Clairmont The Second

Toronto artist blog.

Clairmont, The Second's music has an indescribable feeling behind it. I admire his approach to music; his sound and style are distinct and tasteful. He is a very underrated artist, especially considering he was nominated for the Juno Award for Best Rap Recording Artist in 2018. He has many other accomplishments, but his product and music speak for themselves. For me, the conversation is always about the work, and Clairmont has a fantastic discography to back that up. His first release was all the way back in 2014, with his project titled "Project II." This is a 10-track initiative that depicts a very different Clairmont than the one we know today. However, the production is fantastic; it’s a very well-put-together project from top to bottom and speaks volumes of his natural talent. He would go on a three-year hiatus before returning in 2017 with a single called "44 Me." The track begins with a very cinematic opening, complete with multiple great sound stages and a strong build-up. The atmosphere of this track alone is full and expansive, everything else just adds to the energy. Even though it's clearly not his first track, it's very impressive for a song that's over 5 years old. You can see why he won the Junos the following year. His cadence is clear, and his flow is bouncy. The mixing and mastering on this track are fantastic, as is the quality of the overall track. "The Ave in You" would be his next single. This song has a bright summer vibe to it. His cadence and flow are simple yet catchy. He has a natural delivery style that does not feel forced. That's something I notice a lot in artists' early work, but Clairmont doesn't seem to be new. He has certainly gained some experience before releasing music publicly. The natural confidence he exudes on the mic caught my attention right away. People don't usually think about it, but when an artist isn't confident in one‘s delivery, regardless of whether the flow is dope or not, something is off. Clairmont has demonstrated a level of professionalism and quality right from the start, which is extremely rare. 2017 was a big year for him; his next full-length project, "Quest For Milk And Honey (Black Edition)," was released this year. The album's singles include "Temporary," "Coolest Loser," and "Stability and Respect." This is a worthwhile project; it has a consistent sound and a great list of unique offers, such as "But... Jazz Is Life," which shows us a different side of Clairmont with his more vocal approach and a showcase of versatility and music taste. Throughout 2018 and 2019, he released new music, including "Old Clothes," "Tortoise," "Grip," and "Thou." "Thou" is the standout track for me. I love the beat selection; it sets up the melody and creates this melodic lyrical rap track that checks all of my boxes for the perfect rap track. I enjoy both melodic rap and conscious lyrical play, Clairmont does both. His matured cadence and top-tier production elevate everything from a standard level to a more artistic and memorable level. 2020 would be a new chapter, and the quality of the work would improve once more. He kicks off the year with an incredible single titled "Dun." The instrumental and beat combo on this is just insane, and the fact that he produces everything himself is even more incredible. This is true artistry at its finest. It doesn't end there; his performance on the track is one of his best to date. "Gun Finger" would have a similar feel and aesthetic to "Dun." From the delivery style to the cadence, the consistency and quality of his work improved dramatically, and this is when I believe Clairmont truly became the artist he is today. Later that year, he'd changed pace with a single called "Dream," which showcased his melodic and slower sides. The years 2021 and 2022 are filled with classics like "Hands," "inters-ting," and "Doin' Right." He is in his best form right now musically. Whether he feels like that or not, I can’t say, but content-wise, he is making his best work right now. It’s been some time since his last project so I feel like we need some sort of body of work in the near future. A full-length album would be amazing, but time will tell and I’m here to witness his journey.

Written by Maxim Bayarsky