Black Jays
Encyclopedia
Black Jays is a Canadian independent record label
, production
company, and musical collective
, specializing in hip-hop
, R&B
, and reggae
music. Founded in 2000 by rappers Kardinal Offishall
and Solitair
, it was originally known as Silver House and the Girl (S.H.A.G.). In 2004, the group came to prominence after releasing a remix album
and mixtape. The Toronto
-based group's name is derived from the Toronto Blue Jays
baseball team.
. In 2004, now known as the Black Jays, Kardinal and Solitair produced The Black Jays Album, a remixed version of The Black Album
by Jay-Z
. The New York Times
reviewed their album, stating that the production team "links minimalism
to reggae."
Later that year, the Black Jays released a mixtape entitled Kill Bloodclott Bill. Led by Kardinal, the mixtape was aimed at major labels, "Bill", as a result of Kardinal's label problems with MCA Records
in 2003. "Bang Bang
", a song from the mixtape, was nominated for a Juno Award
in 2005. Kill Bloodclott Bill featured new artists on the group's roster, including Ro Dolla (a member of The Circle), Lindo P, and Mayhem Morearty. Solitair also released a mixtape in 2004, entitled The Return of the Silver Surfer.
In 2005, Mayhem left the group and recorded a diss track
over Kardinal's song "Husslin'
". A year later, Kardinal responded to the diss track when he released a remix of "City Is Mine" by Drake
. Additionally, in 2005, Kardinal released his third album, Fire and Glory
, on Black Jays through a co-venture with Virgin Music Canada
. Kardinal produced three songs for his 2008 album, Not 4 Sale
, under the Black Jays label.
, Cipha Sounds
, Black Chiney
, Nina Sky
, and Nottz
.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
company, and musical collective
Musical collective
Musical collective is a phrase used to describe a group of musicians in which membership is flexible and creative control is shared. Such entities have transitioned from the traditional hierarchical configuration that features either a frontman , or a plurality of band members in tension for...
, specializing in hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
music. Founded in 2000 by rappers Kardinal Offishall
Kardinal Offishall
Jason D. Harrow , better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall , is a Canadian rapper and record producer. He is often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador", and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip-hop.-Life and career:Harrow was born in...
and Solitair
Solitair
Solitair is a Canadian hip-hop MC and producer from Toronto, Ontario. He is currently a member of the Black Jays record label and production team...
, it was originally known as Silver House and the Girl (S.H.A.G.). In 2004, the group came to prominence after releasing a remix album
Remix album
A remix album is an album consisting mostly of remixes or re-recorded versions of a music artists' earlier released material.One of the earliest remix albums was 1971's Aerial Pandemonium Ballet by Harry Nilsson, which was released by Nilsson after the successes of Everybody's Talkin and The Point!...
and mixtape. The Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based group's name is derived from the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
baseball team.
History
Kardinal Offishall and Solitair are members of The Circle, a hip-hop collective which was formed in the 1990s. In 2000, they founded the S.H.A.G. production company. The next year, the company's logo and credits appeared on Kardinal's major-label debut, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1
Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 is the second studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall, released May 22, 2001 in the United States. Released on MCA Records, the album is his major-label debut. Its a recompilation album, which includes older songs and demos that he used to get signed...
. In 2004, now known as the Black Jays, Kardinal and Solitair produced The Black Jays Album, a remixed version of The Black Album
The Black Album (Jay-Z album)
The Black Album is the eighth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released November 14, 2003, on Roc-A-Fella Records. It was promoted as his final studio album, which serves as a recurring theme, although Jay-Z returned to solo recording with Kingdom Come in 2006.The album debuted at number one...
by Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reviewed their album, stating that the production team "links minimalism
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
to reggae."
Later that year, the Black Jays released a mixtape entitled Kill Bloodclott Bill. Led by Kardinal, the mixtape was aimed at major labels, "Bill", as a result of Kardinal's label problems with MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
in 2003. "Bang Bang
Bang Bang (Kardinal Offishall song)
"Bang Bang" is a hip-hop song by Kardinal Offishall. Released in 2004, the single appears on his mixtape, Kill Bloodclott Bill. The song, which contains a sample of "Bang, Bang" by Nancy Sinatra, was nominated for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2005 Juno Awards.In 2003, Kardinal's album...
", a song from the mixtape, was nominated for a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
in 2005. Kill Bloodclott Bill featured new artists on the group's roster, including Ro Dolla (a member of The Circle), Lindo P, and Mayhem Morearty. Solitair also released a mixtape in 2004, entitled The Return of the Silver Surfer.
In 2005, Mayhem left the group and recorded a diss track
Diss track
A diss track or diss song is a song primarily intended to disparage or insult another person or group. While musical parodies and attacks have always existed, the trend became increasingly common in the hip hop genre as part of the hip hop rivalry phenomenon...
over Kardinal's song "Husslin'
Husslin' (song)
"Husslin" is a hip-hop song by Kardinal Offishall. It was the only single from his EP of the same name. The song also appears on his second album, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1. Released in early 2000, the 12" single quickly became an underground favorite, and it was #1 on many college radio...
". A year later, Kardinal responded to the diss track when he released a remix of "City Is Mine" by Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
. Additionally, in 2005, Kardinal released his third album, Fire and Glory
Fire and Glory
Fire and Glory is the third studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall, released November 15, 2005. It was released on EMI/Virgin Records, exclusively in Canada...
, on Black Jays through a co-venture with Virgin Music Canada
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. Kardinal produced three songs for his 2008 album, Not 4 Sale
Not 4 Sale (Kardinal Offishall album)
- Samples and interpolations :* "Numba 1 " – Contains an interpolation of "The Tide Is High" by The Paragons* "Ill Eagle Alien" – Contains an interpolation of "Englishman in New York" by Sting...
, under the Black Jays label.
Black Jays International
In 2007, a division of Black Jays, known as Black Jays International, was created. Members include EstelleEstelle (musician)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
, Cipha Sounds
Cipha Sounds
Cipha Sounds is an American radio and television personality of Puerto Rican descent...
, Black Chiney
Black Chiney
Black Chiney is a Jamaican sound system based in Miami, Florida. It consists of four Chinese Jamaicans mixed with African descent: Supa Dups, Bobby Chin, Willy Chin and Walshy Killa. The Caribbean slang "Black Chiney" refers to this racial mix....
, Nina Sky
Nina Sky
Nina Sky is an American musical duo composed of identical twins Nicole and Natalie Albino .-Early life and career:Albino's parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico and were divorced when the girls were younger...
, and Nottz
Nottz
Dominick Lamb better known by his stage name, Nottz is a music producer, writer and rapper from Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. He sometimes extends his executive name to Nottz Raw.-History:...
.
Artists
- Kardinal OffishallKardinal OffishallJason D. Harrow , better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall , is a Canadian rapper and record producer. He is often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador", and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip-hop.-Life and career:Harrow was born in...
- SolitairSolitairSolitair is a Canadian hip-hop MC and producer from Toronto, Ontario. He is currently a member of the Black Jays record label and production team...
- Ro Dolla
- Lindo P
- Nicole Moses (Nikki Mo)
- Darryl Riley
- EstelleEstelle (musician)Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
- Daytona
- Nina SkyNina SkyNina Sky is an American musical duo composed of identical twins Nicole and Natalie Albino .-Early life and career:Albino's parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico and were divorced when the girls were younger...
Albums
- Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 is the second studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall, released May 22, 2001 in the United States. Released on MCA Records, the album is his major-label debut. Its a recompilation album, which includes older songs and demos that he used to get signed...
(2001) - Fire and GloryFire and GloryFire and Glory is the third studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall, released November 15, 2005. It was released on EMI/Virgin Records, exclusively in Canada...
(2005) - Not 4 SaleNot 4 Sale (Kardinal Offishall album)- Samples and interpolations :* "Numba 1 " – Contains an interpolation of "The Tide Is High" by The Paragons* "Ill Eagle Alien" – Contains an interpolation of "Englishman in New York" by Sting...
(2008)
External links
- Black Jays at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....