By Marc Lostracco

You may wonder why local MC and producer Kardinal Offishall appears for a split second in Estelle’s “American Boy” video (the one featuring Kanye West), but the two go way back. Kardi originally appeared on the British singer’s 2004 remix single, “Don’t Talk,” and Estelle—née Fanta Swaray—became part of Kardi’s Black Jays collective in 2006.
Estelle and Kardinal Offishall collaborated again (with Mark Ronson producing) for the track “Magnificent,” which appears on her latest album, Shine—but also shows up somewhere the artists apparently didn’t clear: the recent gambling flick 21.
Music placement in films, commercials, and movie trailers can be a songwriter’s bread and butter, and not only was Estelle unaware that “Magnificent” is apparently used in the film, she and her collaborators have yet to be paid, according to a report by Karen Bliss on Spinner.com
“We’re screaming at everybody. Everyone’s got their lawyers out right now,” says the artist, adding with a laugh that she wants three-hundred grand.
Boasting friendships with John Legend and Kanye, the West London soulstress is on her way up across the pond, but pal Kardi is also enjoying some renewed success—Toronto’s 6′4″ hip-hop ambassador allegedly turned down Jay-Z to sign with Akon’s Konvict Music label, and his new single “Dangerous” is a spring smash.
Images via Atlantic Records.