Customer Reviews

V1 Firestarter Quest For Fire

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow, Kardinal is better then most american rappers. His multi-culteral (reggae) flow is one of the most original since Rakim. This debut album is one of my favourites. Best Song "Ol' Time Killin'"

-_Keep a list of all the songs I'm gonna list in this review, cuz you're gonna wanna cop 'em all_-

I remember the first time I heard kardi, "Money Jane" (2000, Baby Blue Soundcrew feat. Kardi, Sean Paul & Jully Black), I just couldn't get it out of my head, the way he referred to money as a female that he couldn't get away from. His masterfull lyrics shone through on that track, after that I did everything I could to find kardi tracks.

From his Collaboration with Wu-tang ("Carefull Click Click"), to "Northern Touch" with his canadian brethren (Rascalz, Choclair, Thrust and Checkmate). It didn't seem like a single thing I heard from kardi sounded like anything else I'd ever heard. When I heard his first album was dropping, I anxiously awaited it's release, and I wasn't dissapointed. Like others have said, "Firestarter Vol. 1" Has got the be one of the single greatest albums that's ever graced the inside of my discman.

No two tracks sound alike. He hits you hard with the party track, "Bakardi Slang", gettin you hooked and wantin to hear more, as you keep headin down the track list, other lyrical gems start to stand out immedeately. "Husslin'" and "Ol' Time Killin" are two of my favorite tracks, and regularly find their way into my mix CDs even now in 2003. As you keep goin, the "Money Jane Remix" brings back memories of my first kardi experience in 2000. "Man By Choice" is next, this song stands out for me in two ways; In one way it shows his roots growing up facing racism and stereotypes, but never losing sight of the fact that he is his own man, and will never be labeled by anyone. In another way it stands out for me is the phat beat the whole thing is laid on. With the funky guitar on the choruses and the church organy (organy may not be a word =\) melody over the rest of the track, it is so unique to me from anything else I've heard, it really stands out as one of the most completely innovative tracks on the album. After Man By Choice you may be sitting in a state of awe (I know I was), "Maxine" quickly brings you back with it's bluesy island background, Kardinal compliments this sound with a sultry lilt to his jamaican accented voice, that really brings out his jamaican heritage, and gives you a deeper look into his roots. The song comes across as again, completely unique. Very few rappers can bring a track like this into an album laid down with phat beats and sick lyrics (common's latest attempt in 2003 comes to mind). "U R Ghetto" brings up what may be some more recent times in his life, and something alot of people can relate to. Numerous times I burst out laughing on the subway and got people lookin at me like I was crazy, 'cause I could picture people I knew fitting in perfectly to his examples of "ghetto". The final tracks on the album do not seem to hit as hard for me as the first 8, but each one is still unique and will have you listening to the WHOLE album, not just one hot track like so many other albums today, and your head will be bumpin' the whole while.

I am waiting patiently for his next release, I can only hope that it will be as influential for me as his debut "Firestarter Vol. 1: Quest For Fire". If any of his recently released tracks are an indicator of what Vol.2 will bring to the table, then i don't think I will find myself dissapointed. With the likes of "Sick" (feat Bounty Killer), "Block Reincarnation" (shawna feat Kardi) and "You Gets No Love Remix) (Faith Evans feat Kardi) hittin' the streets, I have no doubt that Vol.2 will be a thing of genius.

Kardinal is a Jamaican-Canadian from Toronto, who mixes regae and dancehall beats with rap. Sounds a lil too much for you probably, but trust me its as good as any CD you will ever buy. Im not gonna go compare Kardinal to Tupac or DMX yet but 3 years from now I figure everyone will be, got this CD the day it came out and just decided to write the review now, its that good that 2 years later its still in my CD changer. If you want fresh beats, original lyrics, a new style the likes of which you probably havent heard, then you gotta own this

Kardinal is rockin' the party! This album is probably one of the most creative Hip Hop albums I've ever heard! A mix of every category of Urban music! Get it if you like Dancehall and Reggae Style Rap! Canada is well represented on the map with this album!

this album was so dope. Im from LA so there arent alot of rappers that would bring in a sound like this and get away with it. He brings in dancehall and hip hop at the same time. He should have been famous from his first album which is incredably hard to find. I hope he comes taking out better and better albums in the near future

Kardinal is Canadian and not afraid to show it unlike some rappers from Canada like Rascalz & Choclair. Kardinal Offishall does'nt try to imatate people like DMX, Nelly, Ja Rule, Redman, P.Diddy, Method Man, Coolio, Tupac R.I.P EXE. You get the point so here's a list of the songs on the album and my rating for each on.
*****************************************************************
1. Intro- Good Intro Solid Backround- 7.5
2. Bakardi Slang- The Smash Hit Single and by far his best- 10.0

3. Mic T.H.U.G.S- Good, But not his best- 6.0
4. Husslin'- Good Song nice beat too- 8.0
5. Ol' Time Killin'- Maybe better than Barkadi Slang- 10.5
6. Money Jane (Remix) Feat. Sean Paul & Jully Black- Good- 9.5
7. Man By Choice- A song about racisiam- 9.0
8. Maxine- OH MS.MAXINE- 7.0
9. U R Ghetto 2002- Good Ol' Ghetto- 8.0
10.Quest for Fire Feat. Solitair- FYAH!!!- 9.5
11.Powerfulll- GREAT!!!- 8.5
12.G Walkin' Feat. Glenn Lewis- It's OK- 6.5
13.Gotta Get It Feat. The Saukrettes- AWSEOME- 9.5
14.On Wid da Show- Pretty Good- 7.5
15.Go Ahead Den- SWEET!!!- 9.5
*****************************************************************As you can see most of my ratings are high and really good coments. So if you don't have this CD then go get.

I'm so sick and tired of hearing the usual ish like Noreaga, Master P, etc. Guys who get by on dope beats with wack lyrics. Kardinal Offishall who I saw on BET and liked his Bakardi Slang and then saw Ol' Time Killin. After that song, I had to pick this album up and let me tell you I was not mad about going down to the record store and picking this one up. Kardinal even did a underground remix with Busta that's hot too. Kardinal's on the rise up and he's taking his whole city with him. I look forward to firestarter vol. 2 and just would recommend this album up there with the likes of Jay-Z's the Blueprint and Nas' Stillmatic. It's that good. You haven't heard nothing like it. Kardinal's bout to blow up as well as the T-Dot (Toronto).

Let me just start off by saying that I am not a rap hip-hop fan. My music is more of Korn, Rage Against the Machine,LINKIN PARK, sublime, and Homegrown to name a few. Well, one day I was watchin' Much music when Kardinall Offishall video, "Ol' time Killin'", came on. To my surprise i liked it. So, I checked them out as a joke to myself. Im so glad I did. I bought the cd and have never regreted it. This cd is soo good and different and, and... there are no words to describe it. If you could only by one cd this week or month or whatever, buy this one you won't be sorry.

Kardinal Offishall may have one of the most weird names in hip-hop, but his debut, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol.1, is far from weird. Producing most of the album himself, this album is musically one of the most innovative works we've heard in a while.

Lyrically, he ain't bad either. If he goes over your head a few times then it's probably because you're not hip with his slang. He hails from the T-Dot (as in T.O.R.O.N.T.O., Canada) where there is some kind of West Indian influence there. Thus, this album has a reggae-hip hop feel to it. For instance, check out his first single "Bakardi Slang" where he breaks down the T-Dot language a la Big L's "Ebonics". More dancehall-esque tunes are found in the bump-n-grind jam "Maxine" and "Go Ahead Den". Even his R&B-ish tracks "Powerfulll" and "G Walkin'" (the latter features, if I'm not mistaken, fellow Canadian Glenn Lewis) make a mark.

Though I can do without "U R Ghetto 2002" (you-know-you're-ghetto jokes are so 1997), this album will stay in your stereo for a very long time. Firestarter Vol. 1 is just plain dope.

I love this CD. When I first heard him I was like OK he'll get his 1 song and that's it, I was totally wrong. I can't tell you how many times I have listened to my CD. This is one CD that will make a hip-hop collection complete.