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).
Friday Night
Kardinal Offishall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sup potna, you know the sauve dogs up on this joint
Through with the talkin but we all steady prepared in our circle for conversation
Many things, sauve and butter
This FOS type thing the circle
Remain tight like last night you know what
We up on this
(2x)
Kardinal (niggas, niggas)
Kardinal (niggas, niggas)
(2x)
When I say Offishall you say get it, get it
Offishall (get it, get it)
Offishall (get it, get it)
Everytime
(8x)
Kardinal (niggas, niggas)
Offishall (get it, get it)
(4x)
Say what (what)
Say what, what (what, what)
(4x)
Kardinal (niggas, niggas)
Offishall (get it, get it)
CHORUS (2x)
It was a Friday night
And the ladies was lookin
And the niggas was trippin
And the niggas was dippin
And the circle's on the beat (say what)
And the circle's on the beat (let's do it)
(2x)
When I clak, clak you niggas reload it
Clak, clak (reload)
Clak, clak (reload)
(2x)
When I say richie you say make that
Richie (make that) Kardinal
Richie (make that) Kardinal
CHORUS (2x)
Yall fools don't know
How we go in T dot O
ha ha ha, ha ha ha
Can you do
Kardinal, Offishall
The song "Friday Night" by Kardinal Offishall is about a night out partying and having a good time with friends. The lyrics describe the atmosphere of the club, with the ladies looking fine and the men acting crazy, while the circle of friends remains tight and in sync. The phrase "sauve dogs" implies that the group is cool and confident, and they are ready to engage in conversation and enjoy the moment. The lines "When I say Kardinal, you say niggas" and "When I say Offishall, you say get it" are an example of call-and-response, a common technique in hip-hop music that involves the MC interacting with the audience or his crew.
The song has a playful, upbeat vibe, with a catchy melody and a rhythmic beat that encourages dancing and chanting. The chorus repeats the line "And the circle's on the beat" twice, emphasizing the idea of unity and collaboration within the group. The song also features the sound of gunshots ("clak, clak") as part of the percussion, which may be interpreted as a reference to the street culture of Toronto, where Kardinal Offishall is from.
Overall, "Friday Night" celebrates the joy of socializing and having fun with friends, while also showcasing Kardinal Offishall's skills as an MC and producer.
Line by Line Meaning
It's why I look baby
I came here to catch some attention.
Sup potna, you know the sauve dogs up on this joint
What's up, friend? You should know that we (cool guys) are present here.
Through with the talkin but we all steady prepared in our circle for conversation
We are done with small talk, but we are ready to engage in meaningful conversations in our group.
Many things, sauve and butter
There are a lot of cool and smooth things going on.
This FOS type thing the circle
Our group is all about the 'Fresh Out the Studio' type thing.
Remain tight like last night you know what
Our group is close-knit like how we were last night, you know what I mean.
We up on this
We are present and engaged in the scene.
When I say Kardinal you say niggas, niggas
When I say 'Kardinal,' you respond with 'nigga, nigga.'
When I say Offishall you say get it, get it
When I say 'Offishall,' you respond with 'get it, get it.'
Everytime
This is a repeated thing.
Kardinal (niggas, niggas)
Responding with 'nigga, nigga' to Kardinal's call.
Offishall (get it, get it)
Responding with 'get it, get it' to Offishall's call.
Say what (what)
Expressing disbelief by uttering 'what' once.
Say what, what (what, what)
Expressing deeper disbelief by repeating 'what'.
It was a Friday night
This story takes place on a Friday night.
And the ladies was lookin
The women were looking attractive.
And the niggas was trippin
The men were causing trouble.
And the niggas was dippin
The men were leaving the scene.
And the circle's on the beat (say what)
Our group is performing on the beat together (expressing by 'say what').
And the circle's on the beat (let's do it)
Our group is performing on the beat together (expressing by 'let's do it').
When I clak, clak you niggas reload it
When I 'clak, clak,' you need to reload your (musical) ammunition.
Clak, clak (reload)
Repeating the sound of 'clak, clak' as an instructional cue for reloading.
Richie (make that) Kardinal
Responding with 'make that' to Richie's call, and subsequently mentioning Kardinal's name.
Yall fools don't know
You guys have no idea.
How we go in T dot O
How we do things in Toronto.
ha ha ha, ha ha ha
Laughing heartily.
Can you do
Can you handle this, or cope with it.
Kardinal, Offishall
Referring to themselves as artists Kardinal and Offishall.
CHORUS (2x)
The repeated chorus of the song.
Contributed by Tyler O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DixonSyder
I agree! I love this song, classic, joined T.O. every time it was done live! Hood to Hood we in here 4 ever! Go cop Not 4 Sale! Big Dix
Apfeljunge
I love it great simple song
HfnCaptain
most underrated song ever
Delsole Enterprises
This track takes me way back... nostalgia mode
darwin etienne
classic track...T.dot stand up!
REALM.94
so little views such sick talent.... when i say kardinal yall say nigga niggas "kardinal NIGGAS, NIGGAS" "kardinal NIGGAS, NIGGAS" when i say offishal,l yall say get it get it "offishall GET IT, GET IT" "offishall GET IT, GET IT"
Eldridge Martin
Awesome song
Eldridge Martin
Awesome song
Big el aka fat daddy Channel
Tomorrow is Friday and I’m gonna get lit
Rosie Sands
tdot.!