Look up clear in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Clear may refer to:

Media[link]

• Clear (visual novel), an adult Japanese visual novel

Music[link]

• "Clear", a song from the 2007 Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus album Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus
• "Clear!", a 2009 single from the Kardinal Offishall album Mr. International
• Clear (band), a vegan straight edge hardcore group from Utah
• Clear (Bomb the Bass album), a 1995 album by Bomb the Bass
• Clear (Christian band), an American CCM group from Cambridge, Minnesota
• Clear Entertainment (also C.E. Music), a record label owned by Worldwide Pants Incorporated
• "Clear" (song), a 1983 single from the Cybotron album Clear
• Clear (Spirit album), a 1969 album by Spirit

Technology[link]

• Citizen Law Enforcement Analysis and Reporting, a system of relational databases used by the Chicago Police Department
• Clearwire, wireless internet service products provided in the United States, Belgium, and Spain marketed as CLEAR
• CLEAR Framework for Enterprise Architecture, an Enterprise Architecture meta-model
• Unknown extension tag "syntaxhighlight" (Unix), a standard Unix computer operating system command which is used to clear the screen

Other[link]

• Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR), a United Kingdom political party which campaigns against cannabis prohibition
• Clear, an airport registered traveler program
• Clear, Alaska is an unincorporated community in Denali Borough, Alaska, United States
• Clear (Scientology), one of two levels a practitioner can achieve on the way to personal salvation
• Tetrahydrogestrinone (also "The Clear"), an anabolic steroid developed by Patrick Arnold

See also[link]

• Claro (surname)
• Clear channel (disambiguation)
• Clearance (disambiguation)
• Clearing (disambiguation)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Kardinal Offishall
Kardinal Offishall at eTalk in 2008.
Background information
Birth name	Jason D. Harrow
Born	(1976-05-12) May 12, 1976 (age 36)
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Canadian hip hop, Dancehall
Occupations	Rapper, songwriter, record producer
Years active	1994-present
Labels	MCA Records, Kon Live Distribution, Geffen Records, Konvict
Associated acts	Akon, Black Jays, Sean Paul, Colby O'Donis, Rihanna, 50 Cent, T-Pain, Nottz

Jason D. Harrow^[1] (born May 12, 1976),^[2] better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall ( /kɑrdɨˈnæl oʊfɨˈʃæl/),^[3] 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.^[4][5]

In 1997, Kardinal released his debut album, Eye & I, on independent label Capitol Hill Music, to critical acclaim.^[6] In 2000, he released the EP, Husslin', also independently on Figure IV Entertainment, which helped establish him as one of Canada's best hip-hop producers.^[7][8] The same year, Kardinal signed with major label MCA Records, and released his second album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 in 2001. The lead single, "BaKardi Slang", became his first single to appear on a U.S. Billboard chart.^[9] After releasing the single "Belly Dancer" in 2003, he left MCA Records after it was absorbed by Geffen Records.^[10]

In 2005, Kardinal released his third album, Fire and Glory, on the Canadian division of Virgin Records.^[8] The single "Everyday (Rudebwoy)" became a top twenty hit in Canada. In 2008, his fourth album Not 4 Sale was released on Kon Live Distribution, a subsidiary of Geffen Records. The album was a critical success, spawning the hit single "Dangerous".^[8] The single was his first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number five.^[9] Kardinal will release his fifth album—his second under Kon Live Distribution—Mr. International in 2012.

Biography[link]

Early life and career beginnings[link]

Harrow was born in Scarborough, Ontario,^[11][12] in Toronto's east end, and raised by Jamaican immigrant parents. From the ages of 2 to 13, he lived in the city's Flemingdon Park neighbourhood. He moved back to Scarborough for two years, before finally settling in Oakwood–Vaughan, in the city's west end.^[13][14][15] While in high school, he would throw parties at the Alexandra Park Community Centre.^[14] He also is a former York University student but did not complete his degree.^[16]

He started rapping at the age of eight and was winning competitions by the time he was 12. Also at the age of 12, he performed live and on stage for the first time, with Nelson Mandela in attendance during Mandela's first visit to Toronto.^[8] By 1993, he decided to change his alias "KoolAid", and went by the moniker "Kardinal Offishall" after being inspired by the great 17th century French politician Cardinal Richelieu.^[17]

[edit] 1996-1999: Eye & I

Kardinal was signed to a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music Canada at the age of 20.^{[citation needed]} In 1996, he released his first single "Naughty Dread", which was featured on the Rap Essentials Volume One compilation and earned him a Juno Award nomination for Best Rap Recording. In 1997, Kardinal released his debut album Eye & I on Capitol Hill Music. The only single from the album, "On wit da Show", had considerable video play on MuchMusic. The album received rave reviews from music critics.^[18][19] Allmusic stated that Kardinal "blended soul, dancehall, reggae, hip-hop, and a wholly inventive approach to beats on his 20-track debut album, Eye & I."^[20] Unfortunately, the album was poorly distributed in Canada, and a lack of radio support resulted in the album receiving limited commercial attention.^[18][21] Over 4,000 copies of the album were sold in its first three months of release.^[8] In 1998, he was featured on the Juno-winning single "Northern Touch" with the Rascalz, Choclair, Checkmate and Thrust.

[edit] 2000-2003: Husslin' and Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1

Husslin' was an EP, released April 11, 2000. It was released independently on Figure IV Entertainment and distributed by Fat Beats Records in the United States. The title track, "Husslin'", was one of the hottest 12" singles of 2000.^[22] "And What?", featuring Saukrates, was released as a single in 1999. "Husslin'" and "Mic T.H.U.G.S." also appear on Kardinal's second studio album, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1. An updated version of "U R Ghetto When", known as "U R Ghetto 2002", is on the Quest for Fire album. In 2000, Kardinal signed with MCA Records. He released the album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 in 2001, which spawned the hits "BaKardi Slang" and "Ol' Time Killin'".One year after its release, 25,000 copies of the album were sold in Canada.^[23] It received generally favorable reviews from music critics. The Source gave the album 3½ out of 5 mics.^[23] RapReviews.com gave it a 7/10 rating, calling it a "mixed bag," and stating "there are also some perfect 10's to be found here."^[24] The A.V. Club gave the album a favorable review, praising it's "impressive musical and lyrical consistency."^[25] Allmusic gave it 2½ out of 5 stars, noting that Kardinal "displays only flashes of promise here."^[26] The album was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the 2002 Juno Awards.

After MCA folded in 2003, Kardinal's highly anticipated follow up album Firestarter Vol. 2: The F-Word Theory was shelved along with the single/video for "Belly Dancer" featuring Pharrell, and Kardinal eventually found himself without a label. Had the album been released, there would have been production from Timbaland and The Neptunes, among others. He released an independent mixtape titled Kill Bloodclott Bill

[edit] 2004-2007: Fire and Glory & Not 4 Sale

in 2004 with his production company, Black Jays, and he also released his second major-label album titled Fire and Glory on November 15, 2005, through Virgin Records in Canada only. Hits on Fire and Glory include "Everyday (Rudebwoy)" and "Heads Up". RapReviews.com gave the album an 8.5/10 rating, stating "Fire and Glory is a better album than Firestarter Vol. 1," and "aside from having better lyrics than most of his counterparts, Kardinal's unique style also sets him apart."^[27] The album was nominated for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2006 Juno Awards.

Not 4 Sale is the fourth studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall, released September 9, 2008 on Kon Live/Geffen Records. Its his second international major-label album, after 2001's Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1. It was a critical success, spawning the top 5 Billboard Hot 100 single "Dangerous", and the minor hit "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)". 11,869 copies of the album were sold in the United States, in its first week of release. It debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 40. As of February 15, 2009, the album has sold 34,822 copies. In Canada, it debuted at number 8 on the Canadian Albums Chart, with 4,247 copies sold in the first week. The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Allmusic gave it 4 out of 5 stars, calling it "an entirely solid album", also stating "this freedom fighting and socially conscious writing is tempered with hooky club tracks that never fail."[14] USA Today gave it 3 out of 4 stars, noting "his potent blend of hip-hop and dancehall gives him a flavor all his own."PopMatters gave the album a 6/10 rating, writing "although many of the tracks here are glossy pop productions, Kardinal has not really changed since he was first heard in the '90s."The album won the award for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards.

[edit] 2008-present: Mr International

In 2008, he was featured on Just Dance (RedOne Remix) by Lady Gaga, part of the EP "Just Dance (Remixes, Pt. 2)". In 2010, he was included in the Young Artists for Haiti's version of "Wavin' Flag" in an effort to raise money for disaster relief. He starred along with many Canadian stars. Also in 2010, he was featured in Raghav's single "So Much".

Discography[link]

• Eye & I (1997)
• Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 (2001)
• Fire and Glory (2005)
• Not 4 Sale (2008)
• A.M.T.R.I.M. (Allow Me To Re-Introduce Myself) (with Nottz) (2012)
• Mr. International (2012)

Awards[link]

• 1999: Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year for Rascalz' "Northern Touch"
• 2000: Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year for producing Choclair's "Let's Ride"
• 2000: SOCAN Award for "Husslin'"
• 2001: MuchMusic Video Award - Best Rap Video for "Money Jane"
• 2002: SOCAN Award for "Money Jane"
• 2004: Canadian Urban Music Award for "Empty Barrel"
• 2006: 3 MuchMusic Video Awards - Best Video, Best Director (RT!) and VideoFACT Award for "Everyday (Rudebwoy)"
• 2009: Juno Award for Single of the Year for "Dangerous"; Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year for Not 4 Sale
• 2009: SOCAN Urban Music Award for "Dangerous"

See also[link]

32x28px	Music of Canada portal
	Hip hop portal

• Canadian hip hop
• Music of Canada

References[link]

External links[link]

• Kardinal Offishall on Myspace
• Kardinal Offishall's channel on YouTube
• Kardinal Offishall on Twitter
• Kardinal Offishall at the Internet Movie Database
• Kardinal Offishall interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' February 2009
• Border Block - Canadian Hip Hop vs. America
• Interview with DJ Stallion
• Kardinal Offishall RBMA video lecture session

Jimmy Needham
Jimmy Needham performing during the CD release for his album Not Without Love in Nashville, TN on August 24, 2008.
Background information
Born	(1985-08-22) August 22, 1985 (age 26)
Origin	Houston, Texas, USA
Genres	Pop, alternative rock, blues, soul music
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Inpop
Website	www.jimmyneedham.com

Jimmy Needham (born August 22, 1985 in Denver, Colorado) is an American contemporary Christian musician signed to Inpop Records. His second Inpop studio album, Not Without Love, was released on August 19, 2008.^[1] Earlier in 2008, he was a guest on the Relentless tour with Natalie Grant,^[2] and has previously toured with NewSong, Echoing Angels and Nate Sallie in late 2007.^[2]

He is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he studied history and philosophy, and also a graduate of Tomball High School.^[3] He is married to his wife Kelly, for whom he has written two songs.^[4]

Musical career[link]

Jimmy John's first album, For Freedom, was independently released in 2005, with the help of Troy Warren Jr.^[5] He signed with the Christian record label Inpop in 2006, and released his major label debut album, Speak, later that year. His second major album, Not Without Love, was released on August 19, 2008.^[6] In 2009, Jimmy began work on "Nightlights", which was released by Inpop records on May 18, 2010.

Influences[link]

On his debut Inpop album, Speak, Needham stated that his musical influences include Jonny Lang, Lauryn Hill, Gavin DeGraw, Marc Broussard, Jason Mraz, and particularly Keith Green.^[7] Needham said "When I listen to him it's cool because I feel the Lord has given us the same spirit in what we're singing about. If music—especially Christian music—doesn't either cause me to repent or worship, then I don't know why I'm listening to it. And I think that's why I like Keith Green so much. He didn't sugarcoat things."^[7]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• 2005: For Freedom – independently released
• 2006: Speak – Inpop Records
• 2008: Not Without Love – Inpop Records
• 2010: Nightlights - Inpop Records
• 2012: Clear the Stage - Inpop Records - March 27, 2012

Singles[link]

• "Dearly Loved" (ranked No. 11 on the "Top Contemporary Hit Songs" list by Christian Radio & Retail Weekly, April 27, 2007)
• "Lost at Sea"
• "Fence Riders" (ranked No. 14 on R&R magazine's December 15, 2007 chart)^[8]
• "A Breath or Two"
• "Hurricane"
• "Firefly"
• "Forgiven & Loved"
• "Yours To Take"

Guest Appearances[link]

• 2010: "Yours To Own" (Trip Lee)
• 2012: "Take Me There" (Trip Lee)

Compilation Appearances[link]

• 2007: iPop 2008, "Lost at Sea" (Inpop)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• See Photos of Jimmy Needham and his custom Vesper Guitar at the Vesper Guitars Website

Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery performing in June 2011
Background information
Birth name	Scott Cooke McCreery
Born	(1993-10-09) October 9, 1993 (age 18) Garner, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Country
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	2011–present
Labels	19/Interscope/Mercury Nashville[1]
Website	Official Site

Scott Cooke "Scotty" McCreery (born October 9, 1993) is an American singer from Garner, North Carolina. He won the tenth season of American Idol on May 25, 2011. His debut studio album, Clear as Day, was released in October 2011 and was certified platinum in the United States. The album includes the top 20 country songs, "I Love You This Big" and "The Trouble with Girls".

Early life[link]

McCreery was born in 1993 to Judy (née Cooke) and Michael McCreery in Garner, North Carolina.^[2][3] His mother works as a real estate agent,^[4] and his father works as a manufacturing systems analyst.^[5] His father was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to a Puerto Rican mother from San Juan and an American father.^[6] His mother is the daughter of a retired school teacher from Gates County, NC. He attended Timber Drive Elementary School in Garner,^[5] and later West Lake Middle School where he sang at his graduation. He also attended Garner Magnet High School^[7] where he joined a vocal ensemble, Die Meistersingers, that performs across the United States.^[8] He started out singing tenor.

McCreery won a singing contest called "Clayton Idol" at the Clayton Harvest Festival in Clayton, North Carolina,^[9] and was one of 36 finalists in a "Rip the Hallways" contest featuring teenage vocalists in North Carolina.^[10] He has performed at various local events.^[11] He also attended Caswell Youth Retreat in the summer of 2009, and participated in the talent show there singing Long Black Train by Josh Turner.^[12]

[edit] American Idol

Overview[link]

McCreery auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol in Milwaukee. In the Hollywood group round, he joined the "Guaps" and became embroiled in the drama when fellow group member Clint Jun Gamboa expelled Jacee Badeaux from the group. He later expressed regret for not standing up for Jacee. He was one of the five male vote getters in the semi-final round to advance to the Top 13. In an interview with Ryan Seacrest, McCreery confirmed that he has Puerto Rican ancestry. "Yes, I'm Puerto Rican," said McCreery with a smile. "I have a little bit of J.Lo in me."^[13]

Performances/Results[link]

• ^Note 1 Due to the judges using their one save on Casey Abrams, the Top 11 remained intact for another week, when two contestants were eliminated.

[edit] Post-Idol

McCreery released his coronation single "I Love You This Big" immediately after winning the tenth season of American Idol. The song entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at number 32, becoming the highest debut for a debut single since the chart converted to BDS data the week of January 20, 1990.^[14] The song sold 171,404 units in its first week,^[15] and was certified gold on August 25, 2011. A music video for the song, shot on Angels Point near Dodger Stadium, was released on August 9, 2011.^[16][17]

He signed with Mercury Nashville,^[18] earning a contract that gave him over $250,000 in advances for recording the first album.^[19]

Both McCreery and Lauren Alaina were invited to present at the CMT Music Awards on June 8, 2011,^[20] and they also both performed on the Grand Ole Opry on June 10.^[21][22] McCreery performed "I Love You This Big" and George Strait's song "Check Yes or No." ^[23] Their trip to Nashville was also featured later in an ABC Special CMA Music Fest: Country’s Night to Rock where McCreery performed "Your Man" with Josh Turner at the CMA Music Festival.^[24]

McCreery toured with the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2011, which began in West Valley City, Utah on July 6, 2011 and ended in Manila,Philippines on September 21, 2011.

GAC premiered a TV special, Introducing: Scotty McCreery, on October 3, 2011, the day before his debut album is expected to be released.^[25]

On October 19, 2011, McCreery sang the National Anthem in Game 1 of the World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.

On November 9, 2011, McCreery performed "Walk in the Country" and announced the CMA Radio Stations of the Year honors at the 45th Annual Country Music Association Awards ^[26]

On November 10, 2011, McCreery joined other country stars in Nashville to tape the CMA Country Christmas special that aired on ABC on December 1.^[27]

On Thanksgiving day of 2011, McCreery performed his second single The Trouble with Girls at the 85th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City then headlined the Macy’s Great Tree Lighting at Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta in the evening.^[28]

McCreery performed his second single at the 2nd Annual American Country Awards ^[29] on December 5, 2011 and won in the New Artist category ^[29][30]

McCreery performed "The First Noel" during the first annual CMA Country Christmas.^[31]

McCreery performed on the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade at Walt Disney World on December 25, 2011.^[32]

In 2012, he opened for Brad Paisley along with The Band Perry. The tour kicked off on January 12 with tour dates announced for the first quarter of 2012.^[33]

[edit] Clear as Day (2011)

McCreery's first album, titled Clear as Day, was released on October 4, 2011.^[34] Tracks from the album include a song from Keith Urban,^[35] and the title track "Clear as Day".^[36] A single from this album, "The Trouble With Girls" was premiered on radio on August 30, 2011,^[37][38] and released onto iTunes on September 1, 2011. An exclusive pre-order package on the album was offered in his website on August 8, 2011.^[39] He is the first artist to be featured in Deluxe Edition Of 'ZinePak available exclusively at Walmart.^[40]

The album sold 197,000 on its debut week, and Scotty McCreery made history as the first country act to debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 with their first studio album, as well as the youngest man to open at the top of the chart with his debut release.^[41] It reached No. 1 on five separate Billboard charts - Billboard 200, Top Current Albums, Digital Albums, Internet Albums, and Top Country Albums.

McCreery's appearance on Today on November 23, 2011 coincided with the news that his debut album Clear as Day had been officially certified as gold.^[42]

Clear as Day was certified platinum with over 1 million units shipped.^[43]

With McCreery's debut album Clear as Day reaching number one on the Billboard 200, he joins Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry (Daughtry) as the only Idol contestants to have a number one album.

McCreery recorded Tim McGraw's "Please Remember Me" and it was released on March 8, 2012. Also, it is used as the exit song on the eleventh season of American Idol.^[44]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Studio albums[link]

Compilation albums[link]

Extended plays[link]

Singles[link]

• ^ACurrent single.^[61]

Other songs[link]

Music videos[link]

Personal life[link]

McCreery is a professed Christian.^[65][66][67]

McCreery will soon be attending North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.^[68]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]