Biography
Jason Drew Harrow (born May 11, 1976), known professionally as Kardinal Offishall (/kɑːrdɪˈnæl oʊfɪˈʃæl/), is a Canadian rapper, record producer, DJ, and record executive. Often hailed as Canada's "hip hop ambassador," he is recognized as one of the nation's top hip hop producers and is noted for his unique reggae and dancehall-influenced hip hop style.
Hailing from Toronto, Offishall launched his career in the mid-1990s within the city's underground hip hop scene as part of The Circle. He released several independent 12" singles, his debut album Eye & I, and an EP titled Husslin' before signing with MCA Records in 2000. In 2001, he dropped his second album, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1, which featured the Billboard-charting single "BaKardi Slang" that helped popularize Toronto's nickname "T-dot," along with the minor hit "Ol' Time Killin'"; both tracks became his hallmark songs. After plans for Firestarter Vol. 2 fell through in 2003 under MCA and later Geffen Records (which had absorbed MCA), Offishall briefly returned to the underground scene, releasing more independent 12" singles.
In 2005, his third album, Fire and Glory, was released in Canada. That year marked the beginning of his collaboration with R&B artist Akon, which continued until 2010. In 2007, Offishall signed with Akon's Kon Live Distribution via Geffen and in 2008 released his fourth album, Not 4 Sale. Its lead single, "Dangerous," reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned triple platinum certification in Canada. He followed with two gold-certified singles, "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" and "Body Bounce," before departing Kon Live in late 2010. Subsequently, he has released singles independently through his label, Black Stone Colleagues Inc. In 2012, he collaborated with producer Nottz on the mixtape Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself.
Offishall took on the role of Creative Executive Director of A&R at Universal Music Canada in 2013. Two years later, he released his fifth album, Kardi Gras, Vol. 1: The Clash, under the same label. He currently serves as the Senior Director of Urban A&R for Universal Music Canada.
