Choclair
Choclair on the cover of Ice Cold
Origin	Toronto, Ontario
Country	Canada
Years active	1996 – present
Genres	Hip Hop
Labels	Greenhouse Music
Website(s)	Official Website

Choclair (born Kareem Blake in Scarborough, Ontario) is a Canadian rapper. Image File history File links Choclair_IceCold. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Motto: Location City Information Established: 1 January 1850 (township), 1 January 1967 (borough), June 1983 (city), 1 January 1998 (amalgamated) Area: 187. ... Rapping is one of the elements of hip hop and the distinguishing feature of hip hop music; it is a form of rhyming lyrics spoken rhythmically over musical instruments, with a musical backdrop of sampling, scratching and mixing by DJs. ...

Choclair is a foundational hip-hop artist from Scarborough. Starting at the age of 11, Kareem "Choclair" Blake first played the role of 'Junior' following in his older brother's footsteps who, at the time, was the hottest rapper on the block. This was the bar for Kareem Blake.

In 1996, he released his debut album, Twenty One Years, on his own independent label, Kneedeep Records. He subsequently appeared on Rascalz' "Northern Touch" single, and signed with Virgin Records for his 1999 sophomore album Ice Cold. That album, which went gold in 35 days and spawned the hit single "Let's Ride", produced by Kardinal Offishall, was a major part of the late-1990s renaissance of Canadian hip hop. Choclair was also briefly signed to Priority Records in 1999, and he even dropped the single "Skunk" from 2001's Memoirs of Blake Savage which featured Kurupt from Tha Dogg Pound. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Rascalz are a hip hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia, who played a crucial role in the artistic and commercial development of Canadian hip hop. ... Northern Touch is a Canadian hip hop song, which was recorded in 1997 by Rascalz in collaboration with Checkmate, Kardinal Offishall, Thrust and Choclair. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with RIAA certification. ... Kardinal Offishall (born Jason Harrow in 1976 in Scarborough, Ontario) is a Jamaican-Canadian rap MC and producer. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Canadian hip hop developed much more slowly than the rock music scene. ... Priority Records is an American based record label, owned and operated by EMI, and has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop music. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kurupt, also known as Young Gotti and The Kingpin, (born Ricardo Emmanuel Brown on November 23, 1972 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an African American gangsta rapper and Executive Vice President of Death Row Records. ... Tha Dogg Pound, also known as D.P.G. (Dogg Pound Gangstaz), is a rap group made up of Kurupt, Snoop Dogg and Daz Dillinger. ...

The underground community worldwide quickly embraced the album, establishing him as a standout rapper in the burgeoning Canadian hip-hop scene. Most of Choclair's independent releases were featured around the globe on prestigious hip-hop compilations. In June of 1998, after having released 11 records (including the first international releases for Saukrates, Kardinal Offishall, Jully Black, Solitair, Marvel, Tara Chase and many more of Toronto's finest), achieving a gold record with the Rascalz on Canada's hip hop anthem, "Northern Touch", receiving two Juno Awards and a MuchMusic Video Award, Choclair then decided to expand his team and join forces with Virgin Music Canada. 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Saukrates debut album. ... Kardinal Offishall (born Jason Harrow in 1976 in Scarborough, Ontario) is a Jamaican-Canadian rap MC and producer. ... Jully Black publicity photo, c. ... Solitair is a Canadian rap MC/producer from Toronto, Ontario. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... Northern Touch is a Canadian hip hop song, which was recorded in 1997 by Rascalz in collaboration with Checkmate, Kardinal Offishall, Thrust and Choclair. ... The Juno Awards are awards of achievement presented to Canadian musical artists and bands; they could be considered the transnational counterpart to the United States Grammy Awards. ... Michelle Trachtenberg at the MuchMusic Video Awards preshow, 2004 The MuchMusic Video Awards (or the MMVAs, as they are also known) are an annual music award presented by the Canadian music video channel MuchMusic to honour the years best music videos. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ...

Armed with his many Junos, MuchMusic awards, gold records, collaborations and newfound knowledge of how the business works, Choclair has gone back to his grassroots and started his own independent label again. With full artistic control, he is ready to present his renewed energy and new attitude to the people. "I'm the most excited about this album here because it'll be the first release on my new label, Greenhouse Music in partnership with Sextant Records/EMI Music Canada". Choclair meditates on the writing and concepts for his 3rd album "Flagrant", "I felt there was an energy I had when I was doing it on my own I wanted to get back. My manager and original producer Day and I felt like it was time to do what we had always wanted to do, and that was to start our own record label."

"2003 is the rebirth of the independent Choclair, my independent label, and hopefully, the start of a new outlet for the widely untapped Canadian urban talent." Choclair and his new label and partnership aim to raise the standard by which Canadian hip hop is measured. Canadian hip hop developed much more slowly than the rock music scene. ...

Choclair subsequently launched his own label, Greenhouse Music, to release his records and other Canadian hip hop albums in conjunction with Sextant Records and EMI Music. He called it "Greenhouse" because it is where "the green is made". His 2003 album Flagrant was the first release on Greenhouse. In the summer of 2003, following the release of Flagrant, Greenhouse released My Demo, a collection of Choclair's early underground recordings. The EMI Group is a major record label, based in Kensington in London, in the United Kingdom. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Most recently, Choclair released a 2006 album Flagship and he appeared on tracks by Classified ("Unexplainable Hunger" featuring Royce Da 5'9") and Kardinal Offishall ("T-Dot Chambers" featuring Saukrates). 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Classified is an underground Canadian rapper from Halifax, Nova Scotia. ... Ryan Montgomery (born July 5, 1977), is an African-American rapper known by his stage name Royce Da 59. He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. ... Kardinal Offishall (born Jason Harrow in 1976 in Scarborough, Ontario) is a Jamaican-Canadian rap MC and producer. ... Saukrates debut album. ...

Discography

• Twenty One Years (1996)
• What it Takes (1997)
• Ice Cold (1999)
• Memoirs of Blake Savage (2001)
• Flagrant (2003)
• My Demo (2003)
• Flagship (2006)

1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Smooth as Choclair — Canadian hip hop artist reveals the secrets of seduction — by Denise Ing, Varsity Staff
• Word Magazine Article
• NOW Magazine Article