Choclair Essentials

Kareem “Choclair” Blake was a trailblazer for the nascent Canadian hip-hop scene of the ‘90s, establishing a sharp flow and sharper intellect with his debut, 1999's Ice Cold. A native of Toronto's diverse Scarborough suburb, Choclair was a member of the Circle crew alongside some of the city's other leading lights, including Kardinal Offishall and Saukrates. Across his two-decade-long career, the Jamaican-Canadian MC pays homage to old-school influences, mixing beatboxing and funky breaks with slick wordplay and everyman introspection.