Kardinal started rapping at the age of eight, and was winning competitions by the time he was 12. 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.[2] 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.
Kardinal was signed to a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Canada at the age of 20. 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. In 1997, Kardinal released his debut album Eye & I on Capitol Hill Music. The only single from the album, "On Wit Da Show", had considerable video play on MuchMusic. Kardinal was also credited as a major contributor to the late 90's renaissance of Canadian hip hop. In 1998, he was featured on the Juno-winning single "Northern Touch" with the Rascalz, Choclair, Checkmate and Thrust.
In 2000, Kardinal signed with MCA Records. He released the album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 in 2001, which spawned the hits "BaKardi Slang" and "Ol' Time Killin'". The album earned a gold certification in Canada. After MCA folded in 2003, Kardinal's highly anticipated follow up album Firestarter Vol. 2: F Word Theory was shelved along with the single/video for "Belly Dancer" featuring Pharrell, and Kardinal eventually found himself without a label. Had the album been released, there would have been production from Timbaland and The Neptunes among others. 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. Hits on Fire and Glory include "Everyday (Rudebwoy)" and "Heads Up".
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. However, it was with the Black Jays team when Kardinal received notoriety for his production work. In 2004, Kardinal and Solitair of the Black Jays created a remix version of Jay-Z's The Black Album and called it The Black Jays Album. Kardinal also did some production on Kill Bloodcott Bill and produced 9.5 out of the 14 tracks on Fire and Glory.
He is one of the few Canadian hip hop artists that have an international audience and has collaborated with artists such as Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Sean Paul, Spragga Benz, Bounty Killer, Little Brother, Stat Quo, Pharoahe Monch, Vybz Kartel, Rihanna, Snow, Pete Rock, Lil Wayne and Akon. A-List producers, The Neptunes requested Kardinal appear on the remix to their smash hit production “Grindin'” with Clipse. The remix was well received across North America, particularly in New York City.
To date, Kardinal is the only Canadian urban act to appear on BET’s Rap City (even freestyling in the booth with Big Tigger), and on MTV’s Advance Warning (which introduces the world to artists on the verge of breaking big, like former guest Kanye West). Kardinal has made brief guest appearances in Rihanna's "Pon De Replay" music video, and Sean Paul's "Get Busy" video, which was shot in Woodbridge, Ontario (a Toronto suburb). He has also appeared on mixtapes from Clinton Sparks and DJ Green Lantern.
In 2006, Kardinal collaborated Akon, Cipha Sounds, DJ Whoo Kid, and various members of the Black Jays family among others. At the 2006 MuchMusic Video Awards, Kardinal walked away with 3 awards for "Everyday (Rudebwoy)", including Best Video, Best Director (RT!) and VideoFACT Award. At the MMVA's, he announced that he had an upcoming collaboration with the Canadian Reggae Band Bedouin Soundclash, now known as the single "Last Standing Soldier" (Remix).
Digital Motown
Kardinal Offishall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen
Listen, listen
Any given Sunday to Monday
The ghetto lights flash, like we deh pon a runway
The underground king, yeah
Do it to the Bond way
What do you want a Phantom or a Hyundai?
Honk your horn, chill with the gun play
The ghetto youte suffering, they needed a fun day
I'm bleeding to see you succeed in one day
Mi say
Turn this up on your radio
And say they want that je ne sais quoi
Well, my nig here you go
We're coming in through high definition on your stereo
Taking you higher than your supplier with the bag of dro
My people singing
La, la, la la, la la, la la
Because you
La, la, la la, la la, la la
Been smoking
La, la, la la, la la, la la
La la, la la, la la, la
Easy? It is not to be me
But I'ma pay the high price so I can be free
What type of eye-vye doesn't invite me?
I like rum with a twist a lime and I like she (yo)
Ah suh di ting go, some of dem like me
And some of them will try anything to hype me
And never fall for the yes men on a pipe dream
'Cause when you on your face, none of dem will be seen (szeen?)
The whole scene is nothing but obscene
Fiends who use green trying to get you on their team (yo)
The way I was at sixteen
Has never gone away everyday is a new ting
Aye yo, let me leave ya'll with one ting
A man is not a man if he nuh stand up for someting
I stand firm, you and I say mi nah run tings
I run tings with the propaganda they pumping
You know!
Turn this up on your radio
And say they want that je ne sais quoi
Well, my nig here you go
We're coming in through high definition on your stereo
Taking you higher than your supplier with the bag of dro
My people singing
La, la, la la, la la, la la
Because you
La, la, la la, la la, la la
Been smoking
La, la, la la, la la, la la
La la, la la, la la, la
Aye yo, any given Sunday to Monday
Ghetto lights flash, like we deh pon a runway
The underground king, yeah
Do it to the Bond way
I pimp so you can see how you can do one day
What do you want a Phantom or a Hyundai?
Honk your horn (beepity, beep beep), chill with the gun play
The ghetto youte suffering, they needed a fun day
I'm bleeding to see you succeed in one day
Mi say
Turn this up on your radio
And say they want that je ne sais quoi
Well, my nig here you go
We're coming in through high definition on your stereo
Taking you higher than your supplier with the bag of dro
My people singing
La, la, la la, la la, la la
Because you
La, la, la la, la la, la la
Been smoking
La, la, la la, la la, la la
La la, la la, la la, la
My people singing
La, la, la la, la la, la la
Because you
La, la, la la, la la, la la
Been smoking
La, la, la la, la la, la la
La la, la la, la la, la
The song "Digital Motown" by Kardinal Offishall is a mixture of hip hop and reggae music. The song begins with a repeated command to listen, setting the tone for the track. The lyrics are centered around themes of success, hard work, and standing up for oneself. The first verse talks about how the lights in the ghetto flash like a runway and how Kardinal Offishall is the underground king who pimps so that others may see how they can succeed one day. He asks listeners whether they want a Phantom or a Hyundai, emphasizing that hard work can lead to success and material wealth. He also mentions gunplay and the importance of taking a break from suffering to have fun.
The chorus consists of people singing "la, la, la" and appears to be a reference to smoking and getting high. The second verse talks about how Kardinal Offishall is willing to pay a high price to be free and how some people will do anything to try and bring him down. He urges listeners to avoid falling for the yes-men of a pipe dream and to stand firm for something they believe in. He ends the song by repeating the chorus and the command to turn up the song on the radio.
Line by Line Meaning
Any given Sunday to Monday
Life is unpredictable and anything can happen at any time
The ghetto lights flash, like we deh pon a runway
Life in the ghetto is chaotic and unpredictable, like a runway
The underground king, yeah
Kardinal Offishall sees himself as an influential figure in the underground music scene
Do it to the Bond way
Do things in a sophisticated manner like James Bond
I pimp so you can see how you can do one day
Kardinal Offishall has experienced success and wants to inspire others to do the same
What do you want a Phantom or a Hyundai?
What level of success do you aspire to?
Honk your horn, chill with the gun play
Don't resort to violence, there are better ways to express yourself
The ghetto youte suffering, they needed a fun day
People in the ghetto need relief from the struggles of everyday life
I'm bleeding to see you succeed in one day
Kardinal Offishall is invested in the success of others and wants to see them overcome their obstacles
Turn this up on your radio
Listen to this song and pay attention
And say they want that je ne sais quoi
People are looking for something unique and special
Well, my nig here you go
Kardinal Offishall is providing that unique and special thing people are looking for
We're coming in through high definition on your stereo
The music is high quality and impactful
Taking you higher than your supplier with the bag of dro
Kardinal Offishall's music is better than the high of drugs
Easy? It is not to be me
Kardinal Offishall's success required hard work and dedication
But I'ma pay the high price so I can be free
Kardinal Offishall has worked hard for his success and it has granted him freedom in various aspects of his life
What type of eye-vye doesn't invite me?
Why wouldn't Kardinal Offishall be invited to exclusive events?
I like rum with a twist a lime and I like she (yo)
Kardinal Offishall enjoys simple pleasures and doesn't need extravagance to be happy
Ah suh di ting go, some of dem like me
Kardinal Offishall is well-liked by some people
And some of them will try anything to hype me
However, some people will go to extreme lengths to bring Kardinal Offishall down
'Cause when you on your face, none of dem will be seen (szeen?)
When you're facing hardships or downfalls, your supposed friends and supporters may not stick around
The whole scene is nothing but obscene
The music industry can be vulgar and corrupt
Fiends who use green trying to get you on their team (yo)
People in the music industry can be motivated by greed and will do anything to bring you onto their side
The way I was at sixteen
Kardinal Offishall reminisces about his younger self
Has never gone away everyday is a new ting
Kardinal Offishall's passion for music and success has not faded over time
Aye yo, let me leave ya'll with one ting
Kardinal Offishall has one more thing to say before finishing the song
A man is not a man if he nuh stand up for someting
A true man stands up for what he believes in
I stand firm, you and I say mi nah run tings
Kardinal Offishall is confident in his abilities and leadership
I run tings with the propaganda they pumping
Kardinal Offishall is in control of his own destiny, despite the media's influence
My people singing La, la, la la, la la, la la
The chorus repeats throughout the song, representing the joy and unity of Kardinal Offishall's fans
Because you been smoking La, la, la la, la la, la la
The repetition of the chorus suggests that smoking (presumably marijuana) is a common activity among Kardinal Offishall's fans
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jake Dutton, Jason Harrow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind