The meaning of “Summer Time” is simple. It is Vybz Kartel’s celebration of the Jamaican summer holidays: the heat, pool and beach parties, and the island’s best-known summer party events.
The song marked a shift away from Kartel’s gun-toting songs and reminded listeners how versatile the Portmore native could be as a musician.
World Music Views wrote in 2025 that the song moved from darker, gun-centric themes to a more upbeat, carefree celebration of Jamaica’s sun-soaked season.
Release and Credits
“Summer Time” came out in 2011. Apple Music lists the single with a 2011 date, and producer Adde Instrumentals’ own SoundCloud upload labels it “Vybz Kartel – Summer Time (May 2011).” Adidja Palmer is credited as the composer. Palmer is Kartel’s legal name.
The producer was Andreas Nilsson of Adde Instrumentals, who is based in Stockholm and went on to contribute heavily to Kartel’s catalog.
The Jamaica Observer reported in 2025 that the song was released through Tads Records. Kirk Lee directed the music video, which became a staple of Caribbean party culture with its poolside scenes and dancers.
A 2024 DJ mix blog credits the riddim to TJ Records. However, DancehallMag, the Jamaica Observer and Nilsson’s own publisher all credit Adde Instrumentals, so this article follows their credit.
Kartel’s song was the lead track on a riddim compilation. Adidjahiem Records and Adde Productions produced the Summertime Riddim, released in 2011.
Other songs on the riddim included Shawn Storm’s “Naa Lie,” Sheba’s “No Styling” and “Always” by Vanessa Bling (Gaza Slim). Popcaan’s “Ravin” was also on it.
Hip-Hop and Politics reported in 2013 that the riddim received a nomination for “Best Caribbean Performance” at the 2011 Soul Train Awards.
Nilsson has described how he started working with Kartel. He told FactMag in 2014 that his first riddim sent to Kartel became “Bike Back,” and that Kartel went on to voice “Summer Time,” “Open Up” and “Bubble Hard” on later riddims he sent. Nilsson also recalled that when Kartel first contacted him, he “thought it was a joke.”
The Lyrics Explained
The first verse invites everyone out into the sun. Kartel urges listeners to get a sun tan, jokes that people who bleach their skin should go back home, and tells them to grab an umbrella because the sun is burning.
The chorus announces the holiday. It says summer is here and school is closed. The second verse turns up the heat, describing 90 degrees in the shade.
Kartel places the song in his home community. He name-checks Portmore as where he comes from. The chorus then moves the party through Portmore, Kingston, the country and “my scheme”, which makes the song a summer anthem for all of Jamaica.
The line about relaxing in the shade with Street Vybz Rum refers to Kartel’s own liquor brand. Wikipedia notes that production of Street Vybz Rum stopped in 2011 after a disagreement between Kartel and his partner Corey Todd. Years later, Kartel officially launched STR8 Vybz Rum in November 2024.
The verse also mentions Uptown, ATI, Dream Weekend and Smudge, which were fixtures of Jamaica’s summer party calendar.
According to a 2016 Jamaica Observer history, the promoters behind Dream Weekend began staging signature events in Negril during the Emancipation and Independence celebrations in the early 2000s.
Once Dream Weekend was formed, ATI rebranded using the Negril parties that were not part of Dream Weekend. Kartel also had a hand in that rivalry: he voiced Dream’s first set of dubs, which became campaign songs and radio ads.
Reception and Legacy
In a 2022 ranking of Kartel’s most lyrical verses, DancehallMag included the song’s first verse. The outlet credited the song with bringing back slow, rub-a-dub dancing, a style largely missing from mainstream parties at the time.
The song has continued to grow years after its release. Summertime” passed 100 million YouTube views on June 25, 2023, becoming Kartel’s first song as a solo or lead artist to reach that milestone.
As of June 2025, the official video had more than 111 million YouTube views, and World Music Views reported 49 million Spotify streams.
On June 27, 2025, the British Phonographic Industry certified the 2011 hit silver in the United Kingdom for more than 200,000 units in sales and streaming equivalents. It was Kartel’s second UK silver certification, after “Fever” earned the same honor in 2023.
The Bottom Line
“Summer Time” is a feel-good holiday anthem. It is rooted in Portmore, full of references to Jamaica’s party scene, and built on a Swedish producer’s riddim.
More than a decade after its 2011 release, it has kept growing, reaching new streaming milestones and a UK certification in 2025.
