Kardinal Offishall

Biography

Jason Drew Harrow (born May 11, 1976), better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall ( kardi-NAL ohfi-SHAL), is a Canadian rapper and record producer. Often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador", he has been regarded as one of the country's most prominent hip-hop producers during the 2000s and is distinctive for his reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip-hop.
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Harrow began his career in the city's mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene, when he formed the hip-hop group the Circle. He released his debut studio album, Eye & I×Eye & IDecember 1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Breakdown (Keep Moving)4:422On Wid Da Show4:063Da Brown4:134Hint-A-Lude0:435Mysteries4:346P.W.O.T.4:037My Niah4:148Madmoizellez4:519Hint-A-Lude0:1010Make It Happen4:5311W.I. Philosophi1:2612Sweet Marie4:0213Bellee Buss (Don't Make Me Laugh)3:2414LoLo1:5615King of Da Hill4:3216Elle A3:5717Jeevin' (Life)5:1618Naughty Dread, Part II4:4019Hint-A-Lude0:3020Friday Night3:18 (1997) and extended play (EP), Husslin'×Husslin'2000 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1MIC T.H.U.G.S.2Husslin'3U R Ghetto When4And What?5MIC T.H.U.G.S. (clean)6U R Ghetto When (clean) (2000) independently before signing with MCA Records in 2000. His second album and major label debut, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 (2001), moderately entered the Canadian Albums Chart and was supported by his first Canadian Singles Chart entries: "Ol' Time Killin'×Ol' Time Killin'2001 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Ol' Time Killin' (Radio Edit Version).4:002Ol' Time Killin' (Instrumental)4:003Money Jane (Remix)3:564Maxine (Radio Edit Version)4:275Maxine (TV Track)4:006Ol' Time Killin' (LP Version)4:39" and "BaKardi Slang"—the latter of which popularized Toronto's nickname "T-dot". He failed to release the album's sequel on MCA, in part due to the label's absorption by Geffen Records prior to its release. Harrow's third album, Fire and Glory×Fire and Glory15 November 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Last Standing Soldier4:462E.G.G. (Everybody Gone Gangsta)4:173Heads Up3:174Everyday (Rudebwoy)5:065The Best Man4:026Freshie4:397Sunday4:368Kayasarasara5:069Neva New (till I Kissed You)4:1010Mr. Officer4:0711Watchalike3:2512Fire and Glory4:2613Feel Alright3:5814All the Way6:3115[static]11:3216[silence]0:00 (2003), was released by Virgin Records; despite widespread critical praise, it was met with commercial stagnation and became his only release with the label.
He then signed with Senegalese-American singer Akon's record label KonLive Distribution, an imprint of Geffen Records in 2007 to release his fourth album, Not 4 Sale×Not 4 Sale1 January 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Burnt - clean Album Version4:562Set It Off - clean Album Version4:383Dangerous (Edited)4:064Digital Motown (Edited)3:475Gimme Some (Edited)4:166Bad Like We Bad (Edited)3:407Numba 1 (Tide Is High) - final3:448Ill Eagle Alien (Edited)4:519Nina (Edited)3:1410Go Home With You (Edited)4:1711Going In (Edited)4:0012Bring The Fire Out (Edited)3:0613Family Tree (Still Eyerize) (Edited)4:0214Due Me A Favour (Edited)6:2315Lighter! (Edited)4:12 (2008). Its lead single, "Dangerous" (featuring Akon) peaked at number two on the then-newly established Canadian Hot 100, number five of the US Billboard Hot 100, and received quadruple platinum certification by Music Canada (MC). The song yielded his furthest commercial success, and was followed by his guest performance alongside Colby O'Donis on Akon's single "Beautiful" that same year, which peaked within the top 20 of the latter chart. Not 4 Sale debuted at number eight on the Canadian Albums Chart, number 40 on the Billboard 200, and spawned the Canadian Hot 100-top 40 single "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" (remix versions featuring Keri Hilson/Rihanna/Nicole Scherzinger), which received gold certification by MC. His 2010 single, "Body Bounce" (featuring Akon), peaked within the top 20 of the chart and received platinum certification, although he parted ways with KonLive later that year.
An independent artist once more, he formed the record label Black Stone Colleagues shortly after, although in 2013, Harrow was named the creative executive director of Universal Music Canada's A&R division. Two years later, he released his fifth album, Kardi Gras, Vol. 1: The Clash×Kardi Gras, Vol. 1: The Clash30 October 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Hope5:392Baby It's U!3:483OG4:284No Reason3:585To Kill a Shadow5:066C.O.D4:097Real Live Gangsta (They Say)5:008Always Carnival Time3:549Insert Here3:1710One Dream Away4:3011The Naked Truth4:1012Sunshine3:4613That Chick Right There3:4814Do Dat Dance4:1215I'm Just a Man4:3516Tattoo (Rudebwoy)3:25 (2015) to moderate success. In April 2021, he was promoted to senior vice-president of A&R for Universal Music Canada.

Early life and career beginnings

Harrow was born in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, and raised by Jamaican 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. While in high school, he would throw parties at the Alexandra Park Community Centre. He also is a former York University student (Philosophy) but did not complete his degree.
He started rapping at the age of eight and was winning competitions by the time he was 12. At age 14, he performed live on stage for the first time, with Nelson Mandela in attendance during Mandela's first visit to Toronto following his release from prison earlier that year (1990). 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. That year, Offishall co-founded the Circle, a collective of artists including Choclair, Jully Black, Solitair, Tara Chase, and Saukrates. In 1994, he made his first recorded appearance on Saukrates' single "Still Caught Up".

1996–1999: Eye & I

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×Eye & IDecember 1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Breakdown (Keep Moving)4:422On Wid Da Show4:063Da Brown4:134Hint-A-Lude0:435Mysteries4:346P.W.O.T.4:037My Niah4:148Madmoizellez4:519Hint-A-Lude0:1010Make It Happen4:5311W.I. Philosophi1:2612Sweet Marie4:0213Bellee Buss (Don't Make Me Laugh)3:2414LoLo1:5615King of Da Hill4:3216Elle A3:5717Jeevin' (Life)5:1618Naughty Dread, Part II4:4019Hint-A-Lude0:3020Friday Night3:18 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. 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." Unfortunately, the album was poorly distributed in Canada, and a lack of radio support resulted in the album receiving limited commercial attention. Over 4,000 copies of the album were sold in its first three months of release. In 1998, he was featured on the Juno-winning single "Northern Touch" with the Rascalz, Choclair, Checkmate and Thrust. The following year, he produced Choclair's hit single "Let's Ride".

2000–2003: Husslin' and Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1

Husslin' was an EP released on 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'×Husslin'2000 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1MIC T.H.U.G.S.2Husslin'3U R Ghetto When4And What?5MIC T.H.U.G.S. (clean)6U R Ghetto When (clean)", was one of the hottest 12" singles of 2000. "And What×And What1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1And What? (street)A2And What? (clean)A3And What? (instrumental)B1Put 'em Up (street)B2Put 'em Up (clean)B3Put 'em Up (instrumental)?", 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'×Ol' Time Killin'2001 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Ol' Time Killin' (Radio Edit Version).4:002Ol' Time Killin' (Instrumental)4:003Money Jane (Remix)3:564Maxine (Radio Edit Version)4:275Maxine (TV Track)4:006Ol' Time Killin' (LP Version)4:39".One year after its release, 25,000 copies of the album were sold in Canada. It received generally favorable reviews from music critics. The Source gave the album 31⁄2 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." The A.V. Club gave the album a favorable review, praising its "impressive musical and lyrical consistency." AllMusic gave it 21⁄2 out of 5 stars, noting that Kardinal "displays only flashes of promise here." The album was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the 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 music video for the single "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.
For the 20th anniversary of Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1, Kardinal released "Firestarter", a capsule clothing collection in collaboration with urbancoolab, an artificial intelligence fashion platform.

2004–2008: Fire and Glory and Not 4 Sale

In 2004, Kardinal released an independent mixtape titled Kill Bloodclott Bill×Kill Bloodclott Bill2004 · Other · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1Intro1:082Kill Bloodclott Bill (Bang Bang)3:453Taz Interlude0:284Gas4:195Empty Barrell3:176Everybody Gone Gangsta2:337Phoners1:308Bumboclawt3:259Kill the Dance2:1510Black Jays Freestyle2:3511Fallback3:0112Mi Nuh Want It (Bamm Bamm)2:2113Black Jays Freestyle3:1814'Ood 'Op (Black Jays... Is the Team)3:0815Tear De Wallz Down4:0616On Fire3:1417Black Jays Freestyle3:0118Black Jays P.S.A1:3819Me & Frank the Tank1:4320See the Fire4:1621Bill James (Outro)4:1722Bonus Material...4:01 with his production company, Black Jays, and he also released his second major-label album titled Fire and Glory×Fire and Glory15 November 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Last Standing Soldier4:462E.G.G. (Everybody Gone Gangsta)4:173Heads Up3:174Everyday (Rudebwoy)5:065The Best Man4:026Freshie4:397Sunday4:368Kayasarasara5:069Neva New (till I Kissed You)4:1010Mr. Officer4:0711Watchalike3:2512Fire and Glory4:2613Feel Alright3:5814All the Way6:3115[static]11:3216[silence]0:00 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." The album was nominated for Rap Recording of the Year at the 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. It is 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.

2009–2018: Universal Music Canada partnership and Kardi Gras, Vol. 1: The Clash

In 2008, he was featured on the 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". In 2011, he collaborated with Canadian dance-pop act Audio Playground on their gold selling single "Famous×Famous2 September 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Famous3:282Famous (no rap version)3:30", which reached #28 in Canada and #10 on the USA Billboard Dance charts. In 2011, he collaborated with singer Karl Wolf on his single "Ghetto Love×Ghetto Love23 August 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Ghetto Love3:05".
In 2013, Kardinal Offishall, along with Madchild from Swollen Members, were featured on Canadian hip-hop artist Classified's self-titled album on the track "Look Up". He also appeared on the charity single "True Colors" by Artists Against Bullying. On December 16, 2013, Offishall joined Universal Music Canada as Creative Executive Director of A&R. Aside from developing Canadian talent, he has also expressed interest in developing international talent, stating "I'm searching the world for superstars." On October 30, 2015, Kardinal Offishall released his fifth studio album Kardi Gras, Vol. 1: The Clash×Kardi Gras, Vol. 1: The Clash30 October 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Hope5:392Baby It's U!3:483OG4:284No Reason3:585To Kill a Shadow5:066C.O.D4:097Real Live Gangsta (They Say)5:008Always Carnival Time3:549Insert Here3:1710One Dream Away4:3011The Naked Truth4:1012Sunshine3:4613That Chick Right There3:4814Do Dat Dance4:1215I'm Just a Man4:3516Tattoo (Rudebwoy)3:25 which spawned the hit single "That Chick Right There", which reached number 68 on the Canadian Hot 100.

2019–present: New music and Canada's Got Talent

On June 4, 2019, Kardinal Offishall released the single "Run", which was used as the Toronto Raptors theme song during their championship run in the 2019 NBA Finals and also announced as the first single for a planned album Pick Your Poison, which ultimately got scrapped.
In October 2021, it was announced that he would be a judge on the second season of Canada's Got Talent, which aired in 2022. He also made a guest appearance as a fictionalized version of himself in the debut episode of the CBC Television sitcom Run the Burbs.
In 2026, Kardinal Offishall officially announced the release of his sixth album Firestarter Vol. 2: Everyday, Sometimes… which will be released on September 25th, the album serves as the sequel to his second album on its 25th anniversary.

Family

In July 2016, Kardinal Offishall announced the birth of his third child, a daughter.

Philanthropy

As a philanthropist, Harrow has hosted the KARDI Christmas Party charity event since 2000, which raises funds for community initiatives and causes. He is a founding member of the music business collective non-profit, Advance. During his tenure at Universal Music Canada, he established the B.L.A.C.K. (Businesses Levelling Access to Change and Knowledge) Label Coalition, which secures funds for various charities.