Hometown Hero

Clairmont The Second

Lil Mont From the Ave

If you weren’t already convinced that Toronto wunderkind Clairmont The Second is a prodigy, his latest effort will convince you. Lil Mont From the Ave is a tight, cohesive and incredibly fun album on which Clairmont flexes his musical dexterity and lyrical might. Maturity and comfort shine throughout here; the production is clean, and Clairmont’s flow is sharp and confident on each track. He sounds completely at ease on standouts like the infectious “Gheeze,” “Wezide” and “Ma Homie Gawd” (a bright, snappy collaboration with Hezi, the album’s only feature). The honesty of “Luvin’ Ona Budget” is endearing, and productionwise, Clairmont seems beyond his years on the full-bodied “2 Rich 4 Me.” From start to finish, Lil Mont From the Ave is well-paced, varied and refreshingly free of clutter. If you weren’t previously a Clairmont fan, now’s the time to get on board. (ctsecond.com)

How would you define your sound?

Jazz, gospel, R&B and neo-soul mixed with slapping beats. My sound is all that in one. Like on “Wezside,” I add that R&B jazz break at the beginning of the second verse. Or for “Luvin’ Ona Budget,” that song kinda fits the trap soul genre, but the bass line is very R&B. That’s the stuff I like to make. HIP- HOP

How important is Toronto to your music?

West side Toronto is what influences me most. It shaped my ideas and how I think. Why wouldn’t I want to tell people about where I grew up and what I’ve experienced? I want to be the guy that takes the west’s sound worldwide.