Kardinal Offishall
“Not 4 Sale”
(Konlive/Geffen)
Rating: 4/4

If you haven’t heard Kardinal Offishall’s album “Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1,” then consider yourself deprived of some great reggae influenced hip-hop. Bubbling in the underground circuit in the states for years (even though he’s a bigger name in his native Toronto), Kardinal always seemed one song away from blowing up in the states. It was with pleasant surprise to see rap/r&b crooner Akon take notice placing him on his Konlive imprint releasing Kardinal’s newest album in four years “Not 4 Sale.”

When you get this album you must understand one thing; it’s an adrenaline rush of music that moves swiftly and doesn’t slow down throughout. Play this cd in it’s entirety at a party and everyone will be happy. The album begins with “Burnt” displaying his strong reggae/dance-hall roots perfectly balancing that sound with hip-hop. The album has an all-star cast including Virginia trappers Clipse on “Set It Off,” “Dangerous” with Akon and independent artist J-Davey on “Digital Motown.”   Production wise, imagine what Timbaland did for Justin Timberlake on “Future Sex/Love Songs” and add a dance-hall flavor to it. The results are just as intense as he has crafted a very impressive party, or dare I say, pop album.

There’s absolutely no songs that I considered skipping when listening to it. It’s a perfect party album that has all the ingredients of being a huge success. Let’s see if Akon’s magic touch can work on him as it did with T-Pain. At times the album may be too energized hoping that the tone can calm down and we see more introspective Kardinal. Maybe on his sophomore effort under Akon’s imprint, but for now it’s purely for the clubs and cars with great systems. If it ain’t broke, you know the rest. -Preach Jacobs

Kardinal Offishall comes from the T-dot—that’s Toronto, for those who don’t know—and if the hip-hop game was a game of basketball, he’d get a T for the nastiness that comes out his mouth. So do the right thing and see what he has to say about Do the Right Thing the movie, and then check his Do the Right Thing mixtape with Clinton Sparks at myspace.com/kardinaloffishall.

First pair that made you say, “Wow, I need those.”
It was definitely adidas Shelltoes! Once I saw Run-DMC wit those? Forget it.

Favorite pair?
A pair of custom-design high-cut AF1s, black wit’ the gum sole. Murdered by C-Williams.

Favorite box/packaging?
The Jordans that came in the metal suitcase!

Favorite sneaker lyric?
“My adidas” by Run-DMC.

Thing you hate about sneakers?
Anybody can get ’em, so when a lame is wearing something fresh, it brings down the sneaker real estate.

Thing you love about sneakers?
They can come in so many colors, so there’s always a way to find an improved version of what you got already.

Personal sneaker rule?
Dirty? Don’t wear ’em outside the gates.

Do you have a pair that you’ve never worn?
Yes, a limited edition (and numbered) AF1 that Nike sent to me that was voted “Favorite AF1.”

You get to design a sneaker with one designer. Who would it be?
Whoever designed them Spizzikes!

Favorite sneaker shop?
Bodega in Boston. They always have the freshest styles. And sizes.

Thoughts on the current sneaker culture?
It’s a little outta hand. Perpetrators are pretending to be collectors, but they runnin’ wit’ re-issued joints…

Favorite sneaker scene from a movie?
When Buggin’ Out got his Js fucked up by the white boy carrying his bike in Do The Right Thing!

Favorite sneaker commercial?
Jordan and Mars Blackmon for Air Jordans.

Pair that you still can’t find in your size?
The black Spizzikes with the red and green trim. Help anyone?

What’re you wearing right now?
A pair of Nike iD Dunks.

How many pairs you own?
I give away my shoes to the needy after they wrinkle or get mad dirty beyond repair, so the number fluctuates. I feel it’s a sin to just have thousands of shoes you never wear, but that’s just me…

If you’re not wearing sneakers, what’s on your feet?
Clarks, all the way!

From Dan at StandardATL.com:

“The past few times Greg Street has been at the shop he has been kind enough to let us sit in on listening sessions of his album that is set to come out this Sept 30th on Interscope Records, titled Certified Worldwide. When we heard this track right here we knew it would be huge! Lupe Fiasco, Wale, and Kardinal all on the same track! Not to mention the original Pete Rock and CL Smooth track was remixed by super producer and good friend Don Cannon. THIS IS A STANDARD EXCLUSIVE, REMEMBER WHERE YOU HEARD IT 1ST.”

Listen to it on Standard’s site, or here: dope-boys-remix-feat-lupe-wale-kardinal

Oh yeah–Wale, Kardinal, and Greg Street are all in Vapors’ Sneaker Issue, soon to hit stores and the interweb… Keep ‘em peeled.