Author: Celeste Ceres

Back with his first album in six years, Ab-Soul explores all elements of his psyche on HERBERT. Read SHIFTER’s album review here. After two decades in the industry, Ab-Soul (real name Herbert Anthony Stevens IV) has gone through a life journey that would harden most hearts. Instead of harbouring bitterness, Ab-Soul has chosen the good portion, accumulating in a reflective thought piece: HERBERT. With features like Joey Bada$$, Russ, Big Sean, Jhené Aiko, SiR, and Zacari, Ab-Soul has created an eclectic diary on his latest album that’s immersed in the laid-back flow of his signature west-coast touch. HERBERT sees Ab-Soul turn…

Starting and scaling a business comes with inherent hurdles, and those hurdles pose even more of a challenge for Black entrepreneurs. The Black Pitch Contest is working towards dismantling systemic racism by providing barrier-free access to funding opportunities for Black businesses. Black Canadian entrepreneurs bring some of the most diverse and innovative ideas to the nation, yet systemic barriers to funding place them one step behind their counterparts. Whether it’s being discriminated against based on age and income level in pursuit of loans, or facing mistrust in securing equity partners, Black entrepreneurs often have to go through extra loopholes that…

Toronto R&B/soul artists Nicole Chambers and Leila Dey are turning up our thermostats with their steamy new single, “Runnin From Love”. Unequically two of Toronto’s most gifted vocalists and R&B singer-songwriters, Nicole Chambers and Leila Dey have united for a neo-soul masterpiece. “Runnin’ From Love” perfectly captures the inhibitions new lovers feel when they are in their “butterflies” stage. Feelings unfold, eventually leading to the decision to finally settle down and allow love to take over. A match made in heaven, the two songbirds are in perfect harmony as they bring some cocoa butter-draped opulence to the jazzy soundscape. Speaking…

Ottawa hip hop artist City Fidelia breaks down the story behind trauma and crime in the hood on “Can’t Sleep”. City Fidelia has never been one to hold back when it comes to giving his listeners the real and raw truth in his music. His latest single and MV, “Can’t Sleep”, off of his debut album Painkiller, does just that. Featuring fellow Canadian hip hop artist YNR Davinci, “Can’t Sleep” takes us through the journey of a dealer turned man on-the-run. Directed and edited by Solaris/Evan Hartling (and co-executive directed and edited by Fidelia himself), the plot unwinds, depicting Fidelia…

From November 14 to 20th, Canadian Black-owned media publication ByBlacks is bringing the best of African and Caribbean cuisine to Canada for its Fall 2022 Edition of ByBlacks Restaurant Week. With the prices of food steadily rising across the country, the restaurant industry has suffered as a result, with Black restaurant owners especially feeling the brunt. ByBlacks is hoping to challenge this economic dilemma through ByBlacks Restaurant Week. During ByBlacks Restaurant Week, customers can explore a range of Black-owned restaurants in Ontario, Quebec and BC. Each participating vendor has curated a special prix fixe mens––offering a range of appetizer, entree…

King’s Disease III––the third release from Nas and record producer Hit-Boy’s annual trilogy––is the duo’s best work yet. And it may just be one of Nas’ best projects overall. Check out the King’s Disease III album review right here. While the 2020’s have been unpredictable, there’s one thing this decade hasn’t failed to produce each year. A brand new Nas and Hit-Boy album off of the King’s Disease collaboration. It’s rare to see a rap archetype like Nas churn out album after album every year. One may expect the quality of his work to get diluted with the rapper’s increased…

Dancehall-R&B fusion queen Omega Mighty and powerhouse producer Taabu are bringing the heat to their latest collaboration, “Gi Dem”. If you’re a TikTok aficionado like me, you’ve probably come across a familiar face on the platform: dancehall/R&B fusion artist Omega Mighty. Gracing our screens with dance challenges, music teases, and content with her family, the Bajan-Jamaican performing artist is quickly stirring up a buzz for her artistic excellence. And now she’s lighting ablaze a path with her own #viraltrend worthy anthem, “Gi Dem”. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjsvbQ4sidc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Produced by drummer-engineer mastermind Taabu, “Gi Dem” is an electro-dancehall fusion spiced with suspenseful beat drops,…

On October 15, the Red Bull BC One Cypher Canada National Final will be hosted in Toronto featuring an impressive lineup of breakers, DJs and entertainers. Between breakbeats, b-boys and battling, Red Bull BC One Cypher Canada is solidifying its spot in urban culture as the world’s leading breakdancing competition. After a rigorous round of regional competitions in Montreal and Vancouver, the finals will be hosted in Toronto this Friday at Design Exchange. The anticipation is buzzing across the city as competing dancers from across Canada get ready to bring their best moves to the big stage. As the Canadian…

“Too modest for the big city (Toronto) and too provocative for the African homes they come from, virgins! is a comedic drama that follows four 20-something year-old women awkwardly navigating adulthood, love, and relationships as virgins, while dodging the all-seeing aunties along the way.” -CBC Rife with late nights, girl talk, and the tug of war struggle of balancing family expectations with society’s, Canadian series virgins! is a must-watch new drama series on CBC Gem. Created and written by Aden Abebe, virgins! features four East African women in their prime years as they navigate relationships, religion, and workplace politics. Too haram…

With the stamina to match her last name, Haviah Mighty is a force to be reckoned with on “Honey Bun”. Listen to the new track here. Ain’t sh*t sweet but the title on Haviah Mighty’s new single, “Honey Bun”. In true Mighty fashion, “Honey Bun” sees the rapper unapologetically brag on her triumphs. Success on her own terms has always been at the helm of each release for the Brampton-native, and “Honey Bun” is an anthem celebrating that philosophy. Mighty first teased the new track on September 6th with an energetic cypher-style reel, using her inverted JUNO award as a…

YouTube partners with local Toronto incubator HXOUSE to help content creators turn their passion into profit with CNCPT, an innovative program designed to empower emerging digital creators. From gaming, to makeup tutorials, to mukbangs, video content creation has opened up a world of creative and economic possibilities for the ordinary person. At the height of the pandemic, while many companies were downsizing their workforce,  YouTubers had a coveted stream of income and a fortuitous sense of financial security. Video influencers with 500k+ followers were making close to $4000 a video, which goes to show platforms like YouTube are a tool…

Honey Jam celebrates its 27th year on August 18th at El Mocambo with a concert packed with diverse female talent. Delivering high doses of female power and raw talent that you can only find in the heart of a groundbreaking movement, Honey Jam is hosting its annual concert featuring an impressive lineup of eclectic young Canadian women on Thursday, August 18th, 2022. https://www.instagram.com/p/ChPyQnut0MD/ With remarkable longevity and a track record of finding and cultivating the best female musical talent early on, Honey Jam is an irreplaceable pillar in the music scene spearheaded by media and music business powerhouse Ebonnie Rowe.…