andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Big things are happening for Toronto-based rapper Kardinal Offishall.

Akon will executive-produce Kardinal’s next release, “Not For Sale.”

“Whether it comes out directly on Konvict Muzik (Akon’s record label) or if it’s on another label still has to be worked out,” says Mayday, Kardinal’s manager. “He is officially part of the Konvict family though.”

Kardinal Offishall and Akon collaborated in 2004 on “Kill the Dance,” a high-energy reggae track, infused with Akon’s recognizable vocals. Akon said he learned a lot from working with Kardi and that the rapper’s trademark style influenced him towards conscious lyrics and eclectic production.

“Kardi is really ambitious,” Akon says. “He kinda reminds me of myself and that’s why I think we get along so well. He just produces the kind of music he wants to make and that’s the way it should be. He’s smart with his career decisions and looks out for his music, and that’s something you can’t help but respect and want to work with.”

With files from Adam Gonshor

We didn’t plan it this way.

It just added up.

And when we went to the archives for a count, the tally read 10.

andPOP has interviewed Canadian rap superstar Kardinal Offishall 10 times. That’s nine more times than we’ve interviewed P. Diddy and 10 more times than we’ve interviewed Madonna and Britney Spears combined.

The amazing thing is that we’ve only had one official planned interview (late last year to talk about his album Fire and Glory). The other nine have been at events we’ve both attended over the years.

As you’ll see in the 10th interview, which we conducted at the 2006 MuchMusic Video Awards last month, our first interview took place in 2002, when Vince Carter held a press conference to announce his celebrity summer All-Star game. He invited artists from Canada’s music scene to shoot baskets for charity. Kardinal showed he had some basketball skills. Snow showed that he did not. You can watch our first Kardinal interview here.

For an in depth 2-part interview from last year, head over here.

And for numero diez, check that out here.

And thanks to the always accommodating and never dull Kardinal Offishall for always making time for andPOP.

Four long years have passed since Kardinal Offishall released his breakthrough album, Firestarter Vol. 1.

Although he had enough material to release a second album two years ago (and even a Neptunes-produced single already released), his label folded and the album was shelved.

Finally, after uncertainty and anticipation, the wait is over and Kardinal can say, with a smile on his face, that “Fire and Glory,” the next chapter in his life, is in stores now.

He’s had much success in the Canadian hip-hop scene, and now he has the world on his radar.

Kardinal spoke with andPOP the day before his album was released (Nov. 15). Watch the interview to learn about why the album was delayed for so long, his un-beef with k-os, a possible tour with his “Circle,” and much more.