Canadian rapper and producer Kardinal Offishall pioneered the merging of dancehall influences into hip-hop. He’s known for his work on the mic and behind the scenes as a producer and executive. • Raised by Jamaican immigrant parents in Toronto, Kardinal Offishall started rapping when he was eight. He competed in competitions and earned a publishing deal at 20. • He released his debut single, “Naughty Dread”, in 1996, followed by his debut album, Eye & I, in 1997. • As a producer, he gained notice for his work with Canadian rapper Choclair, producing several tracks for his 1999 album Ice Cold, including the single “Let’s Ride”. • Offishall released his fourth album, 2008’s Not 4 Sale, on Akon’s Kon Live label. Superstar guests include Rihanna, The-Dream, T-Pain, Clipse and label boss Akon, who appears on the popular single “Dangerous”. The LP cracked the Top 10 of Billboard’s Canadian Albums chart.