Naughty Dread


"Naughty Dread" is a hip-hop song by Kardinal Offishall. It is his debut single, released in 1996 on Knee Deep Records, before being featured on the Rap [Essentials Volume One] compilation album. The song contains a sample of "Natty Dread" by Bob Marley & The Wailers. It earned him a Juno Award nomination for Juno [Award for Rap Recording of the Year|Best Rap Recording] in 1997.

Background

Kardinal wrote the song during a high school class. He recalled, "I came up with it one day when I was in class. The teacher was talking and I wasn't hearing anything. All I was feeling was, 'I have this song to write'." Kardinal recorded the song later that day.
The song blends dancehall with hip-hop, and at the time, it didn't sound like anything else. It received airplay at Canadian campus radio stations, as well as some in the US. In December 1996, Kardinal signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Canada, after one of the company's creative managers heard the song.

Track listing

12" single

A-side
  1. "Naughty Dread"
  2. "Naughty Dread"
  3. "Naughty Dread"
B-side
  1. "On [wit da Show|On wid da Show]"
  2. "On wid da Show"
  3. "Naughty Dread"