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).
Nina
Kardinal Offishall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dis is the original Kardinal
And you know any guy diss
Mi nah beg yuh nuh penny dem
Kardinal
Mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina
Mi pretty black Nina
She look pretty on di front ah di Gleaner (heh)
Mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina
Mi pretty black Nina
Ova foreign dem will call her a heater (cha)
And when dem sent har
Dem nuh want har come in ya (naw)
Hey yo, all my life I seen her, didn't wanna touch her
Man all ah spen off dem money tryna dance wit her
Kiss her, love her and hug her (hey)
I first met her when I was a likkle youte
Ova Patrick City she deh a sleep inna mi room
Mi wake up and find har but mi mummy neva know
Donovan leave har deh so true him have another to
Mama she nah say nuttin' but she know weh Nina do
She will turn yuh life upside down
(Yes mi) Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina
Mi pretty black Nina
Sit down beside mi in mi new two seeta
She look pretty on di front ah di Gleaner (heh)
Mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina
Mi pretty black Nina
Ova foreign dem will call her a heater (cha)
And when dem sent har
Dem nuh want har come in ya (naw)
Hey yo, di police nuh like har
True she live inna di ghetto dey will spite har
She's so sexy, gone fast forward mi and she gone leave Lexi
Pretty like a money and she barely eva vex mi
Mi daughta nuh like har (naw)
True all mi bredrin dem a wife har (ya)
Kardinal na seh nuttin, but mi know wah Nina do
She will turn yuh life upside down
(Yes mi) Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina
Mi pretty black Nina
Sit down beside mi in mi new two seeta
She look pretty on di front ah di Gleaner (heh)
Mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina
Mi pretty black Nina
Ova foreign dem will call her a heater (cha)
And when dem sent har
Dem nuh want har come in ya (naw)
Oh, Nina she cold and yuh done know she nuh beg nuh fren
Oh, betta hope she nuh say nothin' and she nuh hype around har ends
Oh, Nina she mean and she neva eva tek back talk
Oh mi Nina, mi Ni (yo watch da gyal deh a run out, cha!)
Mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina
Mi pretty black Nina
Sit down beside mi in mi new two seeta
She look pretty on di front ah di Gleaner (heh)
Mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina
Mi pretty black Nina
Ova foreign dem will call her a heater
And when dem sent har
Dem nuh want har come in ya (naw)
Hey yo, all my life I seen her, didn't wanna touch her
Man all ah spen off dem money tryna dance wit her
Kiss her, love her and hug her (hey)
I first met her when I was a likkle youte
Ova Patrick City, a wah di (he he, he he)
Dups!
The lyrics of "Nina" by Kardinal Offishall depict a story of a man's love for his firearm. Kardinal refers to his gun as 'Nina.' He talks about how beautiful and precious Nina is to him, comparing her to a woman. He sings about how he never wanted anyone to touch her, how he first met her when he was a young boy and he found her in his room one day. The lyrics suggest that Nina is a significant part of his life and has turned his life upside down in some way.
Despite the seemingly harmless portrayal of Nina as a woman, the song has a political message. The use of a firearm as a symbol of power and protection is a common theme in hip hop, and Kardinal uses the song to highlight the negative impact of guns and violence on communities. He talks about how the police do not like Nina because she lives in the ghetto, and how people overseas view her as a "heater" or a dangerous weapon. Kardinal warns that Nina is not to be messed with, and people who ask for her help may find themselves in trouble.
Line by Line Meaning
Now dis
Introducing the original Kardinal Offishall.
Dis is the original Kardinal
Reiterating that this is the original Kardinal Offishall.
And you know any guy diss
No one dares to disrespect him.
Mi nah beg yuh nuh penny dem
Not asking for money from anyone.
Kardinal
Kardinal Offishall's name.
Mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina, mi Nina
Referring to his beloved gun that he calls Nina.
Mi pretty black Nina
His gun is black and beautiful to him.
Sit down beside mi in mi new two seeta
His gun is with him in his new car.
She look pretty on di front ah di Gleaner (heh)
His gun looks good in the newspaper.
Ova foreign dem will call her a heater (cha)
Outside of Jamaica, they call his gun a heater.
And when dem sent har
When he sends her (his gun).
Dem nuh want har come in ya (naw)
People don't want him to bring his gun around them.
Hey yo, all my life I seen her, didn't wanna touch her
He's been familiar with guns his whole life but didn't want to own one.
Man all ah spen off dem money tryna dance wit her
Other men spend lots of money trying to get a gun as good as his.
Kiss her, love her and hug her (hey)
He loves his gun and treats it with care.
I first met her when I was a likkle youte
He was introduced to guns at a young age.
Ova Patrick City she deh a sleep inna mi room
He kept his gun hidden in his room in Patrick City.
Mi wake up and find har but mi mummy neva know
He kept his gun a secret from his mother.
Donovan leave har deh so true him have another to
Someone named Donovan left the gun there because he had another one.
Mama she nah say nuttin' but she know weh Nina do
His mother didn't say anything, but she knew what the gun was for.
She will turn yuh life upside down
Guns have the power to drastically change your life for the worse.
Oh, Nina she cold and yuh done know she nuh beg nuh fren
His gun is powerful and doesn't need anyone's help.
Oh, betta hope she nuh say nothin' and she nuh hype around har ends
He hopes his gun won't accidentally go off and attract attention to himself.
Oh, Nina she mean and she neva eva tek back talk
His gun is fierce and doesn't take any disrespect.
Hey yo, di police nuh like har
The police don't like his gun.
True she live inna di ghetto dey will spite har
Because guns are associated with violence and criminal activity, having a gun in the ghetto will attract unwarranted attention.
She's so sexy, gone fast forward mi and she gone leave Lexi
He's proud of his gun and it helps him move up in life while leaving his rivals behind.
Pretty like a money and she barely eva vex mi
He sees his gun as valuable and dependable.
Mi daughta nuh like har (naw)
His daughter doesn't approve of his gun.
True all mi bredrin dem a wife har (ya)
All of his friends own guns too and treat them like wives; with loyalty and respect.
Kardinal na seh nuttin, but mi know wah Nina do
Kardinal doesn't openly talk about the power of guns, but they all know what guns can do.
He he, he he
Ad-lib vocalizations with no discernible meaning.
Dups!
Producer's name, Dups.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dwayne Richard Chin-Quee, Edward Osullivan Lee, Jason Harrow, Lloyd Tyrell, Martin Riley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Broo
2019 still banging. Thinking ahead
saraellemua
LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH !
rn4l rnfl
This song is damn amazing
Alyza Hernandez
So many memories with this song omg
rn4l rnfl
Same!!!!!
NICCI B
She looks pretty on the front of the Gleaner
NVSubotica
Still banging this shit this ish goes HARD homeboy
Angela Sreckovic
NVSubotica u Serbian ?!
Psihic
Idemo suboticaaaaa
Zeena J
Damn I miss this song wya Kardinal! 😩❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️