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Sophomore persona >>
T.O. MC Choclair hits MTL to rap in the third person
Mirror:
So did you feel it necessary to actually separate the personalities
of Choclair and Kareem Blake on record? Choclair:
Yeah, definitely. I think that just between the pressures of coming
out with my second album and the expectations of everyone, as well as
my own expectations, you kind of get lost in what people want and what
you really want. So for me looking at how I have to deal with people
wanting something, and taking into consideration what I want—I
thought I would create a third persona, Blake Savage. M: So having
had a pretty good ride so far with the first album, are people less
or more critical of what you choose to do on record these days? C: I mean, I get a lot of people who say, “How come you don’t make more songs like that..,” but it’s a matter of making the songs that you’re gonna make. Some people will gravitate to some songs, different people will grab on to others, and people will come to understand and respect the fact that you always did what you felt and not what everybody wanted all the time.
Velvet rope-a-dope M: Do you
feel any more comfortable now rubbing shoulders with American artists
who have been in this for a while, and enjoy superstar status on their
side of the border? C: Yeah,
I guess so, because sometimes Canada and the U.S. get grouped together
because of the huge influence the States have on us. There’s been
times I’ve looked at myself as lesser. But sometimes it’s
just about knowing your position and respecting other people’s
positions. To the point where, y’know, if I’m walking in a
room and Jay-Z is in the place, I’m not gonna come off like I’m
bigger than him—but at the same time, I would also still know that
I’ve done some shit too. I wouldn’t expect to be clowned either.
It’s about having confidence, but it’s not about being arrogant. M: Have
you ever been in that position? C: Most
times I find myself playing the back. It’s always other people
who are trying to get me to flex. It’s like, “Chocs, man,
why are you at the back of the line, let’s go up to the front.”
They’ll walk up to the front and tell the bouncer who I am, while
I get completely embarrassed. I don’t really get caught up on it.
M: Modesty
is the best policy. C: You definitely have to have confidence in who you are. It’s not about throwing that around in people’s faces. There’s a time and a place to be humble, but you can’t doubt and deny the things you’ve done. If I don’t get invited to some party and I just decide to show up, I waiting in line like everybody else, no problem. It’s those events where I’m the special guest, or friends of mine are throwing a jam and my name is not on the flyer—those are the times where I had to teach myself to step right up to the front, because people expect you to do that.
Toronto undercover M: Does
the firm grip that you, Kardinall and Saukrates have on the T.O. hip
hop scene put pressure on you guys, especially since you’re all
friends? C: You know
what? Not for us, because we don’t see it that way. We see it as
continuing to do our thing, and trying to make hot music. There’s
a lot of people making great hip hop in Toronto, it’s just that
maybe they haven’t had the same opportunities to let other people
hear their music as we have. We’ll go in the studio and hear a
Mr. Roam track and be like, “Holy smokes!” M: But nobody’s
heard it... C: But nobody’s
heard it. You hear a Checkmate song and think these guys are ill, but
nobody’s
heard it yet. So we know there are wicked tracks out there because we
hear them, and a lot of that stuff just keeps me in check. I gotta stay
on point. M: How was
touring with Rahzel in 2000? C: It was
crazy! We went to Europe and were doing all these different countries
in no time, because everything’s so close to each other. Scotland,
Germany, England, France. We had great shows out there, all off the
hook. M: I was
thinking about you last week, man. Me and my girl rented WrestleMania
III for old times’ sake— C: Oh really!? M: You still
watch wrestling now? C: Yeah, but I don’t get to catch it as much. I’m still into it when I see it. I used to get heart broken when I would miss Saturday Night Main Event, but not any more. :
Choclair/Savage/Kareem makes a special CD-launch appearance, with his DJ Spence Diamond and DJs Soul, Fabulous and Crowd, at Sona on Saturday, March 2, midnight, $25. A full show, with Baby Blue Sound Crew and Bishop, is at Club Soda on Tuesday, March 12, 9pm, $17.50
Choclair’s
top 10 WWF wrestlers of all time 1. Ivan Putski
(Polish Power) Honourable mentions for S.D. “Special Delivery” Jones and Iron Mike Sharp (Canada’s Greatest Athlete) :
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As
open ears get ready for the release of Choclair’s second album,
Memoirs of Blake Savage, the reigning king of Canadian hip hop hits
the road for a mini promo-tour, before hitting us with the big show
in March. Choc’s had nothing but success since the release of his
1999 debut Ice Cold, and had already become a lyrical power in Toronto
and beyond with underground hits like “21 Years” and “What
It Takes.” On his new record, Choclair (aka Kareem Blake) introduces
us to another persona residing in the recesses of his busy mind, and
still manages to come off like it was nothing. The Mirror spoke to Kareem
over the phone from Toronto.