Kardinal Offishall

Kardinal Offishall

Born: May 11, 1976
Jason Drew Harrow (born May 11, 1976), better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall (/kɑːrdɪˈnæl oʊfɪˈʃæl/), is a Canadian rapper, record producer, DJ, 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.

In 2005, Offishall's third album, Fire and Glory, was released in Canada. That year, he collaborated with R&B singer Akon for the first time, starting a musical partnership that lasted until 2010. In 2007, he signed with Akon's Kon Live Distribution label, through Geffen, and released his fourth album, Not 4 Sale, the following year. The first single, "Dangerous", became a top five hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified triple platinum in Canada. Offishall released two gold-certified singles, "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" and "Body Bounce", before leaving Kon Live in late 2010. Since then, his latest singles have been released on his independent label Black Stone Colleagues Inc. In 2012, Offishall released Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself, a collaborative mixtape with producer Nottz.

In 2013, Offishall became the Creative Executive Director of Universal Music Canada's A&R team. Two years later, he released his fifth album Kardi Gras, Vol. 1: The Clash under the label. He is now working as the Senior Director of Urban A&R for UMC.

Movies for Kardinal Offishall...

Drop the Needle
Title: Drop the Needle
Character: Self
Released: October 21, 2022
Type: Movie
The story of the Toronto-based record store, Play De Record, and how it became a hub for underground music lovers across Canada.
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Title: Private Eyes
Character: Apollo
Released: May 26, 2016
Type: TV
Ex-pro hockey player Matt Shade irrevocably changes his life when he teams up with fierce P.I. Angie Everett to form an unlikely investigative powerhouse.
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Title: Canada's Got Talent
Character: Self - Judge
Released: March 4, 2012
Type: TV
Canada's Got Talent is a Canadian reality talent show series that debuted on the City television network on March 4, 2012, and is part of the global Got Talent franchise. Canada's Got Talent features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for a cash prize.
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My Baby's Daddy
Title: My Baby's Daddy
Character: M.C.
Released: January 9, 2004
Type: Movie
A trio of young men are forced to grow up quick when their girlfriends all become pregnant around the same time.
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Love, Sex, and Eating the Bones
Title: Love, Sex, and Eating the Bones
Character: Andre Patterson
Released: September 6, 2003
Type: Movie
A sexy urban comedy about how a guy who is addicted to watching pornography discovers love is stronger than fantasy when he meets and falls in love with the girl of his dreams.