Kardinal Offishall: Limited Time Only (Mixtape Review)

 

 

You’ve been hearing his latest track “Dangerous” featuring Akon, all over the radio and seen the video all over MTV lately; so it’s fair to say that Kardinal Offishall is finally about to enjoy the fruits of many years of labor and get the props he deserves as one of the most underrated artists in the game.

 

To wet appetites for his debut album on Konvict Music Not 4 Sale, Kardinal teams up with Clinton Spark’s again to drop the mixtape, Limited Time Only. The disc features a mish-mash of unreleased, upcoming and collaboration tracks that showcase the T-Dot rapper’s rudebwoy skills.

 

On “Set It Off,” Kardi teams with the coke Rap kingpins the Clipse who help add even more bombast to this high-energy club banger littered with dancehall sirens and gunshots. Kardi takes center stage on this number when he spits verses speaking on his financial situation, “I gave my wallet a Botox injection / A buncha rudebwoys inna ya section / I’m trying to give my tax bracket an e####### / You’re small time / I net what you make gross!”

 

Everybody and their uncle has dropped some verses over Weezy’s “A Milli” beat

lately, but Kardi’s version “Eye Miller” (a stab at Toronto’s hated on mayor David Miller) ranks near the top as he drops humorous, politically-leaning verses over Rap’s hottest beat of the moment.

 

Those familiar with Kardinal’s Jamaican heritage and affinity for Reggae toasting will love the summertime vibe that emanates from “Burnt” featuring Lindo P and the Dancehall flavored “Bad Like We Bad.”

 

If there is anything weak about the mixtape, it’s the typical shouting and background nonsense that gets in the way of the tracks. Also, the various soundbites of Akon and Kardi talking about the upcoming project in interview segments warrant a fast forward so you can get to the next brick of dope.

 

Kardinal Offishall’s upcoming album may be titled Not 4 Sale, however if this tape is any indication of what we’re in store for on the T-Dot lyricist’s long overdue new project, then let’s hope Akon paid a handsome sum for the services of Toronto’s and dare we say Canada’s nicest emcee.