Kardinal Offishall

Canadian rapper and producer Kardinal Offishall was born under the name Jason Harrow in Toronto. He began rapping as a child, and his first live onstage performance was with Nelson Mandela in attendance, during Mandela's first visit to Toronto following his release from prison. He began performing as Kardinal Offishall in 1993, after being inspired by Cardinal Richelieu. Offishall signed with Warner/Chappell Music Canada in 1996, and his first single, "Naughty Dread," was released that same year as part of a compilation album. He received a JUNO Award nomination for Best Rap Recording. His debut album, "Eye & I," was released in 1997. He followed this with the EP "Husslin'," released in 2000. That year, Offishall also moved from Warner/Chappell to MCA Records. His second album, "Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1," came out in 2001, and was nominated for a JUNO award in 2002 for Best Rap Recording. Due to MCA folding in 2003, Offishall released his next album, "Fire and Glory," in 2005 through Virgin Records. This was followed by "Not 4 Sale" in 2008, released through Kon Live/Geffen Records. The album debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart and at No. 40 on the Top 200 chart, and produced the hit single "Dangerous." It also won Rap Recording of the Year at the 2009 JUNO Awards. His album "Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself" came out in in 2012, and in 2013 Offishall was named Creative Executive Director of A&R for Universal Music Canada. His fifth album, "Kardi Gras Vol. 1: The Clash" came out in 2015, and the single "That Chick Right There" peaked at No. 68 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.