Canadian music industry icon Jason "Kardinal Offishall" Harrow accepted his honorary degree from York University at the June 20 convocation ceremony by reciting spoken word poetry – infused with his signature hip-hop lyricism – to graduands of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design.
The former York University student, born to Jamaican immigrant parents and hailing from Scarborough, Ont., spoke of his decision to hit pause on his post-secondary studies to follow his creative passion. "I left the halls of this institution in pursuit of my dreams and never thought that I would be welcomed back in this manner," he said of the full-circle moment.
Harrow repeatedly touched on the difficulties of being an artist in a world built around money, where professional success is often defined by one's financial worth. "They say art is when you listen to the universe and magic is when the universe listens to you," he said. "Either way, being a successful magician is not based on how much money you can accrue."
Through a series of artful rhymes, Harrow urged graduands to shift their mindset around education, career and finances – to avoid looking at their university degree as a means to get rich; to avoid choosing their career path based on what will pay them back the fastest; and to think about the difference between making an impact and making money. "You didn't spend all this time here at this beautiful institution," Harrow said, "to enter into the workforce looking for restitution."
Indeed, it wasn't financial gain Harrow was after when he decided to risk it all to chase his creative calling. It was the prospect of living his truth, and it led him to the fulfilling career he has today, working in artist development and creative direction at record labels and continuing to make music and collaborate with other artists, some of whom he namechecked during his moment at the mic – Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Run-DMC, Rihanna, LL Cool J, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Will Smith, among others.
Harrow then asked rhetorically, "Which one do you want – passion or purpose, freedom or finance?" before sharing one lesson his professional journey has taught him. "When you move with passion and living your purpose," he said, "you will achieve a sense of freedom and it won't be by chance."
The honorary degree recipient ended his speech by emphasizing to graduands the critical importance of remembering their purpose and holding onto their creative spirit as they embark on their careers, despite the inevitable pressures to do otherwise.
"Be proud of your degrees and all the hard work that it took to get here. These words are just a starter pistol – the beginning of a race to get clear," Harrow said. "Once your spirit gains clarity, you will know you have arrived. It has been said that a creative adult is the child who survived."