Author: Elio Elia

NF is back with a new album. Find out why Elio Elia calls it “underwhelming, unremarkable and unrefined” in his review of NF’s album Hope. On the back of two consecutive Billboard 200 #1 albums, Michigan rapper N.F.’s fifth studio album, Hope, offers a muted variety of what his fans have come to know and love, but what general audiences will continue to express indifference towards. The album begins with the title track, drawing listeners in with a sparse, almost spoken-word introduction. Soon enough, the string instrumentation swells, and a far louder, brasher, and sonic production barges into the song.…

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Following up on his EP EURO STEP, Lil Berete is back with his new project ELECTRIC CITY. SHIFTER’s Elio Elia calls it a “brilliant project” in his ELECTRIC LOVE review. Lil Berete has wasted no time following up on his acclaimed EP EURO STEP, with the release of a new EP ELECTRIC CITY. The Toronto rapper decided to take a different approach to his sound with this project, infusing Afropop and Electronic Music to create a very unique, yet euphonious sound. The Regent Park rapper collaborated with producers such as Kovi, Tyrus, Klein, Clvvdy and Tyler Murphy for the project,…

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In this edition of Dope New Music, we look at new Canadian music from artists like, TOBi, Charmaine, Lindasson, Liyah Katana and more. The Canadian music scene continues to heat up as a number of artists dropped new singles and music videos. Here’s a look at some of the recent Canadian releases. TOBi | “Keep From Falling” TOBi came with some Maxwell vibes on “Keep From Falling”. Featuring a beautiful falsetto and a lot of soul, TOBi’s versatility as an artist is mind boggling. He’s a musical Swiss army knife who can do everything, from rap to singing,…

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City Fidelia and Stan Lukoki have teamed up with Public Records to launch the House of Ensemble record label. In recent years, Ottawa artist and entrepreneur, City Fidelia, has amassed an impressive list of ventures all with the goal of helping to foster the music scene in the capital. In 2020, he co-founded the Real House of Ensemble recording studio and creative space alongside business partner Abe Abadi. Then in 2021, he launched the FRMULA artist development program alongside Rebecca Dickson. This is on top of being the Program Director at CHUO 89.1FM. Now City Fidelia and his Montreal-based business…

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UKFRENCH releases his new single Emotional, another bilingual offering from the London-based rapper. SHIFTER’s Elio Elia takes a closer look. Very few artists in the UK music scene have as unique a selling point as bilingual rapper UKFRENCH. The rapper seamlessly blends both English and French lyrics into his music, producing a fascinating sound. This was once again highlighted in the artist’s latest single “Emotional “. The transition from English to French and back again is done so well you almost forget it happened. This is due to the 74ent.tv CEO’s strong flow which helps smooth out his distinctive style.…

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Leading up to her appearance at SXSW, Toronto’s LolaBunz has drops a music video for her latest offering “No Patience”. The Toronto underground scene has slowly picked up steam over the last few years, and many artists were able to showcase their talents on the grander stage at Rolling Loud Toronto in 2022. Of these artists, Lola Bunz, who is preparing to take the stage at SXSW, is one who has begun gaining the respect of many through her versatile music skills, showcasing her fiery lyricism and her ability to infuse different musical influences to create a unique style that…

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Drake recently announced his North American “It’s All a Blur” tour alongside 21 Savage. Here’s your Drake and 21 Savage tour and ticket info. Drake is on his way. The Canadian rapper has announced the “It’s All a Blur” tour with 21 Savage kicking off on June 16th this year. The four-time Grammy-winner revealed the 29 dates and cities, starting in New Orleans before moving on to Dallas, Miami, New York and many more. Canadian fans will be happy to see that two of those stops include Montreal and Vancouver. Additional shows, including Toronto, are to be revealed at a…

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