Search - Kardinal Offishall :: Fire & Glory

Just Ok

R. Avila | 03/23/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Theres 3 or 4 good songs on here but that's about it. Don't waste your money unless you can find it used for like $5."

Kardi

NappyXL | Marysville, Washington by way of San Francisco | 03/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ok Ok....some people like this album some people don't like it that much. Let me break it down for yall



1. Kardinal is as Original as it gets

2. Kardinal stays true to his form

3. Kardinal writes and produces all his stuff...or most of it

4 Kardinal does not sound like all that garbage on the radio US or CA

5. Kardi aint rhymin about that same ole bling and 24's like you here on the radio or see in the videos



This is what makes him such an extrodinary artist. I have been a Hip Hop head for years, and I always look for someone who is different and stands out from all the other programmed artists who are just trying to sell records, and don't really put any creativity behind their music. I mean how many times can Manie Fresh or those Dirty South dudes rhyme about money and cars and S**T like that..come on man. BIG UPS TO Kardi and the T-DOT for holdin it down. To all you other Canadian Artists keep the good music flowin to the States. Artists like K-OS, Choclair, Socrates, Swollen Members, SweatShop Union just to name a few.

"

The return of the T dot

Tom Watkins | 12/08/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Finally an official album from Kardinal Offishall! His last major album Quest For Fire was released back in 2001, and we were left waiting for ages thanks to trouble from his label MCA. The frustration of not getting his followup released made Kardi release the excellent underground album Kill Bloodclott Bill Vol.1 last year, an album aimed at MCA and music industry big shots.



Fire And Glory isn't a straight Hip Hop album, neither is it a dancehall album. Rather, it mixes flavours from several genres, and mixes them in a consistent, natural way. Kardinal's trademark flow and superb lyrics could easily save a flat, boring beat, but thankfully on this album they rarely have to. Most tracks are produced by Kardinal himself, and his production is as versatile as his rapping. Especially The Best Man and Neva New stand out as well produced tracks.



EGG (Everybody Gone Gangsta) is an old mixtape favourite which also was on Kill Bloodclott Bill. The teamup with dancehall don Vybz Kartel is pure genius, and the production is spot on. Several other tracks - Last Standing Soldier, Neva New and Mr. Officer - have an revamped old school reggae fell to them, and are all the better for it. The Best Man with Spragga Benz on the mic is really good. Sunday has a very different, soulful production, with Kardi singing the hook! Watchalike with Busta is produced by Kardi, and has the kind of simple, handclap driven beat you could expect from the Neptunes. Good if that's your thing.



Unfortunately, many of the remaining tracks fail to impress. Especially the last two tracks should have been replaced with some of the bangers from Kill Bloodclott Bill, like the incredible Empty Barrel, See The Fire, Gas and Kill Bloodclott Bill (Bang Bang).



With those replacements this would have been a 5 star album, but Fire and Glory is still one of the best releases of 2005. Rumours have it that Kardinal has recorded about 100 tracks of equal quality between 2001 and 2005, so maybe we can hope for a release of The Waiting Years Vol.1-3?



For many, the wait has been long for this album, and it's a relief to see that Kardinal has lost none of the fire displayed on Quest For Fire. He has developed his flow and become more versatile while still staying true to his own particular blend of hip hop and caribbean music. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for the next album!"