What`s good? What`s happenin`?? What`s lovely y`all??? Hopefully Life`s treating you well, it`s rough out here for a Human nowadays! With that being said I`m here to celebrate this highly overlooked album from the Canadian Hip Hop Ambassador himself, Mr. Kardinal Offishall. It`s been so over~look`D that I had to put my HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN touches on it. You know, so it receives the proper light that it should be getting.😉 It`s actually his debut album titled "Eye & I" originally released back in 1997 thru Capitol Hill Music Inc. The album was recorded during 1996 & 1997. Kardi` produced most of the album himself; except for "Sweet Marie" & "Jeevin (Life)" which were produced by Saukrates. While the both of them produced the opening track "Breakdown (Keep Moving)" together...
So let`s keep it moving & get to the "Breakdown" shall we? YeS-YeS, it`s fresh & smooth with features from Saukrates & Denosh (some of y`all may have heard her on the Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth joint "It`s A Love Thing" released in 2004). It`s a decent way to open up an album, Kardinal flexes his lyrical prowess while Denosh & Saukrates mellow out the hook. The album`s first single "On Wid Da Show" follows with some features from Afrolistics (a.k.a. Ro Dolla) & Tara Chase. It`s most definitely the first banger on Mr. Offishall`s debut...
"Da Brown" is next & I`m not even goin` to front this hook got stuck in my head for 2 weeks straight after revisiting it for some reason. Probably because it reminds me of that 1980`s Body Rap toy😉 Kardi` does his thing of course. The first "Hint-A-Lude" is pretty much just a one time listen thing. It`s not ever a necessity to enjoy the rest of the album, but you know how the `90's albums were with their skits & interludes. BiG~uP De La Soul! 😆 "Mysteries" follows with its smooth`D~out vibes, I`m sure that there`s a few uncredited features on this joint bwecause I can clearly hear that there`s some other folks contributing but I`ve got no idea who they are, either way tho it`s a decent listen. "P.W.O.T."; the Ro Dolla a.k.a. Afrolistics & Kardinal Offishall collabo` comes next & neither emcee disappoints. Although I feel Kardinal owns the track, my opinion of course. "Brothers function with an automatic slang, Yang makes the Yin. We slang rhyme banging off the walls like Brooklyn Smalls, yo we Biggie"!!!
The woman~appreciation anthem "My Niah" featuring L.J a.k.a. Lock Jaw comes next & gives women the respect that they`re deserving, ladies we do love all of y`all!😉"Madmoizellez" has Kardi` flexin` game to his girl, while Wade O. Brown provides the R&B vibes to the hook & the rest of the track. From what I know of Wade O. Brown, he has been doin` his thing on the R&B tip as early as 1997 up in Canada. I first heard him on the Beat Factory`s "GROOVEssentials Vol. 1" compilation on the track "Give Me The Chance". Once again the second "Hint-A-Lude" isn`t anything of necessity, listening~wise. "Make It Happen" features Van~City`s Red1 of the Rascalz, bringin` an East/West Canadian collabo` to the album. Kardi` & Red1 pretty much hold their own going back & forth over the Kardinal Offishall produced track which also includes an uncredited Saukrates feature on the song`s hook. "W.I. Philosophi" is another interlude & it features Miss Raelene, I`m not exactly sure who she is. Most likely someone that Kardinal knows, sadly tho she`s delivering a message that`s still~relevant today, some 27 years later!!!
"Sweet Marie" featuring Nicole Sinclair is next & has Kardi` paying homage & respect to his mother, just as all men should! Not quite on "Dear Mama"`s level, however still a DoPe tune nonetheless! After the heart~felt stuff comes "Bellee Buss (Don`t Make Me Laugh)". This joint`s more of a lyrical skill flexin` track for Kardinal with it`s chucklin` 'get on it` hook sample. "LoLo" would definitely make Uncle Luke proud! I`m not sure if that was his intent, but it sure comes off that way to me with its Miami Bass Music vibes😉.Tara Chase is featured & introduced on the Kardinal produced "King Of Da Hill". Perhaps this was recorded before ''On Wid Da Show''? I couldn`t tell ya unfortunately. Even with its Jazzy vibes, I won`t even try to lie "Elle A" is the only track that I skip over on this album & realistically it`s not even a song it`s more of a super long interlude, so I don`t feel so bad in doing so😆. "Jeevin` (Life)", which also has the album`s second music video featuring Jully Black (Most will probably know of her work on Nas` "Heaven" track from 2002). Jully is flexin` her talent early on in her career here for y`all...
"Naughty Dread Pt. II" is the bangin` self~produced sequel to his introduction to the Hip Hop world on the 1996 released BeatFactory`s "Rap Essentials Vol. 1" compilation. I`m surprised that it never received an actual music video because the tune`s definitely a banger! Then again so should have the original, again that`s just my opinion. The third "Hint-A-Lude" isn`t anything special either after one listen. The double~time`D call & response "Friday Night" closes out the retail release of the album. It`s not the greatest of tunes to close out an album, but it`s still definitely enjoyable...
Now y`all know me...when I`m celebrating an album I try to make it a truly enjoyable experience for the listener, especially if the record labels are sleepin`! The fans definitely want this type of stuff, if you think other~wise you`re trippin` with no luggage & missin` out on some for~certain revenue! It`s y`all labels` loss, I`ll do ya` job for ya😏So on this HeRBaN DeLuXe VeRSioN we definitely had to start things off by adding the very first song that I heard from Kardinal Offishall; the self~produced "Naughty Dread" from the previously mentioned "Rap Essentials Vol. 1". A DoPe introduction indeed, but that`s only my opinion. Now for a much more rawer version, there`s the "Naughty Dread [Elington West Mix]". This is my preferred version simply because there`s no edits here yo! I truly enjoy this version of the track the most for obvious reasons 😆.
The "Naughty Dread [Rmx]" features Marvel & Ms. Nici on more of an underground grimy sound. Sadly it`s somewhat edited, but still enjoyable nonetheless, it`s also produced by Kardinal. The Saukrates produced "On Wid Da Show [Original Clean Mix]" features Jaden, Mali as well as Saukrates. In my opinion this version`s definitely much more on the catchier~side, word~up! Oh yeah, I also decided to include some YouTube ripped music video files for "Jeevin`" & "On Wid Da Show" as an extra added bonus. So enjoy & celebrate this underappreciated debut from one of Canada`s iLLeST talents. Thank you Mr. Offishall for blessin` HiP HoP with this mighty fine album right here, I SaLuTe ya` efforts & appreciate the many hours that I`ve spent listened to it & the many more hours that you spent creating this gem!!!
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Oh CaNaDa!!!
