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.
Wah Dat Fah
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
True how mi bloodclaat bad
Mi a must know God cau Selassie a mi fadda
Bwoy how yuh go a tell seh yuh name Gully God go SUCK YUH MODDA! HEY!
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?!
Yuh a call man fag when mi fuck yuh modda!
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?!
Tell God seh Selassie I a my emperor
A nuh mi yuh a talk cau yuh suck who bredda?!
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?!
Stop watch mi tattoo and stop watch Delia
Hold on! Yuh bleachin argument stale out
Gwaan chat till di shot from di sixteen a sail out
Yuh batty bredda yuh fi talk bout
Yuh fi talk seh gal a piss inna yuh suck pussy dog mouth
Barber bwoy mi a go all out
Shot yuh in front yuh muma mek she bawl out
Yuh caan hype bout yuh range cau mi know yuh
From yuh like inna di small house
From yuh gal give yuh crab louse
HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON!
When di rifle dem TUN ON TUN ON TUN ON TUN ON TUN ON!
Mi bring him a Gaza and show him all type a strap
Him bring mi pon di Gully side and show mi barbershop
Weh dat fah?!
Yuh a call man fag when mi fuck yuh modda!
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?!
Tell God seh Selassie I a my emperor
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?!
A nuh mi yuh a talk cau yuh suck who bredda?!
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?!
Stop watch mi tattoo and stop watch Delia
True dem hear seh mi send back mi smith and wesson
Guy a try violate mi teaach dem a lesson
Bounce clear when rifle whistle like a kekkle
Shot a boar inna poeple when di kotch a heckle
Yuh a fool pon di ends weh mi come afta
Mi know Mikey Slew mi know Carpa
But everybody weh live dung a Cassava
Can testify seh yuh a community barber
Yuh just bad inna yuh songs
Call man fag when mi a fuck gal so long
Yuh a just start get gal last week
Yuh fi recognize gallis when yuh see one
HOLD ON HOLD ON! Di gal yuh have up one night
A wah day she have my cock a bite
A memba seh mi a nuh battyman mi bun sodemite
Pussyhole don't get bloodclaat bright
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?!
Yuh a call man fag when mi fuck yuh modda!
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?!
Tell God seh Selassie I a my emperor
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?!
A nuh mi yuh a talk cau yuh suck who bredda?!
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?!
Stop watch mi tattoo and stop watch Delia
In the song "Wah Dat Fah" by Vybz Kartel, the artist seems to be taking offense to someone else calling themselves the "Gully God." Vybz Kartel asserts his own status as a badass, claiming Selassie as his father and questioning how anyone could possibly try to challenge him. He takes particular issue with the other person calling him a "fag" and brings up a sexual encounter with that person's mother to counter the insult. Throughout the song, he repeats the refrain "Weh dat fah?!", essentially asking what the other person has to say for themselves.
Overall, the song seems to be an aggressive response to someone else trying to claim a position of power or status within the same community as Vybz Kartel. He asserts that his own credentials are superior and backs up his insults with references to sexual prowess and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Lang? A wah do di Girly God?!
The singer is addressing someone known as Lang and questioning why they call themselves the Girly God.
True how mi bloodclaat bad
The singer is emphasizing how bad he is.
Mi a must know God cau Selassie a mi fadda
The singer claims that he must know God because Selassie is his father.
Bwoy how yuh go a tell seh yuh name Gully God go SUCK YUH MODDA! HEY!
The singer is questioning how someone can call themselves the Gully God and then insult their own mother.
Weh dat fah?! Weh dat fah?! Yuh a call man fag when mi fuck yuh modda!
The singer is repeating the phrase 'weh dat fah' and accusing the other person of calling him gay while he slept with their mother.
Tell God seh Selassie I a my emperor
The singer is telling the other person to inform God that Selassie is his emperor.
A nuh mi yuh a talk cau yuh suck who bredda?!
The singer is denying that the other person is talking about him because they are the one who slept with their brother.
Stop watch mi tattoo and stop watch Delia
The singer is telling the other person to stop focusing on his tattoos or Delia and to pay attention to what he's saying.
Hold on! Yuh bleachin argument stale out
The singer is asking the other person to wait a moment and then telling them their argument about skin lightening is no longer relevant.
Gwaan chat till di shot from di sixteen a sail out
The singer is daring the other person to keep talking until a gunshot from his sixteen(gun) fires.
Yuh batty bredda yuh fi talk bout
The singer is telling the other person to talk about their gay brother.
Yuh fi talk seh gal a piss inna yuh suck pussy dog mouth
The singer is telling the other person to say that a girl urinated in their mouth after performing oral sex because they are disgusting.
Barber bwoy mi a go all out, Shot yuh in front yuh muma mek she bawl out
The singer is threatening to go all out on the other person, shooting them in front of their mother until she cries out.
Yuh caan hype bout yuh range cau mi know yuh
The singer is telling the other person not to brag about their car range because he knows them well.
From yuh like inna di small house, From yuh gal give yuh crab louse
The singer is saying that from knowing the other person from childhood, he knows that they got pubic lice from their girlfriend.
HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON HOLD ON!
The singer is telling the other person to hold on and wait because he has something important to say.
When di rifle dem TUN ON TUN ON TUN ON TUN ON TUN ON!
The singer is warning the other person that when the rifles are fired, they won't stop shooting.
Mi bring him a Gaza and show him all type a strap
The singer is saying that he took the other person to Gaza and showed them all the different types of guns.
Him bring mi pon di Gully side and show mi barbershop
The other person took the singer to the Gully side to show them a barbershop.
True dem hear seh mi send back mi smith and wesson, Guy a try violate mi teaach dem a lesson
The singer states that he sent back his gun and someone tried to violate him so he had to teach them a lesson.
Bounce clear when rifle whistle like a kekkle, Shot a boar inna poeple when di kotch a heckle
The singer is describing a situation where he fired a rifle that sounded like a whistle and shot someone in the crowd when they made a noise.
Yuh a fool pon di ends weh mi come afta, Mi know Mikey Slew mi know Carpa
The singer thinks that the other person is foolish because he comes from the same place as him and knows people named Mikey Slew and Carpa.
But everybody weh live dung a Cassava, Can testify seh yuh a community barber
Anyone who lives in Cassava can confirm that the other person is a community barber.
Yuh just bad inna yuh songs, Call man fag when mi a fuck gal so long
The singer believes that the other person is only brave in their songs and calls him gay while he has been having sex with women for a long time.
Yuh a just start get gal last week, Yuh fi recognize gallis when yuh see one
The other person only started getting girls last week and should recognize a true player when they see one.
Di gal yuh have up one night, A wah day she have my cock a bite
The singer claims that the other person's recent fling tried to bite his penis.
A memba seh mi a nuh battyman mi bun sodemite
The singer wants the other person to remember that he is not gay and hates homosexual relationships.
Pussyhole don't get bloodclaat bright
The singer is warning the other person not to act tough or foolish.
Writer(s): Palmer Adidja Azim, Parks Craig Jomo, Burrell Cordel
Contributed by Kaitlyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheBizzle90
Still pumping this tune in 2023 !!! 💥🔥
manifergi
This war was too mad. i still get excited. I'll tell my kids bout this when they reach an appropriate age.
Vivian Bailey
I know right
Kaysha Tyson
it been bad for real....nah lie, it was epic, and Movado still lose,,,,kartel is just a naturalist with de pen and paper. Movado could never compare
Oshane Patterson
Can’t believe it was over a decade ago.
LJayy97
It’s soon time 😌😈
Corbin's Beats
Done know
Deavan Drepaul
One of my favorite clash songs, next to Last Man Standing. This really shows the power of how Dancehall is.
Sumit Kerai
Nuh botha try and sen fi mi army too
IlluminatedMel
2021 still blastin this I mean…
I’m not Mavado and I started reflecting on my life choices when I first heard this.