondering. The more you and me and others chat about his new trends, the more marketable he is and mor emoney he makes.
Likkle bit
I played this song on repeat when I got my first tattoo, a Jamaican butterfly
Oshane foster
2021 and beyond I'll still be listening 🔥
Snowice Entertainment
2020 still fire 🔥
Dessy MJackson
I don’t even like tattoo but his lyrical capability & artistry 👌🏾🥴
Tony Guevara
i dont care how much he bleaches his skin he still makessss good music
Jumar
2021 still playing 🔥🔥🔥