Biography

Chokeules (“choke-you-leez”) is Toronto’s worst kept secret. Originally known for his time with veteran hip hop outfit Toolshed, the prolific emcee has been a fixture on the scene since he relocated from London, ON, over a decade ago. As both a solo artist and a member of the group Swamp Thing, Choke stays busy on stage and in the studio. His sound draws from countless influences, built on a solid foundation of golden-era hip hop. Chokeules is also known for his work as part of the Canadian music collective Backburner Crew. His first solo release, Hypergraphia, was named one of the Top 10 Albums of The Year by the London Free Press and features the song “Feel Free”, which was on the soundtrack for the third Trailer Park Boys movie. Chokeules has been nominated for several London Music Awards, Jack Richardson Awards, and he won the LMA for Hip Hop/Rap with his former group, Toolshed. His last solo album, Stay Up, became an instant classic, garnering much attention and praise for his song, and viral video, "40-Year-Old Vegan." The most recent projects with Swamp Thing have been his most impressive efforts to date, and have helped establish Choke as a strong presence in Canadian hip hop and beyond. With this new album, Nepotism, Chokeules is at the top of his game, delivering his own style of hardcore boom bap with heavy wordplay and an occasional sense of humour.