Artist · Canada
Kardinal Offishall
Since 1976
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About
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 (1997) and extended play (EP), Husslin' (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'" 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 (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 (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 (2015) to moderate success. In April 2021, he was promoted to senior vice-president of A&R for Universal Music Canada.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Also in Français
Jason D. Harrow, connu sous le nom de Kardinal Offishall, né le 12 mai 1976 à Scarborough (intégrée à Toronto depuis 1988), est un chanteur de ragga-dancehall, rappeur et producteur canadien d'origine jamaïcaine.
Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Discography
Albums
- 1997 Eye & I
- 2001 Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Volume 1
- 2004 Kill Bloodclott Bill Volume 1
- 2005 Fire and Glory
- 2008 Not 4 Sale
- 2015 Kardi Gras, Vol. 1: The Clash
- 2026 Firestarter Vol 2: Everyday, Sometimes…
EPs
- 1996 Naughty Dread / On Wid da Show
- 2000 Husslin'
- 2001 Ol' Time Killin'
- 2004 Bang Bang
Singles
- 1997 On Wit da Show / Naughty Dread II
- 1999 And What
- 2001 Still Too Much (remix)
- 2003 Belly Dancer / Sick!
- 2003 Empty Barrell
- 2003 Carnival Girl
- 2008 Numba 1 (Tide Is High)
- 2008 Dangerous
- 2009 Beautiful
- 2009 Put Your Hands on Me
- 2010 Body Bounce
- 2010 I Hate You Too
Show all (23)
- 2011 Anywhere (Ol Time Killin Part 2)
- 2011 The Anthem
- 2011 Ghetto Love
- 2011 Famous
- 2013 Can't Choose
- 2016 Marching Bands
- 2017 Winner
- 2019 Run
- 2019 The Anthem Raptors (remix)
- 2025 LET EM OUT
- I'm a Star