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A guy from Scarborough raps the Sault

Choclair, the Scarborough, Ontario hip-hopper who's currently touring with Snoop Dogg, has been persuaded to take a night off to play Sault Ste. Marie later this month. Promoter Brendan Fyfe tells SooToday.
choclair

Choclair, the Scarborough, Ontario hip-hopper who's currently touring with Snoop Dogg, has been persuaded to take a night off to play Sault Ste. Marie later this month.

Promoter Brendan Fyfe tells SooToday.com that he's booked the rap artist for a December 17 all-ages concert at the Canadian.

At time of writing, times and ticket prices were still being nailed down.

If you're interested, bookmark this page and return later.

We'll add everything you need to know about tickets as soon as it's released to us.

The following is Choclair's promotional bioography:

**************************************************************** Ahead of his time

Choclair is a foundational hip-hop artist from the streets of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.

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.

Choclair's first release, "Twenty One Years", was released in 1996 on his independent co-owned record label, Kneedeep Records.

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, "The Northern Touch," receiving 2 JUNO awards and a Much Music Award, Choclair decided to expand his team and join forces with Virgin Music.

An Education

"My time with Virgin Music was amazing!"

Choclair released two full-length albums with Virgin Music.

The first album, "Ice Cold", went Gold in 35 days.

Choclair became an icon in the music industry. "I learned a lot more about the music business than I feel I would have if I stayed independent."

Understanding the workings of the music industry enabled Choclair to collaborate with some of the world's best artists such as Kurupt, Guru, Memphis Bleek, Rahzel, Mix Master Mike, Tha Alcoholiks, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Xzibit, De La Soul, Dawn Robinson, Beenie Man and many others.

With the help of Virgin, Choclair won more JUNOs, more Much Music Awards and built a huge following.

"My love for hip-hop and my desire to learn as much as I can about the music industry, made my journey with Virgin a great experience."

A Rebirth

Armed with his many JUNOs , Much Music 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, cause it'll be the first release on my new label, Greenhouse Music."

Choclair meditates on the writing and concepts for his 3rd album, set to be released summer of 2003.

"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." Choclair is currently in the studio working on his new album, "Flagrant" scheduled for a June 24, 2003 release.

Raising The Bar

"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 aim to raise the standard by which Canadian hip-hop is measured.

****************************************************************


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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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