Artist Bio: Chokeules
Chokeules (“choke-you-leez”) is Toronto’s worst kept secret. Best known for his time with veteran hip hop outfit Toolshed, the prolific emcee has made a name for himself since he relocated from London, ON. As a solo artist and member of the Backburner collective, Choke draws from countless influences built on a strong foundation of golden era hip hop.
His last solo release, “Hypergraphia”, charted for several months and reached #3 on Earshot’s national music chart, while the latest group release with Backburner, “Heatwave”, hit #1 in it’s second week. “Hypergraphia” was also named one of the Top 10 Albums of The Year by the London Free Press. Chokeules has been nominated for several London Music Awards, Jack Richardson Awards, and in 2006 he won the LMA for Hip Hop/Rap.
Touring extensively in Canada, and playing shows in the United States, Choke has performed with notable acts such as GZA (Wu-Tang Clan), Aceyalone (Freestyle Fellowship), Devin The Dude, El Da Sensei (The Artifacts), Lootpack, Buck 65, Swollen Members, Busdriver, Awol One, Riddlore?, A.G. (Showbiz & A.G.), and more. Chokeules has been featured at SXSW, NXNE, CMW, Under Pressure, and is a regular performer at “The $5 Rap Show”- one of the foremost live hip hop nights in Toronto.
“He’s a veteran performer with a clear and confident flow…still amongst the best rappers rapping about rap in clever ways.” - Exclaim Magazine
chokeules [“choke-you-leez”]
— n
1. dope rapper from london. now based in toronto.
2. 1/3rd of toolshed. 1/19th of backburner.
Origin:
1979; < France < Canada, from Latin suffoco
Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2011.
Discography
Toolshed - Toolshed (2000)
Chokeules - Clockwork Awkward (2001)
Toolshed - Schemata (2002)
Toolshed - Illustrated (2003)
Timbuktu & Chokeules - Sequestrians (2005)
Toolshed - Relapse (2006)
Chokeules - Hypergraphia (2009)
Toolshed - The Lost (2011)
Backburner - Heatwave (2011)
*Toolshed
(TImbuktu, Chokeules, Psybo)
*Backburner
(Fresh Kils, Timbuktu, Chokeules, Ghettosocks, Wordburglar, More or Les, Jesse Dangerously, Uncle Fes, Thesis Sahib, Jay Bizzy, Johnny Hardcore, Frank Deluxe, Man Alive, Ambition, Mister E, Dex, Beat Mason, Psybo & Ginzu)
