Kardinal Offishall

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Kardinal Offishall
Image:Mixtapesusa 1935 16650139.gif On the cover of Canadian Coke
Background information
Birth name	Jason Harrow
Also known as	Kardi, Celebrity Face, Mr. Kardinal
Born	May 21, 1976 (age 30)
Origin	Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre(s)	Toronto hip hop Canadian hip hop East Coast hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper, Producer
Years active	1997 - Present
Label(s)	Konvict Muzik
Associated acts	Black Jays
Website	Offishall Website

Kardinal Offishall (born Jason Harrow on May 21, 1976 in Scarborough, Ontario) is a Canadian hip-hop MC and producer of Jamaican descent.

Kardinal is often viewed 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. Kardinal blends soul, dancehall, reggae and hip-hop to create a truly unique sound.

Contents 1 General Info 2 Trivia 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 Mixtapes 3.3 Singles 3.4 Other Collaborations 4 Awards 5 External links

General Info

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. Kardinal was also credited as a major contributor to the late 90's renaissance of Canadian hip hop. 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 in 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, Bounty Killer, Stat Quo, Pharoahe Monch, Vybz Kartel, Rihanna, Snow, Pete Rock, 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 Richmond Hill, Ontario (a Toronto suburb). He has also appeared on mixtapes from Clinton Sparks and DJ Green Lantern.

Recent collaboration has seen Kardinal working alongside 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 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). Kardinal will release his follow up to Fire and Glory with his first album on Konvict Muzik entitled Not for Sale. Akon will executive produce the album, which will be Kardinal's second worldwide release and is scheduled for summer of 2007.

Trivia

• In 2006, Kardi became an expert panelist for the MuchMusic VJ Search program.

• Kardi is also an occasional judge on MuchMusic's Video On Trial.

• Kardi stands 6'4" tall.

• Kardi has a communications degree from York University.

• Kardi has an outtie belly button.

• 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]

Discography

Albums

Album cover	Album information
Image:Eyei.jpg	Eye & I Released: 1997 CRIA Certification: N/A RIAA Certification: N/A Singles: "On Wit Da Show"
Image:Quest For Fire.jpg	Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 Released: May 22, 2001 CRIA Certification: Gold RIAA Certification: N/A Singles: "BaKardi Slang", "Ol' Time Killin'", "Husslin'", "Money Jane", "Powerfulll"
Image:Fire and glory.jpg	Fire and Glory Released: November 22, 2005 CRIA Certification: N/A RIAA Certification: N/A Singles: "Everyday (Rudebwoy)", "Heads Up", "Feel Alright"
	Not for Sale Released: Summer 2007 CRIA Certification: TBA RIAA Certification: TBA Singles: TBA

Mixtapes

• DJ Cipha Sounds - Fahrenheit/416 (2004)
• Kill Bloodclott Bill (Black Jays) (2004)
• DJ Cipha Sounds - They Call It Murrrda! (2006)
• DJ Whoo Kid & Kardinal Offishall - Canadian Coke (2006)

Singles

• "On Wit Da Show"
• "Northern Touch" (Rascalz featuring Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Checkmate & Thrust)
• "Husslin'"
• "Money Jane" (featuring Sean Paul & Jully Black)
• "BaKardi Slang"
• "Ol' Time Killin'" (featuring Jully Black, IRS & Wio-K)
• "Powerfulll" (featuring Jully Black)
• "Belly Dancer" (featuring Pharrell)
• "Heads Up"
• "Everyday (Rudebwoy)" (featuring Ray Robinson)
• "Feel Alright"
• "Last Standing Soldier" (Remix featuring Bedouin Soundclash)

Other Collaborations

• "Ladies And Gentlemen" (Tyree featuring Kardinal Offishall & Deach)
• "Diddy Bop" (Remix) (Red Cafe featuring Kardinal Offishall, Fabolous, Cocoa Chanelle & Currency)
• "BaKardi Slang Refix" (featuring Bounty Killer)
• "Ol' Time Killin'" (Remix) (featuring Busta Rhymes)
• "Still Too Much" (Ghetto Concept featuring Kardinal Offishall, Snow, Maestro, Red-1 & Ironside)
• "Grindin'" (Selector Remix) (Clipse featuring Kardinal Offishall, Sean Paul & Bless)
• "Sick" (featuring Bounty Killer)
• "Hurt You" (featuring Pharoahe Monch)
• "Back For More" (Glenn Lewis featuring Kardinal Offishall)
• "We Good" (Pete Rock featuring Kardinal Offishall)
• "Baby Come On" (Method Man featuring Kardinal Offishall)
• "Kill The Dance" (Akon featuring Kardinal Offishall)
• "Rush" (Rihanna featuring Kardinal Offishall)
• "E.G.G. (Everybody Gone Gangsta)" (featuring Vybz Kartel)
• "Block Reincarnated" (Remix) (Shawnna featuring Kardinal Offishall)
• "Fire" (Lindo P featuring Kardinal Offishall)
• "Toma" (DJ Buddha Remix) (Pitbull featuring Lil Jon, Mr. Vegas, Wayne Marshall, Red Rat, T.O.K. & Kardinal Offishall)
• "Officer Down" (featuring 50 Cent)
• "Cross That Line" (Remix) (Little Brother featuring Kardinal Offishall & Mick Boogie)
• "Power Hustlers" with Nas (mix made by DJ Green Lantern)

Awards

• Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year for Rascalz' "Northern Touch"
• Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year for producing Choclair's "Let's Ride"
• SOCAN Award for "Husslin'"
• 3 MuchMusic Video Awards (Best Video, Best Director and VideoFACT Award) for "Everyday (Rudebwoy)"

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