UWI Luminary Award for Kardinal Offishall
April 1, 2025
Whenever Kardinal Offishall (Jason Harrow) receives an accolade, his mother – Donna Harrow – is one of the first to get a call with the good news.
When he told her that the University of the West Indies (UWI) was honouring him with a Luminary Award at the 15th annual Toronto Benefit Gala, the reaction was different than expected.
“After saying she was super proud of me, she went into the family group chat to share the news,” the three-time Juno Award winner said. “What makes this distinct for her, I think, is that it is coming from a distinguished Caribbean institution and, as an immigrant from Jamaica, she couldn’t be prouder. Sometimes, awards from the community that shape who you are are the best. For me to join the group of extraordinary people recognized with this honour in the past is so satisfying.”
The recognition comes nine months after York University conferred an honourary doctorate on the cultural and musical ambassador.
“I always say that music is the nucleus of everything,” pointed out Kardinal who majored in Mass Communications before quitting to focus on a music career. “It is from which everything evolves. I can do so much because of music.”
If he returns to the classroom, it will be for elective courses.
“Some of the things I loved when I was in school were being in Professor David Trotman’s class studying the Caribbean or Professor Rinaldo Walcott’s class with Cultures of the Oppressed, learning about my people and our history,” said Kardinal who was recognized with the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour at the 2023 Canada Walk of Fame ceremony. “These classes were thought-provoking and reflected my interest.”
He believes that university and post-secondary education should reflect key principles to better prepare students for personal growth and success in the modern world.
“The young people coming up are going to be in several careers,” pointed out Kardinal who performed for late South African president Nelson Mandela during his first visit to Toronto in 1990. “It is not like before when most people were in one career throughout their lives. Universities should be preparing students for what the landscape looks like today. With my children, they are learning about coding and engineering outside the regular classroom.”
Inspired mainly by his late Jamaican-born father who was a disc jockey and bass player with a band, Kardinal grew up in an environment where music was an integral part of his life.
“I still have my dad’s bass guitar and my uncles have extensive record collections and amazing deejay equipment,” he noted. “That is the kind of environment I was raised in. As early as age four, I was the little kid greeting the elders at the door. I took their coats before they went into the basement to party and jam.”
With a rich cultural diversity, Flemingdon Park has produced outstanding Canadian artists who have made major contributions across various genres, including R&B and hip-hop.
Raised at 35 St. Dennis Dr., Apt. 527, Kardinal is one of them.
“We had a very multicultural community with many families from the Caribbean and music was a big thing for us growing up,” he recalled. “I grew up during the era when breakdancing went from this underground movement into something that is commercialized around the world. At the same time, hip-hop was emerging into a global industry and we saw the emergence of Run-D.M.C, the Beastie Boys and other groups. That was electric in ‘Flemo’ at the time. People brought their big boom boxes to the basketball court and there was music blaring while we played hoops. As I rode my BMX bike through the neighbourhood, music was always playing. ‘Flemo’ helped shape my love for music and my wanting to participate in it.”
His first single, ‘Naughty Dread’ released in 1996 earned a Juno nomination for Best Rap Recording and is included in the compilation album, Rap Essentials Volume 1. A year later, he independently released his debut album, ‘Eye & I’ and was featured a year later in the Rascalz’s inventive hit single, ‘Northern Touch’, that earned him a share of the 1999 Juno Award for Best Rap Recording.
Kardinal collaborated with celebrated artists and producers, including Timbaland, Missy Elliott and Pharrell Williams who featured him on the remix to the Clipse’s underground hit, ‘Grindin’.
In 2005, he appeared with Jay-Z at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival and on Rihanna’s debut album, ‘Music of the Sun’, and released his third album, ‘Fire and Glory’, that earned a Juno nomination for Best Rap Recording.
He released ‘The Anthem’, which was his official ode to the T. Dot and his hometown, at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics where he was a torchbearer.
While Kardinal, who released several independent mixtapes and was once signed with Kon Live founded by Akon, loves making music and entertaining, he has always had an interest in the business side of things and working as a music industry executive.
After a decade at Universal Music Canada where he established the Black Label Coalition and co-founded Advance which is a non-profit Canadian Black Music Business Collective that advocates, mentors, supports and provides tangible opportunities for Blacks working in Canada’s music industry, he joined Def Jam Recordings in January 2023 as Global Artists & Repertoire (A&R), working directly with Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Tunji Balogun and Executive Vice-President LaTrice Burnette to sign and develop talent from around the world.
Co-founded by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin in 1984, the renowned record label roster of artists includes Public Enemy and Wale. Rihanna was with the label for nine years before transitioning to Roc Nation.
Unsure of continuing as a Universal Music Canada executive as well as being an artist, Kardinal flew out to Los Angeles to meet Eric Hutcherson who is the Executive Vice-President, Chief People & Inclusion Officer at Universal Music Group which is the world leader in music-based entertainment.
“He said he believed in me and appreciated the work I put in to get to this point,” related the 2018 Scarborough Walk of Fame inductee who made the Billboard Canada Power Players List in 2024. “The reality is that I was allowed to work with Def Jam which is one of the most impactful record labels. Eric gave me that opportunity to transition to the system in America and I am grateful for that.”
Global A&Rs scout and identify potential artists, songwriters and producers, seeking unique talent and marketable music.
In the role, Kardinal is contributing to the career development of rising artists, including Skip Marley, the grandson of the late Bob Marley, Grammy-award singer/songwriter Susan Carol, Canadian R&B artist Lavish, Barbadian-born singer Ayoni and Jamaican dancehall artist Masicka.
“While working with American artists, contributing to these incredible artists born in the Caribbean is a bonus for me,” said the federal ambassador for Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2017.
In his fourth season as a judge on ‘Canada’s Got Talent’, Kardinal said the experience has been great.
“You don’t get to see a lot of Black people on television, so to be able to have fun and a life on TV is satisfying,” he said. “I love to be in a situation where something gives me butterflies and makes me nervous. Music is a lot of muscle memory at this point. I am fine getting up out of bed and jumping on stage 20 minutes later. Judging that show is a lot of fun because there are a lot of terrible contestants. On the other hand, some are excellent and deserve to be on that platform.”
On the first episode of Season Four last month, Kardinal pressed the Golden Buzzer in the centre of the stage, sending Carsim Birmingham straight to the semi-final and enabling him to receive a $25,000 cash award.
The 2015 Dominica Broadcasting Service Christmas Song contest winner is a bilingual financial adviser in Vancouver.
“Carsim is a real pure talent,” said Kardinal who was honoured with a Trailblazer Award at the second annual Black Arts & Innovation Expo in February 2016. “He has an incredible voice. I hope to see him go super far on this show. He stood out for me because of his authentic and incredible voice, and he delivered.”
Before becoming a ‘Canada’s Got Talent’ judge, he made an acting appearance in the romantic comedy, ‘Love, Sex and Eating the Bones’ that premiered in 2003 and received five Golden Sheaf Awards and three Genies for Best Writing.
When Kardinal looks at the hip-hop/rap music scene in Toronto, what does he see that pleases and bothers him?
“Our experience gives us a unique lens and allows us to tap into it and create music and art that nobody else can do as we do,” the 2012 Black Business & Professional Association (BBPA) Distinguished Man of Honour awardee said. “I love the way that the cultural mosaic that we live in in the city affects the art. What bothers me is that all these years later from the time I started in the industry is that local artists still view Toronto as their ceiling. I preach that you have to get out there and see the world. You must build your network because your network is your net worth. That is real. Local is important, but that cannot be the goal.”
While some might argue that there is a paucity of successful artists reaching back to help those on the rise make those critical connections, Kardinal believes that digital tools, social media platforms and online marketplaces have empowered artists to take control of their careers and build personal brands.
“Myself, Jully Black, Choclair and Saukrates just had us,” he said. “We worked within our circle of artists and friends to support one another. The vinyl we put out sometimes had Solitair on one side and Kardinal on the other because we could not afford to put out one by ourselves. We were savvy in using the little money we saved to do what we needed to do. The difference is back then, we invested in what we did.
“Now, 90 percent of what needs to be done can be done for free. You don’t have to pay for studio time as that can be done at your residence. You don’t have to invest in physical pieces to sell as everything is digital. You don’t have to do a lot of the heavy lifting we did back in the day. The only thing holding artists back now is themselves. The one thing I would say my generation didn’t do enough of is mentorship. I was mentored by Wendy ‘Motion’ Brathwaite, Master T, Orin Isaacs, Thrust, Mastermind, Bobby O’Neill and others.”
Having a supportive wife is critical for a fulfilling and healthy relationship.
Kardinal and Tashi Harrow have a solid 16-year marriage and three young children.
“Just this morning, she sent me a voice message talking about the balance we have in terms of having the lives we have and raising kids,” he said. “I don’t spend time away from home that I don’t have to. Although I travel a lot, I don’t travel long. I do what I have to do and go back home. You need to be with someone who is going to pour into you and help contribute to your greatness. You also need to do the same for them, if not in the same way, but in the way they need it. It is never always easy, but it is something we work at. When I am away for a handful of days, she holds down the homefront.”
While wives are partners in a man’s life, providing companionship and emotional support, mothers are the first and most important touchstones in a child’s life.
Donna Harrow is Kardinal’s bedrock.
“Though my mom is a sweet lady, she is also tough,” he said. “She used to teach Black heritage classes on Saturdays that kids from Alexandria Park attended. I grew up seeing her rooted in the community. As a young boy, I didn’t understand why she attended community meetings and ran so many programs for people in mainly disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Later on, I did and my appreciation for her grew.”
Harrow was a fierce advocate for Canada’s first Africentric school that opened in Toronto in September 2009.
She also worked closely with the late Louis March to launch the Zero Gun Violence Movement in June 2013 and started the Ripple Effect Circle that is an action-oriented alliance of Canadian public and private sector leaders addressing systemic racism in Black communities.
“It is not in my mom’s DNA to stop what she is doing,” said Kardinal who enjoys photography and spending quality time with family and close friends. “That perseverance rubs off on me. That ripple effect on my career is an absolute pleasure that I don’t take lightly. I live in gratitude and pray for ways in which I can use my gift not just for myself, but my people and my community.”
Philanthropy is a powerful way to use your gifts and talent to give back.
Since 1998, Kardinal has hosted the ‘Kardi Christmas Party’ that raises funds for several initiatives, including The Hospital for Sick Children, the Breast Cancer Society of Canada, Free the Children and 30 Elephants that promotes cross-cultural youth travel.
Raised in Japan, Tashi Harrow founded 30 Elephants in 2007 after discovering on her arrival in North America that few people had left their city or country.
