In his Firestarter Vol 2 album review, SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says that with the album, Kardinal Offishall has cemented his legacy among the best rapper-producers to ever do it.
“On the 25th anniversary of Firestarter, Volume 1, I put together the avengers for Firestarter Vol.2 and collaborated with some of my favorite artists of all time.” -Kardinal Offishall
In recent years, fans, hip-hop media, and industry insiders have talked about the apparent decline of hip-hop, especially on the charts (prior to Iceman, of course). The once dominant genre seemed to have slowed down with artists struggling with low ticket sales and disappointing streaming numbers. One of the few bright spots has been legacy acts, including Nas, Eminem, De La Soul, Slick Rick, Big L, Rakim, LL Cool J, and Mobb Deep, who have released new bodies of work in recent years, some of which are critically acclaimed. It used to be said that hip-hop was a young man’s game, but that’s no longer the case. Add to that Jay-Z returning to the stage for a series of hometown stadium shows, and hip-hop is having a moment. Now, one of Canada’s biggest hip-hop exports is having a moment of is own.
Kardinal Offishall is a middle child in hip-hop–he’s not as “legacy” as some of the names listed above, but his longevity in the game can’t be denied. And while his cadence and production are timeless and classic, he continues to find ways to be sonically current. Nowhere is that most evident than on his latest album Firestarter Vol. 2: Everyday, Sometimes. Released on his Black Stone Colleagues record label, the 10-song project is his first album since Kardi Gras Vol.1: The Clash (2015), and a 25th anniversary celebration of sorts of Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 (2001).
For Kardi, it was a chance to provide a soundtrack for our lives, and a chance to work with artists that he himself is a fan of.
“When I first got signed, as a kid, my only goal was representing the city of Toronto, the island of Jamaica, and putting my culture on the biggest platform as possible, so that the world could discover something that they have never seen, heard or felt before”, he explains. “On the 25th anniversary of Firestarter, Volume 1, I put together the avengers for Firestarter Vol.2 and collaborated with some of my favorite artists of all time to bring the world an album that will be the soundtrack to your best years. Feeling like a brand new artist, this album will take you on a journey where we touch upon love, heartbreak, triumphs, spirituality, substance abuse, narcissism, despair, and of course hope. All of the energy on this album is what the world goes through everyday, sometimes…”
Being a successor to Firestarter Vol. 1, this album has a lot to live up, and fortunately it does.
It opens with “Heavy Is The Head” with its big sound and big instrumentation. His flow sounds nostalgic, like the kind of flow that made you fall in love with hip-hop; hip-hop that’s actually saying something. Kardi shows off some three syllable rhyme schemes, but the song still sounds current with Kardi singing on the hook.
This album has a bit of everything. It has that boom bap production that makes you want to do the stink face. For example, “40 Acres And A Ferrari” where Stove God Cooks lends his signature grimy voice alongside Roots legend Black Thought.
“Sonically, Kardi has never taken his cues from other artists and trends…and that’s clear on this album.” -Kevin Bourne. SHIFTER
There’s the laid back groove on “All Nighter” featuring the unique pairing of T-Pain and Konshens, and the previously released “Kiss Me When I” featuring Glenn Lewis. The soulful vibes continue on “When You’re In Love” featuring Melanie Fiona, where a Kardi tackles the complexities of love. This track is reminiscent of his past collaborations with Jully Black.
We then have the reggae vibes on “Top 3” featuring Buju Banton and Idris Elba, another unlikely pairing, and “My Brother’s Keeper (Part 2)” featuring NESTA.
The album ends on a hopeful note with “Everyday, Sometimes”, ending the project as it began with big instrumentation, from drums to strings. The soft fade out ending is a suitable conclusion to this eclectic and grand musical experience.
But as expected from his catalogue, Kardi is at his best towing the line between reggae and hip-hop, and this is in full display on “Bombay Sunsets”, featuring Idris Elba, and “Where There’s Smoke”. On the prior, he puffs out his chest, letting us know he’s still that guy and an elite emcee on top of what might be the most fire beat on the album. Meanwhile, Elba drops a fiery verse of his own that’s better than what most rappers today have to offer. The latter is signature Kardi and arguably the best song on the album.
This album walks the fine line between feeling nostalgic and classic without being stuck in the past. Sonically, Kardi has never taken his cues from other artists and trends. He has always occupied his own lane in hip-hop, and that’s clear on this album. Even within reggae and hip-hop, he always found a way to create his own unique sound. He’s a musical Swiss army knife who can’t be put in a box. and that versatility is a on full display on Firestarter Vol. 2: Everyday, Sometimes. The album shows that there will always be a space for Kardi in music, as long as he’s willing to keep doing it.
“Every track pulls its own weight. It feels like he took time with his album. You can sense the care that went into it, like it means something to him.” -Kevin Bourne. SHIFTER
At 10 tracks, his shortest album yet, there’s no room for filler. Every track pulls its own weight. It feels like he took time with his album. You can sense the care that went into it, like it means something to him. It wasn’t just slapped together; it was carefully crafted and curated. He also sounds free; like he had fun making it. Even that he might have had something to prove–not to others, but to himself; maybe that he’s still able to put together excellent bodies of work 11 years removed from his last album.
Kardi is never mentioned among the best rapper-producers in hip-hop, alongside the likes of Dr. Dre, Ye, Pharrell, DJ Quik, J. Cole, Q-Tip, and Tyler, The Creator, and that can only be attributed to him being from Canada. And, with his name not mentioned enough among Toronto and Canada’s musical success stories, especially in light of the extended mainstream success of names like Drake and The Weeknd, this album is a reminder of who Kardi is and the love and respect Mr. International has all over the world, especially with the features he was able to pull together.
In the end, his sixth studio album was well worth the wait, and with it, Kardinal Offishall cements his legacy among the best rapper-producers to ever do it. And hopefully there will be a lot more music coming our way for years to come.
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s editor-in-chief and Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter focusing on film & TV, music, and fashion. He was named one of 340 international voters for the Golden Globe Awards and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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