Kardinal Offishall | |
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Kardinal Offishall at an etalk party in 2008.
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Background information | |
Birth name | Jason D. Harrow |
Also known as | Kardi |
Born | May 11, 1976 |
Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Years active | 1994–present |
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Jason D. Harrow (born May 11, 1976), better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall /kɑːrdɪˈnæl oʊfɪˈʃæl/, is a Canadian rapper, record producer, and record executive. Often credited as Canada's "hip hop ambassador", he is regarded as one of the country's best hip hop producers, and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip hop.
A native of Toronto, Offishall began his career in the city's mid-1990s underground hip hop scene, as a member of The Circle. He released several independent 12" singles, a debut album (Eye & I), and an EP (Husslin'), before signing with major label MCA Records in 2000. The following year, Offishall released his second album, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1, spawning the Billboard hit "BaKardi Slang", which popularized Toronto's nickname "T-dot", and the minor hit "Ol' Time Killin'"; both singles became his signature songs. After failing to release the Firestarter Vol. 2 album in 2003, on MCA, and later Geffen Records (which absorbed MCA), Offishall briefly returned to the underground scene, releasing several more independent 12" singles.