"Husslin" was an EP released on 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. "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, "". 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. It received generally favorable reviews from music critics. "The Source" gave the album 3½ out of 5 mics. 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." "The A.V. Club" gave the album a favorable review, praising its "impressive musical and lyrical consistency." AllMusic gave it 2½ out of 5 stars, noting that Kardinal "displays only flashes of promise here." The album was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the 2002 Juno Awards.