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Infobox musical artist| name = Kardinal Offishall| image = ETalk2008-Kardinall_Offishall.jpg| caption = Kardinal Offishall at eTalk in 2008.| image_size = 250px| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Jason D. Harrow| birth_date = birth date and age|mf=yes|1976|5|12| origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada| genre = Canadian hip hop , Dancehall | occupation = Rapping|Rapper , songwriter, record producer| years_active = 1994-present| label = MCA Records , Kon Live Distribution , Geffen Records , Konvict | associated_acts = Akon , Black Jays , Sean Paul , Colby O'Donis , Rihanna , 50 Cent , T-Pain , Nottz Jason D. Harrow cite web|url= http://www.mtv.com/lyrics/offishall_kardinal/money_jane_remix/2289979/lyrics.jhtml |title=MTV |publisher=MTV |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02 (born May 12, 1976),Allmusic|class=artist|id=p423368|pure_url=yes Kardinal Offishall > Overview Allmusic. Accessed on November 16, 2009. better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall (IPAc-en|icon|k|?r|d|?|'|n|ć|l|_|o?|f|?|'|?|ć|l),cite web|url= http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/video-archive/transcript/kardinal_offishall__its_official/transcript |title=Red Bull Music Academy |publisher=Red Bull Music Academy |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02 is a Canadians|Canadian rapping|rapper and record producer. He is often credited as Canada's " hip hop music|hip-hop ambassador", and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall -influenced style of hip-hop.cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp? pid=390263 |title=Billboard |publisher=Billboard |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02cite web|url= http://www.xxlmag.com/online/? p=1477 |title=XXL Magazine |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02
In 1997, Kardinal released his debut album, Eye & I , on independent label Capitol Hill Music , to critical acclaim. http://www.octopusmediaink.com/CitizenHipHop.html Kinder, Gentler Rap, Eh? Ottawa Citizen . Accessed on October 15, 2009. In 2000, he released the EP, '' Husslin' '', also independently on Figure IV Entertainment , which helped establish him as one of Canada's best hip-hop producers.Allmusic|class=album|id=r471440|pure_url=yes Husslin' > Overview Allmusic. Accessed on October 15, 2009.Allmusic|class=artist|id=p423368|pure_url=yes Kardinal Offishall > Biography Allmusic. Accessed on October 15, 2009. The same year, Kardinal signed with major label MCA Records , and released his second album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 in 2001. The lead single , " BaKardi Slang ", became his first single to appear on a U.S. Billboard (magazine)|Billboard chart.Allmusic|class=artist|id=p423368|pure_url=yes Kardinal Offishall > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles Allmusic. Accessed on October 15, 2009. After releasing the single " Belly Dancer (Kardinal Offishall song)|Belly Dancer " in 2003, he left MCA Records after it was absorbed by Geffen Records . http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx? csid1=75& csid2=778& fid1=4464 Kardinal Offishall - Man on Fire Exclaim! . Accessed on October 15, 2009.
In 2005, Kardinal released his third album, Fire and Glory , on the Canadian division of Virgin Records . The single " Everyday (Rudebwoy) " became a top twenty hit in Canada. In 2008, his fourth album Not 4 Sale (Kardinal Offishall album)|Not 4 Sale was released on Kon Live Distribution , a subsidiary of Geffen Records. The album was a critical success, spawning the hit single " Dangerous (Kardinal Offishall song)|Dangerous ". The single was his first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100| Billboard Hot 100 , peaking at number five. Kardinal will release his fifth album—his second under Kon Live Distribution— Mr. International (album)|Mr. International in 2012.
Biography
Early life and career beginnings
Harrow was born in Scarborough, Ontario ,cite web|url= http://www.whaddat.com/miccheck/kardi.html |title=Whaddat? |publisher=Whaddat.com |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02cite web|last=McKinnon |first=Matthew |url= http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/canadianhiphop.html |title=CBC |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=2005-03-22 |accessdate=2011-03-02 in Toronto's east end, and raised by Jamaica n immigrant parents. From the ages of 2 to 13, he lived in the city's Flemingdon Park neighbourhood. He moved back to Scarborough for two years, before finally settling in Oakwood–Vaughan , in the city's west end. http://www.hiphopcanada.com/2008/09/interview-kardinal-offishall/ Kardinal Offishall Interview& #93; HipHopCanada. Accessed on January 22, 2011. http://www.chartattack.com/news/64693/kardis-second-key-2-the-city Kardi's Second Key 2 The City CHARTattack. Accessed on January 22, 2011.cite web|author=Mike Ross |url= http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/O/Offishall_Kardinal/2006/02/17/1447418.html |title=Jam& #33; Showbiz |publisher=Jam.canoe.ca |date=2006-02-17 |accessdate=2011-03-02 While in high school, he would throw parties at the Alexandra Park, Toronto|Alexandra Park Community Centre. He also is a former York University student but did not complete his degree.cite web|url= http://yorkisu.smugmug.com/2010-2011/Yorks-52nd-Birthday/17251714_GKr3Gs#!i=1309695455& k=Q62cMNZ& lb=1& s=A |title=York University's 52nd Birthday |publisher=York University |date= |accessdate=2012-02-16
He started rapping at the age of eight and was winning competitions by the time he was 12. Also at the age of 12, he performed live and on stage for the first time, with Nelson Mandela in attendance during Mandela's first visit to Toronto.cite web|url= http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/1997/022797/music1.html |title=Montreal Mirror |publisher=Montreal Mirror |date=1997-02-27 |accessdate=2011-03-02 By 1993, he decided to change his alias "KoolAid", and went by the moniker "Kardinal Offishall" after being inspired by the great 17th century French politician Cardinal Richelieu .cite web|url= http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp? layid=22& csid=1& csid1=4483 |title=Exclaim |publisher=Exclaim.ca |date= |accessdate=2011-03-02
1996-1999: Eye & I
Kardinal was signed to a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music|Warner/Chappell Music Canada at the age of 20. Citation needed|date=February 2009 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 Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year|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 . The album received rave reviews from music critics. http://www.octopusmediaink.com/CitizenHipHop.html Kinder, Gentler Rap, Eh? Ottawa Citizen. Accessed on November 1, 2008. http://www.seemagazine.com/Issues/1998/0625/cover1.html Kardinal Offishall, with guests SEE. Accessed on October 21, 2009. Allmusic stated that Kardinal "blended soul, dancehall, reggae, hip-hop, and a wholly inventive approach to beats on his 20-track debut album, Eye & I ."Allmusic|class=artist|id=p423368|pure_url=yes Kardinal Offishall > Biography Allmusic. Accessed on November 1, 2008. Unfortunately, the album was poorly distributed in Canada, and a lack of radio support resulted in the album receiving limited commercial attention. http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/coverstory.aspx? csid1=75 Kardinal Offishall - Man on Fire Exclaim!. Accessed on November 1, 2008. Over 4,000 copies of the album were sold in its first three months of release. In 1998, he was featured on the Juno Award|Juno -winning single " Northern Touch " with the Rascalz , Choclair , Checkmate (rapper)|Checkmate and Thrust (rapper)|Thrust .
2000-2003: ''Husslin' and Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1
''Husslin''' was an extended play|EP , released April 11, 2000. It was released independently on Figure IV Entertainment and distributed by Fat Beats Records in the United States. The title track, " Husslin' (song)|Husslin' ", was one of the hottest 12-inch single|12" singles of 2000.Allmusic|class=album|id=r471440|pure_url=yes Husslin' > Overview Allmusic. Accessed on October 19, 2008. "And What? ", featuring Saukrates , was released as a single in 1999. "Husslin'" and "Mic T.H.U.G.S." also appear on Kardinal's second studio album, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 . An updated version of "U R Ghetto When", known as "U R Ghetto 2002", is on the Quest for Fire album. 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' ".One year after its release, 25,000 copies of the album were sold in Canada. http://www.hiphopcanada.com/2002/07/has-canadian-hip-hop-truly-arrived-article/ Has Canadian hip-hop truly "arrived"? HipHopCanada. Accessed on October 18, 2009. It received generally favorable reviews from music critics. The Source (magazine)|The Source gave the album 3˝ out of 5 mics. RapReviews.com gave it a 7/10 rating, calling it a "mixed bag," and stating "there are also some perfect 10's to be found here." http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2002_02_firevol1.html Kardinal Offishall :: Firestarter Vol. 1 * Quest For Fire RapReviews. Accessed on September 24, 2009. The A.V. Club gave the album a favorable review, praising it's "impressive musical and lyrical consistency." http://www.avclub.com/articles/kardinal-offishall-firestarter-volume-1-quest-for,18359/ Firestarter Volume 1: Quest For Fire The A.V. Club. Accessed on October 18, 2009. Allmusic gave it 2˝ out of 5 stars, noting that Kardinal "displays only flashes of promise here."Allmusic|class=album|id=r532969|pure_url=yes Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 > Overview Allmusic. Accessed on September 24, 2009. The album was nominated for Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year|Best Rap Recording at the Juno Awards of 2002|2002 Juno Awards .
After MCA folded in 2003, Kardinal's highly anticipated follow up album Firestarter Vol. 2: The F-Word Theory was shelved along with the single/video for " Belly Dancer (Kardinal Offishall song)|Belly Dancer " featuring Pharrell Williams|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
2004-2007: Fire and Glory & Not 4 Sale
in 2004 with his production company, 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". RapReviews.com gave the album an 8.5/10 rating, stating " Fire and Glory is a better album than Firestarter Vol. 1 ," and "aside from having better lyrics than most of his counterparts, Kardinal's unique style also sets him apart." http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2007_01_fireandglory.html Kardinal Offishall :: Fire and Glory RapReviews. Accessed on September 28, 2009. The album was nominated for Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year|Rap Recording of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2006|2006 Juno Awards .
Not 4 Sale is the fourth studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall, released September 9, 2008 on Kon Live/Geffen Records. Its his second international major-label album, after 2001's Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 . It was a critical success, spawning the top 5 Billboard Hot 100 single "Dangerous", and the minor hit "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)". 11,869 copies of the album were sold in the United States, in its first week of release. It debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 40. As of February 15, 2009, the album has sold 34,822 copies. In Canada, it debuted at number 8 on the Canadian Albums Chart, with 4,247 copies sold in the first week. The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Allmusic gave it 4 out of 5 stars, calling it "an entirely solid album", also stating "this freedom fighting and socially conscious writing is tempered with hooky club tracks that never fail."14 USA Today gave it 3 out of 4 stars, noting "his potent blend of hip-hop and dancehall gives him a flavor all his own."PopMatters gave the album a 6/10 rating, writing "although many of the tracks here are glossy pop productions, Kardinal has not really changed since he was first heard in the '90s."The album won the award for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards.
2008-present: Mr International
In 2008, he was featured on Just Dance (RedOne Remix) by Lady Gaga, part of the EP "Just Dance (Remixes, Pt. 2)". In 2010, he was included in the Young Artists for Haiti 's version of " Wavin' Flag " in an effort to raise money for disaster relief. He starred along with many Canadian stars. Also in 2010, he was featured in Raghav 's single " So Much (song)|So Much ".
Discography
Main|Kardinal Offishall discography|Kardinal Offishall production discography
Eye & I (1997)
Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 (2001)
Fire and Glory (2005)
Not 4 Sale (Kardinal Offishall album)|Not 4 Sale (2008)
A.M.T.R.I.M. (Allow Me To Re-Introduce Myself) (with Nottz ) (2012)
Mr. International (2012)
Awards
1999: Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year for Rascalz ' "Northern Touch"
2000: Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year for producing Choclair 's "Let's Ride"
2000: SOCAN Award for "Husslin'"
2001: MuchMusic Video Awards|MuchMusic Video Award - MuchVibe Best Rap Video (MMVA Award)|Best Rap Video for "Money Jane"
2002: SOCAN Award for "Money Jane"
2004: Canadian Urban Music Awards|Canadian Urban Music Award for "Empty Barrel"
2006: 3 MuchMusic Video Awards - Best Video (MMVA Award)|Best Video , Best Director (MMVA Award)|Best Director (RT!) and VideoFACT Award for "Everyday (Rudebwoy)"
2009: Juno Award for Single of the Year for "Dangerous"; Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year for Not 4 Sale
2009: SOCAN Urban Music Award for "Dangerous"
See also
Portal box|Music of Canada|Hip hop
Canadian hip hop
Music of Canada
Clear
References
Reflist
External links
myspace|kardinaloffishall
youtube|user=kardinaloffishall416
Twitter|KardinalO
imdbname|0644416
http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/381/a_blessing_in_disguise/ Kardinal Offishall interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' February 2009
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/canadianhiphop.html Border Block - Canadian Hip Hop vs. America
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=MaXRGpEdQiQ Interview with DJ Stallion
http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/video-archive/lectures/kardinal_offishall__its_official Kardinal Offishall RBMA video lecture session
Kardinal Offishall Persondata | NAME = | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = May 12, 1976 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH =
DEFAULTSORT:Offishall, Kardinall Category:1976 births Category:Black Canadian musicians Category:Canadian rappers Category:Geffen Records artists Category:Canadian people of Jamaican descent Category:Juno Award winners Category:Living people Category:Midwest hip hop musicians Category:MCA Records artists Category:Musicians from Toronto Category:People from Scarborough, Ontario Category:People from York, Toronto Category:Reality television judges Category:Reggae fusion artists Category:York University alumni Category:Canadian hip hop record producers
