Acting
May 10, 1976
Kardinal Offishall
Acting
Biography
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.
Feature Films (5)
The story of the Toronto-based record store, Play De Record, and how it became a hub for underground music lovers across Canada.
Drop the Needle
An unemployed doctor turned cab driver becomes a local hero when he converts his taxi into a mobile clinic.
Dr. Cabbie
Three dance crews – one Latin American, one European and one Canadian – prepare to battle at the International Beat the World competition in Detroit. Along the way, they struggle with gambling debt, bad break-ups and their own egos. In the final showdown to become world champions they find that their lifelong hopes, dreams and even lives, are at stake.
Beat the World
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.
Love, Sex, and Eating the Bones
A trio of young men are forced to grow up quick when their girlfriends all become pregnant around the same time.
My Baby's Daddy
Television & Series (4)
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.
Canada's Got Talent
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.
Private Eyes
Got Talent is the world's greatest talent competition for acts of all ages and sets out to discover the most unique, skilled, heartwarming and showstopping performers Canada has to offer. Dancers, singers, illusionists, comedians, and every imaginable talent in between will compete before a panel of celebrity judges, a live studio audience and the entire nation.
Canada's Got Talent
SOUNDS BLACK is a documentary series tracing the origins and impact of Black Music in Canada. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Cazhhmere, with contributions from luminaries such as Kardinal Offishall, Jully Black, Fefe Dobson, Maestro Fresh Wes, Deborah Cox, Keisha Chante and more, the series explores Black Canadian music from its tangled diasporic roots to its international dominance. SOUNDS BLACK takes us on a journey from the early days of jazz and gospel to the fight Black Canadian performers have waged for access to mainstream radio and venues, from the birth of Canadian hip hop to home grown superstars like Deborah Cox, The Weekend and Drake. With a no-holds barred look at the triumphs and obstacles that have impacted the Black Canadian music scene, SOUNDS BLACK breaks down the uniquely Canadian story of Black Canadian music.