Music Group ’ s Task Force for Meaningful Change , he remains singularly focused on making decisions that have a substantial impact . For example , the BLC and the Pinball Clemons Foundation earmarking $ 250,000 for a scholarship program for Black student leaders .
“ What does meaningful change look like ? We could have just written a couple of cute cheques to people that already get cheques that don ’ t even need it , and that happens a lot within the charitable community ,” he says . “ But for us , we ’ re going above and beyond to make sure that some of these charities that have never received money or that should receive more , that it ’ s actually going to make a dent , and it ’ s going to also send the right messages to these other corporations and other people .”
How Offishall thinks about progressive change , and how he wields influence , is rooted in his community , and especially in his mother ’ s teachings . She is a former teacher who still works in the Toronto school system , and who was involved in creating Canada ’ s first Afrocentric school .
“ My mom has been somebody that has really driven home just a real appreciation for being a servant . My mom , honestly , she should just be chilling , and I swear to you , the only thing she doesn ’ t have that would make her a Black Panther is a beret . My mom is still constantly trying to figure out how we make the education systems better for Toronto ,” he says . “ So , for me , I need to be able to continue to do not just surface work . But to actually dig deep and make sure that every opportunity that is given to myself or given to people that I work with , that we really make it count and we make it count big time . At the end of the day , we ’ re not doing it for the sake of ‘ look at me ,’ but we want to make sure that our legacy is one that is very , very grounded in love for our community and based in a progressive attitude . Like , how do we build ? How do we break the cycle ? I think that ’ s what we ’ re trying to do right now . Ultimately , all that talking , I could sum it up by saying that meaningful change is change that will break negative cyclical patterns . That ’ s pretty much what it ultimately means .”
And with that clear and bold statement , our time is up and Kardinal has to run to his next appointment , but not before he expresses a very sincere thanks for wanting to talk to him . For me , there ’ s no question , he ’ s one of the most interesting and inspiring folks in the Canadian music industry . Precisely because he ’ s not Canada ’ s Jay-Z or our anyone else . He ’ s pure , honest , compassionate , and smart in a way that is uniquely him . Thankfully we have our own Kardinal Offishall .
Michael Raine is the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Musician .
KARDI ’ S RISE AT A GLANCE
• Born Jason Drew Harrow on May 11 , 1976 in Scarborough , ON , to Jamaican immigrant parents . The family spent his childhood years living in Toronto ’ s Flemingdon Park neighbourhood . His mother was a teacher and still works in the Toronto education system .
• He started rapping at 8-years-old . At 14 , he performed in front of Nelson Mandela during his first visit to Canada .
• In 1991 , a young Kardi , then using the name MC J-Ski , records his first demo and enters a rhyme he wrote with an anti-drug message into a Scadding Court community centre contest and wins . For this he gets to meet his idol , Maestro Fresh Wes . He is also interviewed by Barbara Frum about his anti-drug message on the CBC program The Journal .
• He later changes his moniker to Gumby D , and performs at malls with two friends who call their group the Young Black Panthers . He also uses the stage name KoolAid before settling on Kardinal Offishall .
• In 1993 he co-founded the Toronto hip-hop collective The Circle with Choclair , Jully Black , Solitair , Tara Chase , and Saukrates . The following year , he is featured on Saukrates ’ single “ Still Caught Up ”
• In 1996 at age 20 , he signs a publishing deal with Warner / Chappell Music Canada and releases his first single , “ Naughty Dread ”, which gets nominated for Best Rap Recording at the Junos .
• In 1997 he releases the debut LP , Eye & I . The single , “ On wit da Show ,” gets on regular rotation on MuchMusic
• Kardi ’ s first major label album , Quest for Fire : Firestarter , Vol . 1 , is released in 2001 . The single “ Ba- Kardi Slang ” is the first Canadian rap song to enter the Billboard Top-100 ( peaking at 37 ).
• Fire and Glory is released in 2005 on Virgin Records in Canada and gets nominated for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2006 Juno Awards .
• Not 4 Sale , his fourth album , is released in 2008 . For it , he returns to an American major label , Kon
Live / Geffen Records . It spawns the hit single “ Dangerous ” and for this he wins Rap Recording of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards .
• In 2008 , Kardi is featured on Lady Gaga ’ s “ Just Dance ( RedOne Remix )”
• In 2013 , he becomes creative executive director of A & R at Universal Music Canada .
• In 2015 , Kardi ’ s releases his fifth studio album , Kardi Gras , Vol . 1 : The Clash , which includes the hit single “ That Chick Right There .”
• In 2019 , his song “ Run ” is used by the Toronto Raptors as the theme to their championship season .
• In 2020 , Kardi is founder and co-chair of UMC ’ s B . L . A . C . K . Label Coalition , which spearheads improvements to education , mentorship , and progressive equitable infrastructure to increase Black representation within the company . Kardi is also the Canadian representative on Universal Music Group ’ s Task Force for Meaningful Change .
• April 2021 , Kardi is promoted to Sr . VP of A & R at UMC .
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