Kardinal Offishall — Fire And Glory

If you had any doubt about Kardinal's ability to bounce back after Firestarter Volume 1, this album will definitely put all fears to rest. Fire And Glory, Kardinal's best disc yet, was well worth the four-year wait. Tracks like "Last Standing Soldier" and "Mr. Officer" show you why he's praised for bringing reggae dancehall riddims and style to hip-hop. Also, there are several street anthems, such as "Heads Up," which pairs an infectious beat with contemptuous lyrics about whack rappers, and "Everyday Rudebwoy," where Kardinal cleverly riffs on Arrested Development's otherwise overused sample of "Everyday People." This disc firmly places Kardinal among the hip-hop elite.