Author: Kevin Bourne

Kevin Bourne is the co-founder and editor of SHIFTER magazine. Born and raised in Toronto, Kevin currently resides in Ottawa with his wife Koliah and their three children. He's a big fan of hip-hop, pop culture, and urbanism and spends most of his time keeping up with the Kardashians.

Tariq starts a new opportunity and Cane finds out the truth about Zeke murder. Here’s our Power Book II Ghost Season 3 Episode 2 review. Season three, episode two marks the growth of some keys characters. Where the premiere revealed Tariq and Brayden’s growing influence and maturity, from underlings to budding men in charge, episode two marks Monet and Cane getting out from under the thumb of Lorenzo (Berto Colon). Where he cast a dark and menacing shadow over the family in season two, the father and husband has fallen down the totem pole in his own house and business…

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SHIFTER editor-in-chief Kevin Bourne says this Kiefer Sutherland led series is one of the best of 2023 so far in his Rabbit Hole review. Last night, hundreds gathered in downtown Toronto for the Canadian premiere of Rabbit Hole, the latest original series from Paramount+. Starring Kiefer Sutherland, who was in attendance for the premiere, Rabbit Hole tells the story of John Weir (Kiefer Sutherland), a corporate espionage expert who alongside his team play Robin Hood by using deception to mastermind and puppeteer grand schemes in favour of his clients. What you believe you’re getting is a series where every episode Weir…

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Pi’erre Bourne drops Honeyberry 2, the much anticipated single and follow up to his 2018 release Honeyberry. Here’s a closer look. GRAMMY award-winning producer and rapper Pi’erre Bourne has released the much anticipated track “Honeyberry 2”. The sequel comes five years after the release of the original “Honeyberry”, which is a fan-favorite track that has stood the test of time. “Honeyberry 2” is a playful love song about Bourne’s love constantly tripping on him. She claims she doesn’t love him, but Bourne knows deep down she feels differently. Their complicated relationship is fleshed out appropriately through a relaxed melody that is supported…

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Tariq looks to redeem his name, Monet mourns the death of her son, and a new villain comes to town. Here’s our Power Book II Ghost Season 3 Episode 1 review. After a long break, the highly anticipated Season Three premiere of Starz’s Power Book II: Ghost has arrived. The premiere sees Tariq, the Tejadas, and the rest of the gang reeling from the deaths of family meal ticket and basketball superstar, Zeke (Daniel Bellomy), as well as family drug business connect, Dante aka Mecca (Daniel Sunjata). Set three months in the past, Dante’s blue diamond ring is being auctioned…

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The girls hold an intervention with Danni and Maurice confronts Que. Here’s our review of Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 5 Episode 22. The season finale of Sistas leaves many questions unanswered while opening new storylines surrounding characters like Aaron, aka “John”, and Maurice. While Maurice spent most of the season off camera while in jail, it appears he will be getting a lot of screen time next season. Meanwhile, Aaron, who has been presented as the perfect preacherman is being set up for a type of fall from grace as we see more of his dark side. Season five prioritized…

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In his Broken Chord review, SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says the play evokes feelings of sadness at times, but is a tremendous source of pride Hundreds gathered tonight at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts for the opening night of Broken Chord, the critically acclaimed work from dancer, choreographer, and director Gregory Maqoma. Set in the 1890’s, Broken Chord is based on the true story of The African Native Choir during their U.S. and UK tour. The young African singers from the Eastern Cape are looking to raise funds for a school in Kimberley, South Africa, but are met with…

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Maurice gets out of jail and Zac learns more about Fatima’s secret past. Here’s our Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 5 Episode 21 review. With even more new storylines beginning, the drama on the show has grown by leaps and bounds. The episode continues to raise some new questions as we learn more about the backstories of Fatima and Aaron. Fatima’s secret life revealed The episode opens with Fatima’s baby daddy at Zac’s door. He reveals that Fatima has a nine-year old son in Washington D.C. and that Fatima left because she didn’t want him. He came to see Fatima because…

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Toronto writer and showrunner, Anthony Q. Farrell, takes a comedic look at diversity and classism in his new CTV original series SHELVED. For many Canadian TV watchers, the name Anthony Q. Farrell is one they probably aren’t familiar with, but that may change very soon. Born in Toronto, Made in  Los Angeles Farrell got started in theatre at Queens University where he studied math and theatre with the goal of becoming a teacher. It was during a math class that he decided to narrow his focus to theatre. “There was one time I was in a third or fourth year…

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Rappers, singer-songwriters, and R&B vocalists. There was a lot of talent on tap at filltheBLNK Session 9 in Toronto. Over 100 artists and creatives gathered at 5 Dohme Avenue in Toronto for Session 9 of filltheBLNK which has quickly become one of the go-to spaces in Toronto for artists to network, showcase their talent, and test new music in a safe and welcoming environment. On the heals of International Women’s Day, the filltheBLNK team used the occasion to celebrate up and coming female artists. Holding down hosting duties was Muze CEO, Alina Guidu, who also brought an empowering message for…

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On March 4th and 5th, artists, songwriters, producers, and engineers unite at Lynx Music for the BEATCAVE songwriting camp. Since it was founded in 2019 as a community for producers, BEATCAVE has hosted over 1000 community members at over 25 events. This weekend they’re at it again with their latest CAMP event in partnership with the City of Toronto’s Music Office. On March 4th and 5th, producers, engineers, artists and songwriters will descend on Lynx Music at 260 Emerson Ave for a two-day educational and creative songwriting camp. The program includes workshops, music creation, networking and more. There will be…

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The Black photo exhibit As We Rise: Photography From the Black Atlantic takes over The Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver from February 24 to May 14. Although we all descend from Africa with its many countries, tribes and languages, the flavour of “Black-ness” is as diverse as ever thanks to colonialism and the slave trade. There’s African, Caribbean and Latin America culture. Here in Canada, there are Black communities in Nova Scotia and border towns like Windsor, Ontario and St. Catharines tracing back to the underground railroad. Of course, there are African Americans across the United States who have diverse…

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Toronto singer-songwriter Benita is back with a vulnerable yet inspirational EP titled The Other Side Through The Hills. Toronto native Benita had a big year in 2022. Not only did she release her EP Scarlet, which was not only well received by the media, the industry, her peers and fans alike, but she was also a writer on Jon Vinyl’s Juno-nominated release “Palisade”, up for Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. Now she’s back with a new two-track EP titled The Other Side Through The Hills. Where Scarlet featured edgy tracks about love gone wrong, on “The Other Side”, with its strings and…

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