{"id":376299,"date":"2024-07-04T14:07:04","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T18:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/laps\/?p=376299"},"modified":"2025-03-07T15:33:27","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T20:33:27","slug":"jason-harrow-inspires-graduands-to-embrace-their-creativity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/laps\/newsroom\/2024\/07\/04\/jason-harrow-inspires-graduands-to-embrace-their-creativity\/","title":{"rendered":"Jason Harrow inspires graduands to embrace their creativity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Canadian music industry icon Jason \u201cKardinal Offishall\u201d Harrow<\/strong> accepted his honorary degree from York University at the June 20 convocation ceremony by reciting spoken word poetry \u2013 infused with his signature hip-hop lyricism \u2013 to graduands of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. \u201cI left the halls of this institution in pursuit of my dreams and never thought that I would be welcomed back in this manner,\u201d he said of the full-circle moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Harrow repeatedly touched on the difficulties of being an artist in a world built around money, where professional success is often defined by one\u2019s financial worth. \u201cThey say art is when you listen to the universe and magic is when the universe listens to you,\u201d he said. \u201cEither way, being a successful magician is not based on how much money you can accrue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through a series of artful rhymes, Harrow urged graduands to shift their mindset around education, career and finances \u2013 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. \u201cYou didn\u2019t spend all this time here at this beautiful institution,\u201d Harrow said, \u201cto enter into the workforce looking for restitution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, it wasn\u2019t 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 \u2013 Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Run-DMC, Rihanna, LL Cool J, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Will Smith, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harrow then asked rhetorically, \u201cWhich one do you want \u2013 passion or purpose, freedom or finance?\u201d before sharing one lesson his professional journey has taught him. \u201cWhen you move with passion and living your purpose,\u201d he said, \u201cyou will achieve a sense of freedom and it won\u2019t be by chance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Pictured, from left to right: Chancellor Kathleen Taylor, Jason Harrow, President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBe proud of your degrees and all the hard work that it took to get here. These words are just a starter pistol \u2013 the beginning of a race to get clear,\u201d Harrow said. \u201cOnce your spirit gains clarity, you will know you have arrived. It has been said that a creative adult is the child who survived.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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