
However, it was with the Black Jays team when Kardinal received notoriety for his production work. Kardinal has also produced many songs, including the hit single 'Let's Ride' by Choclair, whose album Ice Cold went gold in 35 days and would win them a Juno in 2000. Hits on Fire and Glory include 'Everyday (Rudebwoy)' and 'Heads Up'. He released an independent mixtape titled Kill Bloodclott Bill in 2004 with his production company, The Black Jays, and he also released his second major-label album titled Fire and Glory in 2005, through Virgin Records in Canada only. Had the album been released, there would have been production from Timbaland and The Neptunes among others. 2: F Word Theory was shelved along with the single/video for 'Belly Dancer' featuring Pharrell, and Kardinal eventually found himself without a label. After MCA folded in 2003, Kardinal's highly anticipated follow up album Firestarter Vol. The album earned a gold certification in Canada. 1 in 2001, which spawned the hits 'BaKardi Slang' and 'Ol' Time Killin''. He released the album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. In 2000, Kardinal signed with MCA Records. In 1998, he was featured on the Juno-winning single 'Northern Touch' with the Rascalz, Choclair, Checkmate and Thrust. Kardinal was also credited as a major contributor to the late 90's renaissance of Canadian hip hop. The only single from the album, 'On Wit Da Show', had considerable video play on MuchMusic. In 1997, Kardinal released his debut album Eye & I on Capitol Hill Music.

In 1996, he released his first single 'Naughty Dread', which was featured on the Rap Essentials Volume One compilation and earned him a Juno Award nomination for Best Rap Recording. Kardinal was signed to a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Canada at the age of 20. By 1993, he decided to drop his alias 'KoolAid', and went by the moniker Kardinal Offishall after being inspired by the great 17th century French politician Cardinal Richelieu. Also at the age of 12, Kardinal performed live and on stage for the first time, with Nelson Mandela in attendance during his first visit to Toronto.

Kardinal started rapping at the age of eight, and was winning competitions by the time he was 12. Kardinal blends soul, dancehall, reggae and hip-hop to create a truly unique sound. Kardinal Offishall (born Jason Harrow on in Scarborough, Ontario) is a Canadian hip-hop MC and producer of Jamaican descent.Kardinal is often viewed as 'Canada's hip-hop ambassador', and along with MC's such as Saukrates and Maestro Fresh Wes, he's arguably the most popular.
