SMILEY AND DRAKE TEAM UP FOR NEW TORONTO ANTHEM “OVER THE TOP”
While the world was waiting in vain last night at midnight for Kanye's new album Donda, our team at SHIFTER was looking ...
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BELLY TEAMS UP WITH THE WEEKND AND YOUNG THUG ON NEW SINGLE “BETTER BELIEVE”
Today, XO/Roc Nation artist, Belly, dropped a brand new music video for "Better Believe" featuring fellow label mate, Th...
R&B SINGER AMAAL MAKES A SWEET COMEBACK WITH HER NEW RELEASE “HONEY”
Fiercely celebrating womanhood, this edgy upbeat single represents a new chapter of freedom for Amaal. In the futuristic...
CANADIAN MUSIC VIDEO ROUNDUP | JUNE 2021
It's that time again! SHIFTER's Canadian Music Video Roundup for June includes videos from Belly, Dax, Roy Woods, Majid ...
BOURNE – THE ULTIMATE PROTEST IS SUCCESS AND REFUSING TO STAY IN OUR PLACE
Last year, following the murder of George Floyd, I was unexpectedly named to Ottawa Life Magazine's Best of Ottawa: Acti...
PYER MOSS’ FALL COUTURE COLLECTION IS BLACK HISTORY IN THE MAKING
On Saturday July 11th, Pyer Moss showcased their Fall 2021 Couture collection entitled “Wat U Iz”, making creative direc...
401 WST TEAMS UP WITH ZACH ZOYA ON “WON’T PUT YOU THRU THAT”
401 WST is back with their first single of the year “Won’t Put You Thru That” featuring Zach Zoya.Diverting slightly...
OTTAWA’S MERCUSSI PRIVATE LABEL LAUNCHES NEW LINE OF EXCLUSIVE FACEMASKS
Ottawa-based and Black-owned fashion company Mercussi Private Label recently launched an exclusive collection of face ma...
NORTHSIDEBENJI X DJ CHARLIE B JOIN FORCES FOR NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO “30,000 FT”
In the midst of Toronto's rise to hip-hop mecca, one artist fans have been wanting more music from is Northsidebenji, on...
REVIEW – QUESTLOVE’S SUMMER OF SOUL ISN’T JUST MUSIC HISTORY OR BLACK HISTORY, IT’S AMERICAN HISTORY
The Roots joint frontman, Questlove, recently wore a new hat making his directorial debut with the soon-to-be released d...
JULIAN TAYLOR – I STAND WITH MY INDIGENOUS KIN
Published with permission from the author
I haven’t had much to say because I’m exhausted, over tired and broken down. ...
CODY COYOTE’S “HELPLESS” OFFERS HEALING DURING A PAINFUL TIME FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
It has been the best of times and the worst of times for First Nations rapper and motivational speaker, Cody Coyote. Whi...
BEST OF SHIFTER ON FILMS
RECAP – BLACK WOMEN WERE FRONT AND CENTRE AT THE 2021 BET AWARDS
Tonight, BET hosted the 2021 edition of the BET Awards and this year there was a little some extra for the ladies as it ...
BEHIND THE SCENES ON THE SET OF THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK ORIGINAL FILM AMAZING GRACE
SHIFTER was recently invited to go behind the scenes on the final day of filming for the Oprah Winfrey Network film tent...
LINDASSON DROPS FIRY NEW SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO “FOREVER LONER BABY”
Budding Ottawa hip-hop star, Lindasson, has been quickly gaining traction in the first half of 2021, both locally and be...
SVDVM TEAMS UP WITH 4STEPPA AND SCAMBAMWAM FOR NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO “SCAM”
Ottawa artist SVDVM has been consistently giving his fans new content in 2021 to keep them satisfied. Now he's back with...
TY’DRE DROPS TOUCHING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING DEBUT EP PURPOSE
After a few years of dropping big singles like "How To Get It" and building a loyal fanbase along the way, Brampton rapp...
CANADIAN MUSIC VIDEO ROUNDUP | MAY 2021
It's that time again! SHIFTER's Canadian Music Video Roundup for May includes videos from Dax, Pressa, Mustafa, Prem...
CBC AND BET BEGIN PRODUCTION ON NEW ORIGINAL SERIES THE PORTER
Last December, CBC and BET+ announced the greenlighting of their new original series THE PORTER. Well, today they announ...
10 DOPE MONTREAL CLOTHING BRANDS YOU NEED TO KNOW
From streetwear to ready-to-wear to haute couture, Montreal is a city of a style and a world-class shopping destination ...
ALBUM REVIEW – LIFE IMITATES ART ON EMANUEL’S NEW ALBUM ALT THERAPY
Between his countertenor vocals, contemplative songwriting and charm, Canadian-Ethiopian singer Emanuel (by way of Londo...
ARTIST OF THE MONTH // JUNE 2021 – SOUL/R&B/POP ARTIST, RUBEN YOUNG
About Ruben YoungSomething new, something classic. From writing songs in his single Trinidadian mom’s Calgary baseme...
ALBUM REVIEW – MIGOS SHOW BOTH HUNGER AND MATURITY ON CULTURE III
It feels like just the other day that Migos were a part of a cohort of "rumble rappers" that were considered harbingers ...
RUBEN YOUNG TEAMS UP WITH COMPTON RAPPER BUDDY ON FUNKY SUMMER ANTHEM “TNT”
Calgary-raised, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Ruben Young is back with some feel-good, West Coast summer vibes with hi...
SVLM TEAMS UP WITH BLASIAN BEATS FOR NEW SUMMER BANGER “HESI”
Just in time for the province of Ontario to re-open and ease restrictions just a little bit, Ottawa hip-hop artist, SVLM...
JUNO AWARD WINNER SAVANNAH RÉ CELEBRATES TIMELESS LOVE ON “24HRS”
Leaving all hesitations at the door, Savannah Ré's latest release, "24hrs" is a transparent ask for love without limits....
EVERYTHINGOSHAUN AND KAYO REMIND US TO NEVER FORGET FAMILY IN NEW VIDEO “WYLIN'”
In the midst of the come up, sometimes people forget their roots. However, EverythingOShauN is here to reminders us that...
PREVIEW – IN THE HEIGHTS IS A DOSE OF JOY AND INSPIRATION WHEN MANY NEED IT MOST
On Thursday, June 10th, Warner Bros Studios is set to release their latest film In The Heights and to say it is groundbr...
JUNO AWARDS – BLACK AND INDIGENOUS VOICES TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT THE 50TH ANNUAL JUNO AWARDS
This weekend, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presented the 50th edition of the JUNO Awards, once ag...
REVIEW – SUBJECTS OF DESIRE IS LIFE, BEAUTY AND ACCEPTANCE THROUGH THE EYES OF A BLACK WOMAN
Last month, the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, North America's largest document festival, went vi...
BELLY TEAMS UP WITH MONEYBAGG YO ON NEW SINGLE “ZERO LOVE”
Today, Ottawa native Belly dropped his brand new track "Zero Love" ahead of the release of his album See You Next Wednes...
CODY COYOTE – “WE NEED JUSTICE FOR ALL INDIGENOUS CHILDREN”
Published with permission from the author
Reading the recent news headlines about the remains of 215 Indigenous childre...
JORDAN ZION 1 “MARION” SET FOR RELEASE ON MAY 26TH
Before being drafted first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson was one of the mos...
HIP-HOP MEETS ELECTRONIC MUSIC ON NEW SEB C X TEON GIBBS BANGER “PLUG TALK”
When we think about Canadian music, especially urban music, Toronto gets most of the shine, but if you take a quick glan...
SWISHA T REMINDS US HE’S HERE TO STAY WITH NEW RELEASE “NO DAYS OFF”
Swisha T is reminding listeners that he is here to stay in his music video release for "No Days Off". In the music v...
KALIX BREEZY IS LOOKING TO GET HIS “CREDIT” WITH NEW SINGLE
2020 was a year full of highs for Ottawa-based artist Kalix Breezy. Not letting the effects of the pandemic stop him fro...
CANADIAN MUSIC VIDEO ROUNDUP | APRIL 2021
It's that time again! SHIFTER's Canadian Music Video Roundup for April includes videos from The Weeknd, Belly, Dax, ...
TORONTOROOM AIMS TO TAKE ITS PLATFORM AND TORONTO CULTURE GLOBAL
Nowadays it seems the world can't get enough of Toronto culture, from Drake and The Weeknd to the next crop of young art...
ALBUM REVIEW – THE OFF-SEASON REVEALS THE HUNGRIEST J. COLE YET
With Nicki Minaj dropping her highly anticipated album last night at midnight and Drake and Kendrick Lamar's projects re...
3 TIPS FOR COPPING THE YEEZY 500 HIGH ‘SUMAC’ AND OTHER LUXURY STREETWEAR DROPS
Earlier this month, when Yeezy came out with their popular slides in three colors, my line was blowing up. As a fashion ...
KARDINAL OFFISHALL X URBANCOOLAB DROP ‘FIRESTARTER’ CAPSULE COLLECTION IN CELEBRATION OF ALBUM’S ANNIVERSARY
Canadian hip-hop artist, DJ and producer turned record executive, Kardinal Offishall, recently celebrated a major milest...
DOM VALLIE TEAMS UP WITH CITY FIDELIA AND JEFF SANON FOR NEW SMASH “TELL ME PLEASE”
Toronto-born and Kitchener-raised artist, Dom Vallie, recently released his long-awaited collab with City Fidelia and th...
NIGHT LOVELL DROPS LONG-AWAITED NEW ALBUM JUST SAY YOU DON’T CARE
Last night at midnight, Night Lovell dropped his latest album Just Say You Don't Care. The 14-song project is a follow u...
FILM REVIEW – MONSTER IS AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR STORY OF RACIAL INJUSTICE IN INNER CITY AMERICA
Seventeen year old, Steven Harmon (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) lives a normal teenage life in Harlem, New York - goin...
BAËBE RUTH RETURNS WITH HER PERSONAL YET EXPLOSIVE NEW SINGLE “ON ME”
It's been a very productive year so far for Ottawa area rapper, singer and songwriter, Baëbe Ruth. In the midst of a reb...
MAESTRO FRESH WES RELEASES INSPIRATIONAL NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK STICK TO YOUR VISION : YOUNG MAESTRO GOES TO SCHOOL
Canada's Godfather of Hip-hop, Maestro Fresh Wes, has been very active in recent years, releasing music at a steady clip...
ROMEO DON’T DIE X SHREEZ DROP NEW BILINGUAL VIDEO AND SINGLE “ACCESSIBLE”
Today, Ottawa rapper, Romeo Don't Die, dropped his brand new single "Accessible" with a little help from Montreal rapper...
UNIMERCE X LIL BERETE DROP NEW VIDEO AND SINGLE “LIFE”
Today, British-born, Toronto-based DJ and producer, Unimerce, returned with her latest single "Life" featuring scorching...