Kardinal Offishall

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Kardinal Offishall

Background information
Birth name Jason Harrow
Also known as Kardi, Celebrity Face, Mr. Kardinal
Born May 11, 1976 (1976-05-11) (age 32)
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre(s) Canadian hip hop
East Coast hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper, Producer
Years active 1996–Present
Label(s) MCA Records (2000–2003)
Konvict Muzik (2006–Present)
Associated acts Black Jays, Akon, T-Pain
Website Official Website

Jason Harrow (born May 11, 1976 in Scarborough, Ontario), better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall (pronounced /ˈkɑːrdɪnæl oʊfɪˈʃæl/), is a Canadian hip-hop MC and producer of Jamaican descent.

Kardinal is often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador"[1], and along with MC's such as Saukrates and Maestro Fresh Wes, he's arguably the most popular.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Kardinal started rapping at the age of eight and was winning competitions by the time he was 12. Also at the age of 12, Kardinal performed live and on stage for the first time, with Nelson Mandela in attendance during his first visit to Toronto.[2] By 1993, he decided to drop his alias "KoolAid", and went by the moniker Kardinal Offishall after being inspired by the great 17th century French politician Cardinal Richelieu.[3]

Kardinal was signed to a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Canada at the age of 20. In 1996, he released his first single "Naughty Dread", which was featured on the Rap Essentials Volume One compilation and earned him a Juno Award nomination for Best Rap Recording. In 1997, Kardinal released his debut album Eye & I on Capitol Hill Music. The only single from the album, "On Wit Da Show", had considerable video play on MuchMusic. In 1998, he was featured on the Juno-winning single "Northern Touch" with the Rascalz, Choclair, Checkmate and Thrust.

In 2000, Kardinal signed with MCA Records. He released the album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 in 2001, which spawned the hits "BaKardi Slang" and "Ol' Time Killin'". The album earned a gold certification in Canada. After MCA folded in 2003, Kardinal's highly anticipated follow up album Firestarter Vol. 2: F Word Theory was shelved along with the single/video for "Belly Dancer" featuring Pharrell, and Kardinal eventually found himself without a label. Had the album been released, there would have been production from Timbaland and The Neptunes, among others. He released an independent mixtape titled Kill Bloodclott Bill in 2004 with his production company, The Black Jays, and he also released his second major-label album titled Fire and Glory on November 15, 2005, through Virgin Records in Canada only. Hits on Fire and Glory include "Everyday (Rudebwoy)" and "Heads Up".

Kardinal has also produced many songs, including the hit single "Let's Ride" by Choclair, whose album Ice Cold went gold in 35 days and would win them a Juno in 2000. However, it was with the Black Jays team when Kardinal received notoriety for his production work. In 2004, Kardinal and Solitair of the Black Jays created a remix version of Jay-Z's The Black Album and called it The Black Jays Album. Kardinal also did some production on Kill Bloodcott Bill and produced 9.5 out of the 14 tracks on Fire and Glory.

He is one of the few Canadian hip hop artists that have an international audience and has collaborated with artists such as Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Sean Paul, Spragga Benz, Bounty Killer, Little Brother, Stat Quo, Pharoahe Monch, Vybz Kartel, Rihanna, Snow, Pete Rock, T-Pain, Prince Paul, Chali 2na, Lil Wayne and Akon. A-List producers, The Neptunes requested Kardinal appear on the remix to their smash hit production “Grindin'” with Clipse. The remix was well received across North America, particularly in New York City.

To date, Kardinal is the only Canadian urban act to appear on BET’s Rap City (even freestyling in the booth with Big Tigger), and on MTV’s Advance Warning (which introduces the world to artists on the verge of breaking big, like former guest Kanye West). Kardinal has made brief guest appearances in Rihanna's "Pon De Replay" music video, and Sean Paul's "Get Busy" video, which was shot in Woodbridge, Ontario (a Toronto suburb). He has also appeared on mixtapes from Clinton Sparks and DJ Green Lantern.

In 2006, Kardinal collaborated with Akon, Cipha Sounds, DJ Whoo Kid, and various members of the Black Jays family, among others. At the 2006 MuchMusic Video Awards, Kardinal walked away with 3 awards for "Everyday (Rudebwoy)", including Best Video, Best Director (RT!) and VideoFACT Award. At the MMVA's, he announced that he had an upcoming collaboration with the Canadian Reggae Band Bedouin Soundclash, now known as the single "Last Standing Soldier" (Remix).


[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • In 2006, Kardinal became an expert panelist for the MuchMusic VJ Search program.
  • Kardinal is also an occasional judge on MuchMusic's Video On Trial.
  • Kardinal stands 6'4" tall.
  • The ill-fated single "Belly Dancer" featuring Pharrell was inspired by Naomi Campbell's presence in the studio, just before the track was being produced. [4]
  • After a successful performance at Toronto's Caribana festival which included an appearance from Jay-Z, Kardinal was offered a spot on Jay-Z's Roc-La-Familia label which he ultimately turned down.
  • Kardinal was part of a collective known as "The Circle" with Saukrates, Choclair, Jully Black, IRS, Wio-K, and others.
  • Kardinal has family that extends in America, Jamaica, and England.
  • Kardinal received a communications degree from York University.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Album information
Eye & I
Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1
Fire and Glory
Not 4 Sale

[edit] Mixtapes and EPs

  • Husslin' (2000)
  • DJ Cipha Sounds - Fahrenheit/416 (2004)
  • Kill Bloodclott Bill (2004)
  • DJ Cipha Sounds - They Call It Murrrda! (2006)
  • DJ Whoo Kid & Kardinal Offishall - Canadian Coke (2006)
  • Clinton Sparks Presents: Do The Right Thing (2007)

[edit] Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
CAN US
1997 "Naughty Dread" — — Eye & I
1998 "On Wit Da Show" 91 —
1998 "Northern Touch" (Rascalz featuring Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Checkmate & Thrust) 41 — Cash Crop
2000 "Husslin'" — — Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1
2000 "Money Jane" (Baby Blue Soundcrew featuring Kardinal Offishall, Sean Paul & Jully Black) 24 —
2001 "BaKardi Slang" 19 —
2001 "Ol' Time Killin'" (featuring Jully Black) 32 —
2001 "Powerfulll" (featuring Jully Black) — —
2005 "Heads Up" — — Fire & Glory
2005 "Everyday (Rudebwoy) (featuring Ray Robinson) 16 —
2006 "Feel Alright" 40 —
2008 "Dangerous" (featuring Akon) 7 40 Not 4 Sale

[edit] Other Collaborations

[edit] Awards

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ XXL Mag
  2. ^ Montreal Mirror
  3. ^ Exclaim
  4. ^ New Realm

[edit] External links

Languages