Jazz Cartier

Toronto rapper Jazz Cartier brings together rough-edged lyricism and refined production for a musical presence that can be equal parts imposing, mysterious, and captivating. His fame bloomed after a series of impressive early mixtapes made the rounds, and after collecting various awards, street cred, and even a major-label deal for his 2018 studio debut, Fleurever, Jazz Cartier opted to return to the independent route for the release of his second album, 2021′s The Fleur Print.
Jazz Cartier (and alternately Jacuzzi La Fleur) was born Jahmarie Adams in Toronto in 1993, and had to adapt to numerous environments in his youth. The stepson of a diplomat, he lived in several cities across the U.S., and also spent time in Barbados and Kuwait. He debuted in 2011, as a teenager, with the mixtape Losing Elisabeth. After he settled back into his original hometown, Cartier took his time with the follow-up, Marauding in Paradise, released in 2015. The patience paid off, as the mixtape was a long-list nominee for that year’s Polaris Music Prize. Despite the exposure, Cartier remained independent, without a label. Hotel Paranoia arrived the following year and was received with another Polaris nomination as well as winning the Juno Award for 2017 Rap Recording of the Year.
After issuing several singles throughout 2017, Jazz Cartier signed on with Universal Music Canada for the release of his debut studio album, Fleurever. The introspective and moody set featured minimal guest contributions, with features from KTOE and BLK LT$ on just three of its 16 tracks. Three years later, Cartier returned with second studio LP The Fleur Print, this time releasing the album independently. Relatively lean in comparison to its predecessor, The Fleur Print had only ten songs and less than a half-hour runtime, and featured contributions from Kari Faux, Cousin Stizz, and others. ~ Andy Kellman