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.
Without My Own
Vybz Kartel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dem bwoy deh a nuh thugs
Some likkle fool diss dem
Dem cya talk
Mi and mi dawgs dem roll
Any violation
Nah talk
A Di Teacha (Addijah)
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
Hey Popcaan
When badman a party
Mi nuh left mi fat shorty
Gaza nuh boxer and mi nuh have black
Belt inna karate
Danger we mek you disappear shortly
From mi a likkle bit a bwoy inna khaki
No man
Never to back talk me (no sah)
Addi woulda start world war three
And this a nuh sucky you can't bawl cree
You better seh weh you seh
Mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Seh weh you seh, mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Do weh mi wah fi do, do weh mi wah fi do
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
Hey
You can't diss Addijah Di Teacha di man dem
A Gaza we rise every creature
And deliver di beef to di door like toppings
Pon a Domino Pizza
How you fi hype and you never know Lisa
Something a go fly and mi know seh a nuh visa (a visa)
Visa rhyme with freezer
You nah go heaven cah you wasn't a believa
You never believe mi head hotta than fever
That's why yuh seh weh you seh
Mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Seh weh you seh, mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Do weh mi wah fi do, do weh mi wah fi do
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
A di Teacha,
Addijah
The lyrics to Vybz Kartel's song "Without My Own" is a clear display of the artist's strong dominance and toughness, especially when it comes to protecting himself and his crew. The chorus, "Mi nah go no weh without my own," indicates that he is not willing to be caught off guard, which is typical of a person who has faced several dangerous situations. He values his safety and that of his crew so much that he'd rather not leave without his weapon, no matter the circumstance. The song is a display of pride in his strength and the tough image attached to being a badman.
The lyrics also depict a sense of loyalty among his crew members. He assures his crew that he will always have his own weapon with him, and he encourages them to stay close to him whenever they go out to ensure their safety. The line "Mi a di last man standing" points out his steadfastness and dedication to making sure that he and his crew come out unscathed from any situation they may face. The language he uses in his lyrics is rough and direct, an indication of the kind of life he lived before becoming a world-renowned musician.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Huggins,
Greeting to Huggins
Dem bwoy deh a nuh thugs
Those guys aren't real thugs
Some likkle fool diss dem
Some minor fool insults them
Dem cya talk
They can't even put up a fight
Mi and mi dawgs dem roll
I and my crew are ready for action
Any violation
Any disrespect or breach of the peace
Nah talk
Won't say much, but act immediately
A Di Teacha (Addijah)
I am the instructor and leader, Addijah
You coulda dead
You could die
Mi don't like run
I don't enjoy fleeing
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
I won't go anywhere without my weapon
Without my own, without my own
Without my gun, without my gun
Mi nah wait
I won't delay
Til night come down
Until nighttime arrives
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
I simply won't venture without my firearm
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
I am the sole survivor
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Because I don't like running
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Whenever you see us having fun
Come test if you think mi left my own
Don't test me by thinking I left my gun
Mi left my own, mi left
I left my firearm here
Hey Popcaan
Greetings to Popcaan
When badman a party
When gangsters are at a party
Mi nuh left mi fat shorty
I won't leave my chubby girlfriend
Gaza nuh boxer and mi nuh have black
We don't wear boxing gloves, and I don't have a black belt
Belt inna karate
In karate, I am not experienced
Danger we mek you disappear shortly
We are dangerous and can make you vanish quickly
From mi a likkle bit a bwoy inna khaki
From when I was a young man in khakis
No man
No one
Never to back talk me (no sah)
Never to argue back with me
Addi woulda start world war three
Addijah would cause a major chaos
And this a nuh sucky you can't bawl cree
This isn't a lollipop that you can cry for
You better seh weh you seh
You better say what you mean
Mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Let me do what I want
Seh weh you seh, mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Say what you want, let me do what I want
Do weh mi wah fi do, do weh mi wah fi do
Do what I want to do, do what I want to do
You can't diss Addijah
You can't disrespect Addijah
Di Teacha di man dem
The Teacher is the leader
A Gaza we rise every creature
We, from Gaza, rule over everyone
And deliver di beef to di door like toppings
We bring the fight to you, like pizza toppings
Pon a Domino Pizza
On a Domino's Pizza
How you fi hype and you never know Lisa
How can you be excited when you don't even know Lisa?
Something a go fly and mi know seh a nuh visa (a visa)
Something will fly and I know it's not a visa
Visa rhyme with freezer
Visa and freezer sound similar
You nah go heaven cah you wasn't a believa
You won't go to heaven because you didn't believe
You never believe mi head hotta than fever
You didn't believe that I'm hotter than a fever
A di Teacha,
I am the Teacher,
Addijah
Addijah
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CARLINGTON WILMOT, ADIDJA PALMER, ADIDJA AZIM PALMER, DAVID SPENCER HAYLE, ERROL ORTHNEIL STEWART, JORDAN GREGORY MCCLURE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Python
[Intro:]
Hey Huggins,
Dem bwoy deh a nuh thugs
Some likkle fool diss dem
Dem cya talk
Mi and mi dawgs dem roll
Any violation
Nah talk
A Di Teacha (Addijah)
[Chorus:]
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
Hey Popcaan...
[Verse 1:]
When badman a party
Mi nuh left mi fat shorty
Gaza nuh boxer and mi nuh have black
Belt inna karate
Danger we mek you disappear shortly
From mi a likkle bit a bwoy inna khaki
No man
Never to back talk me (no sah)
Addi woulda start world war three
And this a nuh sucky you can't bawl cree
You better seh weh you seh
Mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Seh weh you seh, mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Do weh mi wah fi do, do weh mi wah fi do
[Chorus:]
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
Hey...
[Verse 2:]
You can't diss Addijah Di Teacha di man dem
A Gaza we rise every creature
And deliver di beef to di door like toppings
Pon a Domino Pizza
How you fi hype and you never know Lisa
Something a go fly and mi know seh a nuh visa (a visa)
Visa rhyme with freezer
You nah go heaven cah you wasn't a believa
You never believe mi head hotta than fever
That's why yuh seh weh you seh
Mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Seh weh you seh, mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Do weh mi wah fi do, do weh mi wah fi do
[Chorus:]
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
A di Teacha,
Addijah...
Veli Kumrili
Hey Huggins,
Dem bwoy deh a nuh thugs
Some likkle fool diss dem
Dem cya talk
Mi and mi dawgs dem roll
Any violation
Nah talk
A Di Teacha (Addijah)
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
Hey Popcaan
When badman a party
Mi nuh left mi fat shorty
Gaza nuh boxer and mi nuh have black
Belt inna karate
Danger we mek you disappear shortly
From mi a likkle bit a bwoy inna khaki
No man
Never to back talk me (no sah)
Addi woulda start world war three
And this a nuh sucky you can't bawl cree
You better seh weh you seh
Mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Seh weh you seh, mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Do weh mi wah fi do, do weh mi wah fi do
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
Hey
You can't diss Addijah Di Teacha di man dem
A Gaza we rise every creature
And deliver di beef to di door like toppings
Pon a Domino Pizza
How you fi hype and you never know Lisa
Something a go fly and mi know seh a nuh visa (a visa)
Visa rhyme with freezer
You nah go heaven cah you wasn't a believa
You never believe mi head hotta than fever
That's why yuh seh weh you seh
Mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Seh weh you seh, mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Do weh mi wah fi do, do weh mi wah fi do
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
A di Teacha,
Addijah
Naz Ward
Still listening to it in 2022 and will be for many yearsssss❤️💯🔥🔥🔥#FREEWORLDBOSS!!!🗝
D Catalino
☄️
Delon Thomas
Forever yes
Onilisa Charles
Damn love this artiste, was so pleased to have passed through his hometown of Portmore when I visited Jamaica in May of this year and the fact that I was able to see him perform at his last concert here in my island of Tobago in 2011 is a great feeling for me.. Love you Vybz Kartel, locked up or free, you are still a LYRICAL BOSSSSSS!!!!!!! Your music has a vibration, i just cant put my finger on it... Adidjah Palmer.. addi di teacha
Python
[Intro:]
Hey Huggins,
Dem bwoy deh a nuh thugs
Some likkle fool diss dem
Dem cya talk
Mi and mi dawgs dem roll
Any violation
Nah talk
A Di Teacha (Addijah)
[Chorus:]
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
Hey Popcaan...
[Verse 1:]
When badman a party
Mi nuh left mi fat shorty
Gaza nuh boxer and mi nuh have black
Belt inna karate
Danger we mek you disappear shortly
From mi a likkle bit a bwoy inna khaki
No man
Never to back talk me (no sah)
Addi woulda start world war three
And this a nuh sucky you can't bawl cree
You better seh weh you seh
Mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Seh weh you seh, mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Do weh mi wah fi do, do weh mi wah fi do
[Chorus:]
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
Hey...
[Verse 2:]
You can't diss Addijah Di Teacha di man dem
A Gaza we rise every creature
And deliver di beef to di door like toppings
Pon a Domino Pizza
How you fi hype and you never know Lisa
Something a go fly and mi know seh a nuh visa (a visa)
Visa rhyme with freezer
You nah go heaven cah you wasn't a believa
You never believe mi head hotta than fever
That's why yuh seh weh you seh
Mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Seh weh you seh, mek mi do weh mi wah fi do
Do weh mi wah fi do, do weh mi wah fi do
[Chorus:]
You coulda dead
Mi don't like run
Soh mi nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi nah wait
Til night come down
Mi just nah go no weh without my own
Without my own, without my own
Mi a di last man standing, last man standing
Cah mi don't like run, mi don't like run
Mi don't like run
Cah when you see Gaza a party
Come test if you think mi left my own
Mi left my own, mi left
A di Teacha,
Addijah...
Crazy People Thing
Dkskdkd fnkd
Dwayne Walker
Real Gaza boss
Negus Tafari
2030 this song is still hot 😏
Mixtaper
"Yo cyah diss Adidja di teaha
Di man dem a gaza, wi rise evry creacha
An deliva di beef to yo door like toppings....pan a domino pizza
How yo fi hype an yo neva know Lisa
Somin ago fly an mi know seh ano visa"
That bar is crazy and it's almost 10 years old, Kartel is arguably one of the best lyricist, period. Not just in Dancehall.
Brocco 420 TV
True