I have found my idol! Enter Choclair, with his suave, smooth lyrical style and his ladies' man personality, he just demands my respect. This Canadian artist has done more for the Canadian rap game, then has any other Canadian emcee. His credits range anywhere from a 1997 Juno for best rap recording, 1997 Canadian Urban Music Award for Best Male Hip Hop Single, to having his voice sampled by the infamous DJ Premier, for Gang Starr's hit single "You Know My Steez". And who can forget his sexual innuendos perpetrated in the Rascalz's national rap anthem, "Northern Touch". Choclair's lyrics flow smooth like butter, and his entourage of beats are innovative and well above average. In fact, with this album, Choclair did something I've never seen done before: He reels out 7 outstanding tracks in a row to start the album. I was mesmerized, I'd never heard anything like it before. Usually a rapper throws a skit in there somewhere to foolishly break up the flow. However, the misfortune of such a ground-breaking move is the fact that only two of the remaining eight tracks compare with the first seven. Don't get me wrong, that makes for nine dope tracks nothing to shake a leg bone at.

My favorite track was definitely "Rubbin'" featuring Saukrates and the seducing female voices of Shakari Knight and Nicole Brewster. A funk-bounce beat with a well-defined chorus, tinged by a female "mmm, mmm". This song is reminiscent of LL Cool J's hit "Doin It". The other amazing tracks are "Flagrant" (#1 on the HITS Rap Radio Top 30 in March 1999), "Jambone", the first single "Let's Ride", and "Bare Witness" which features Guru of Gang Starr. The other great tracks are "Fresh", "Situation 9", "Ice Cold" and "Takin It In".

Choclair will definitely put Canadian rappers on the map. In fact, he is the first Canadian rapper to ever receive a U.S. album release. "Ice Cold" is due out in early 2000 on Priority records south of the border. Nonetheless you can bet that many a U.S. rap fanatic will have to beat the hype and import this album from that igloo country up North. This album was great, and is a must get for anyone who enjoys rap. I can't justify giving this album full marks, because the first half was so good that it offset the second half. Thus the second half seemed slightly dull. But nine great tracks, out of only 15 is pretty amazing. Give Choclair a try, you'll be impressed!

www.brockwayent.com

(Originally posted on HipHopCanada.com)

This review was written November 8, 1999