SHIFTER Magazine - Canadian Black and urban culture magazine

People on the move

“People On The Move” takes a look at people moving on to new and exciting roles in our community and...

VIRGINS! THE CBC GEM SERIES IS COMIC RELATABILITY AT ITS FINEST

Film/Television Toronto

“Too modest for the big city (Toronto) and too provocative for the African homes they come from, virgins! is a comedic...

First Up RBCxMusic Desiire, Zenesoul, Stun, JHYVE

INTERVIEW – FIRST UP WITH RBCxMUSIC IS PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR INDEPENDENT BIPOC CANADIAN ARTISTS

Joshua Habtwold

Impact Interviews Music

First Up with RBCxMusic is empowering BIPOC Canadian musicians with the skills, space, and resources to take their art to...

RICEBOY SLEEPS CAPTURES THE TRAUMA OF LEAVING ALL BEHIND AS AN IMMIGRANT | TIFF 2022

Riceboy Sleeps made its premiere at TIFF, where director Anthony Shim tells the emotional story of loss, family dysfunction, immigration,...

WHY BRUISER WAS THE HIDDEN GEM OF TIFF | TIFF 2022

The TIFF premiere of Bruiser was one of intense emotion and cinematic precision as director Miles Warren made his debut....

ALBUM REVIEW – WSTRN IS BACK IN FULL FORCE WITH WSTRN SEASON 3

Crystal Elisa

Music Reviews

UK-based trio WSTRN drops their third mixtape, WSTRN Season 3, and it does not disappoint. It has been three years...

REVIEW – SEND HELP IS A REFRESHING AND NEEDED REPRESENTATION OF CARIBBEAN LIFE IN NORTH AMERICA

SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne calls the ALLBLK Original Series Send Help refreshing, different and needed. Co-created, co-showran and executive produced by...

RECAP – PRIDE, SELF-LOVE, AND SELF-ACCEPTANCE WAS IN THE AIR AT THE FIRST ANNUAL LEGACY AWARDS

Culture

The Legacy Awards was about pride and self-acceptance says SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne in his The Legacy Awards 2022 recap. Tonight,...

TORONTO PRODUCER BOI-1DA DROPS KD-15 SNEAKER WITH NIKE

Culture Fashion

Toronto producer Boi-1da has his own shoe thanks to Nike and Kevin Durant. Here’s a closer look at the Boi-1da...

INTERVIEW – SAVANNAH RÉ TALKS ABOUT HER NEW EP NO WEAPONS AND MORE

In our interview with Savannah Ré we talk about her new EP “No Weapons”, her latest Juno Award win and...

K. FOREST’S NEW EP HYDE OUT BALANCES EQUAL MEASURES OF ENIGMA AND TRANSPARENCY

Sheldon Barrocks

Music Toronto

K. Forest’s new EP ‘Hyde Out’ provides a familiar dark essence mixed with a fresh delivery. Aside from the names...

JUNO AWARD WINNER SAVANNAH RÉ RELEASES SOPHOMORE EP NO WEAPONS FEATURING LEAD SINGLE “LAST ONE” FEAT. DYLAN SINCLAIR

Music Toronto

Savannah Ré serves up vulnerability and sonic distinction on her new sophomore EP, No Weapons. From the JUNOS to billboards,...

BEST OF SHIFTER ON FILMS

VIRGINS! THE CBC GEM SERIES IS COMIC RELATABILITY AT ITS FINEST

Film/Television Toronto

September 29, 2022 74

RICEBOY SLEEPS CAPTURES THE TRAUMA OF LEAVING ALL BEHIND AS AN IMMIGRANT | TIFF 2022

September 28, 2022 22

WHY BRUISER WAS THE HIDDEN GEM OF TIFF | TIFF 2022

September 28, 2022 76

REVIEW – SEND HELP IS A REFRESHING AND NEEDED REPRESENTATION OF CARIBBEAN LIFE IN NORTH AMERICA

September 26, 2022 28

A JAZZMAN’S BLUES IS TYLER PERRY’S “BEST WORK YET” | TIFF 2022

September 17, 2022 317

MICHEAL WARD AND OLIVIA COLMAN DELIVER AWARD-WORTHY PERFORMANCES IN EMPIRE OF LIGHT | TIFF 2022

September 17, 2022 38

BLACK ICE IS A DAMNING LOOK AT RACISM IN HOCKEY AND CANADA AT-LARGE | TIFF 2022

Film/Television Sports

September 13, 2022 115

THE WOMAN KING IS AN INSTANT OSCAR CONTENDER | TIFF 2022

September 13, 2022 31

STRONG BLACK WOMEN TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN ON THE COME UP | TIFF 2022

September 11, 2022 67

legacy awards shamier anderson and stephan james

SHAMIER ANDERSON AND STEPHAN JAMES TO HOST FIRST ANNUAL LEGACY AWARDS ON CBC

September 1, 2022 57

HAVIAH MIGHTY KEEPS THE ENERGY HIGH ON NEW SINGLE “HONEY BUN”

Music Toronto

With the stamina to match her last name, Haviah Mighty is a force to be reckoned with on “Honey Bun”....

CRANIUM FESTIVAL LINEUP AND TICKET INFO

The Cranium Festival have announced their lineup including A$ASP Twelvyy, TwoTiime, Duvy and more. Here’s Cranium Festival lineup and ticket...

PK SUBBAN RETIRES FROM THE NHL AFTER 13 SEASONS

Sports

PK Subban retires from the NHL after 13 seasons. He took to Instagram to make the announcement. Here’s a quick...

A JAZZMAN’S BLUES IS TYLER PERRY’S “BEST WORK YET” | TIFF 2022

Based on a script he wrote 27 years ago, Tyler Perry’s latest film is his “best work yet” says SHIFTER’s...

MICHEAL WARD AND OLIVIA COLMAN DELIVER AWARD-WORTHY PERFORMANCES IN EMPIRE OF LIGHT | TIFF 2022

Micheal Ward and Olivia Colman deliver award-worthy performances says Kevin Bourne in his Empire of Light review. Another standout film...

THE HIP HOP COMMUNITY REACTS TO THE MURDER OF PNB ROCK

News

The world of hip hop was shocked to find out of the tragic murder of 30 year old rapper PnB...

BLACK ICE IS A DAMNING LOOK AT RACISM IN HOCKEY AND CANADA AT-LARGE | TIFF 2022

Film/Television Sports

In his Black Ice film review, SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says the documentary is not only a damning look at racism...

YOUTUBE AND THE WEEKND’S HXOUSE HELP CANADIAN CREATORS TURN THEIR PASSION INTO PROFIT WITH CNCPT

Culture Impact Influencers Technology Toronto

YouTube partners with local Toronto incubator HXOUSE to help content creators turn their passion into profit with CNCPT, an innovative...

THE WOMAN KING IS AN INSTANT OSCAR CONTENDER | TIFF 2022

In his The Woman King review, Rotten Tomatoes and CCA critic Vladimir Jean-Gilles calls TIFF standout The Women King a...

STRONG BLACK WOMEN TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN ON THE COME UP | TIFF 2022

On The Come Up provides a universal story of self-discovery while highlighting the strength of Black women. Here’s our On...

ALBUM REVIEW – NAV SHOWS DEPTH, SUBSTANCE AND “MELODIC LYRICISM” ON DEMONS PROTECTED BY ANGELS

Nav shows depth, substance and “melodic lyricism” says SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne in his Demons Protected By Angels album review. After...

ari lennox age sex location album review

ALBUM – ARI LENNOX’S AGE/SEX/LOCATION IS EQUAL PARTS SOULFUL AND SEXY

Ari Lennox’s new project is “equal parts soulful and sexy” says Kevin Bourne in his Ari Lennox age sex location...

national arts centre innovators and icons

NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE AND SHIFTER CELEBRATE WOMEN OF COLOUR WITH INNOVATORS & ICONS LIST

Culture Music

One of the criticisms of the Canadian entertainment industry is that we haven’t always done a great job of celebrating...

THE LOCAL GALLERY IS TORONTO’S DESTINATION FOR CONTEMPORARY POP ART

Sheldon Barrocks

Art Events Toronto

Currently showcasing their Art of Music pieces from some of Toronto’s top artists, The Local Gallery is your destination in...

FRIYIE PREMIERES NEW EP NEVER 2 LATE AT BLACK TIE LISTENING PARTY IN TORONTO

Toronto artist Friyie premiered his new EP Never 2 Late in front of a packed house at the Eglinton Grand...

PRESSA DROPS NEW VISUALS FOR “BLAME ME” AHEAD OF ROLLING LOUD TORONTO APPEARANCE

Canadian hip-hop sensation Pressa drops Blame Me visuals ahead of his September appearance at Rolling Loud Toronto. Ahead of his...

CHOLOCASH GETS INTO HIS POP ROCK BAG ON HIS NEW EP LOVE SO LOUD

Cholocash flexes his versatility, vocals and song making abilities on his new EP Love So Loud. Toronto artist Cholocash dropped...

SHAMIER ANDERSON AND STEPHAN JAMES TO HOST FIRST ANNUAL LEGACY AWARDS ON CBC

Today we learned that The Black Academy founders, Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, will host the first annual Legacy Awards....

GIFTED HANDS IS CHANGING THE GAME ONE SONG AT THE TIME

Music Vladimir Jean-Gilles

Gifted Hands completely changed the narrative of Hip-hop and R&B with his authentic and uplifting lyrics on his hit song...

QUEENDEMME CELEBRATES THE BOUNDLESS NATURE OF BLACK-FEMALE CREATIVITY IN NEW CALGARY-SHOT MUSIC VIDEO

Culture Music

Queendemme offers a stunning artistic visualization in the final element of a 7-part experimental multimedia journal featuring 60 Black Calgary-based...

SERGE IBAKA TRACK ‘CHAMPION’ TOPS 35 MILLION SPOTIFY STREAMS

Sheldon Barrocks

Music Sports

The Serge Ibaka track Champion has surpassed 35 million streams on Spotify as he joins the ranks of NBA players...

MEECHY DARKO OF FLATBUSH ZOMBIES UNVEILS THE TRUTH IN NEW ALBUM GOTHIC LUXURY

Joshua Habtwold

Meechy Darko of Flatbush Zombies drops his thoughtful debut album as a solo artist on Gothic Luxury. Known as one-third...

THE MURDER INC. STORY SEASON 1 EPISODE 4 RECAP

The Murder Inc Story season 1 episode 4 shows the legal trouble and 50 Cent beef that would change Murder...

lisa laflamme changing job prospects in journalism

LISA LAFLAMME FIRING POINTS TO THE CHANGING JOB PROSPECTS IN JOURNALISM

Opinion SHIFTER U

SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says CTV’s firing of Lisa Laflamme points to the changing job prospects in journalism and encourages more...

BOURNE – WHY FINDING A PLACE TO RENT IN TORONTO FEELS HARDER THAN EVER

Lifestyle Opinion Toronto Travel

SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne writes about why finding a place to rent in Toronto feels harder than ever, especially for Black...

AWARD-WINNING R&B SONGSTRESS SAVANNAH RÉ RELEASES NEW SINGLE “CLOSURE”

Today, R&B singer-songwriter Savannah Ré releases her latest single “Closure” from her upcoming EP No Weapon. Two-time JUNO Award winning...

ALBUM REVIEW – JID’S THE FOREVER STORY IS HIP-HOP WITH SOUL

In his The Forever Story album review, Kevin Bourne calls JID’s soulful project one of the more satisfying albums of...

ALBUM REVIEW – GOD DID APPEARS LESS ABOUT BIG MOMENTS AND MORE ABOUT SIMPLE GRATITUDE

In his God Did album review, Kevin Bourne says while the may not be a classic, a good album that...

RED BULL DANCE YOUR STYLE COMPETITION RETURNS TO TORONTO AUGUST 26TH

Carolina Leite

Culture Events Toronto

Red Bull Dance Your Style is finally back in Toronto with 16 astonishing participants including Vancouver Island’s MegaMan. After a...

THE MURDER INC. STORY SEASON 1 EPISODE 3 RECAP

The Murder Inc Story season 1 episode 3 shows the label at the height of success with Ja Rule and...

ALBUM REVIEW – IMAN SHUMPERT DROPS STELLAR DEBUT STUDIO ALBUM THIS CAR AIN’T STOLEN

After giving us singles like “Hello” and “Gohan”, Iman Shumpert has dropped his first studio album This Car Ain’t Stolen. ...

tyler perry's sistas season 4 episode 12 recap

TOP 5 BIGGEST MOMENTS FROM SEASON 4 OF TYLER PERRY’S SISTAS

Now that the season is over, let’s take a look back at the top five biggest moments from Tyler Perry’s...

HONEY JAM CELEBRATES ITS 27TH YEAR WITH A STELLAR LINEUP OF CANADIAN FEMALE MUSICIANS

Events Music

Honey Jam celebrates its 27th year on August 18th at El Mocambo with a concert packed with diverse female talent....

THE MURDER INC. STORY SEASON 1 EPISODE 2 RECAP

The Murder Inc Story season 1 episode 2 introduces us to a young Ja Rule and Ashanti, the label’s early...

AFROBEATS MUSIC FESTIVAL IS BRINGING ECLECTIC TALENT TO OTTAWA THIS WEEKEND

Ashley Ighorewo

Events Music Ottawa

Ottawa will get a taste of the finest in Afro-Caribbean music at the inaugural Afrobeats Music Festival on Saturday, August...

MAESTRO FRESH WES SHINES AS SEASON TWO HOST OF RACE AGAINST THE TIDE