Author: Kevin Bourne

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…

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…

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…

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…

Vancouver artist PEAK is back with a laid back and moody new single “8PM”. The track is a lead up to his upcoming EP. With the rise of acts like Boslen and Manila Grey, Vancouver’s music scene has been heating up in recent years. Another name to add to the mix is PEAK, a Punjabi-Canadian artist who has been building a name for himself with his melodic blend of hip-hop and R&B. There was his single “COLD” featuring Toronto-based Indian rapper Fateh which boasts over 64K streams on Spotify. Then this past January he returned with “RE-UP” with his signature…

Gary and Robin go head-to-head and Maurice gets some good news. Here’s our Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 5 Episode 20 review. As we inch closer to the season finally, Tyler Perry’s Sistas is reaching a climax. The episode does a good job of answering some questions while raising some new questions as a potential cliffhanger for the finale. Que’s identity revealed The episode opens with Que’s revealing himself (in more ways than one). Danni explains that she knows Que from work while Sabrina explains that Que was the one who robbed and the bank and slept with Maurice. ”I can’t…

On his latest album, Logic goes back to his roots both as an artist and man. In his Logic x College Park album review, SHIFTER editor Kevin Bourne, aka KB The Boss, says this project is “a reminder of what hip-hop is supposed to be”. It feels like just the other day that Maryland lyricist, Logic, announced his retirement from music. He eventually returned with Bobby Tarantino III in 2021 followed by his seventh album, Vinyl Days, in 2022. Now he’s back with his latest project College Park, a collection of timeless songs that transport listeners back to the Golden…

Zatima reconcile after their fight and Maurice might be getting out of jail. Here’s our Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 5 Episode 19 recap. Andi and Karen get heated The episode opens with Karen overhearing Andi telling Fatima to not let Karen get in between her and Zac. This causes Andi and Karen to get a little heated. Andi puts her foot down. She wants to be friends with both of them. Fatima then presses Karen about the photo of her and Zac kissing. Karen clarifies that she hugged and kissed him on the cheek because he’s the father of her…

Latto drops a new pop single Lottery. Featuring Toronto’s LU KALA, it’s a fun, bouncy, and catchy pop track for the ladies. After having a big 2022 with her album release 777 and single release “I Just Called”, Latto is back with a brand new single “Lottery”, a fun, bouncy, and catchy pop track for the ladies. While the song has some sexual references, at its core the song is about having standards and knowing your value (or what you deserve) as a woman. If I let you put yo’ hands all over me If I let you unwrap all…

In his Shut Up and Paint documentary review, SHIFTER editor Kevin Bourne says viewers will “learn, think, be challenged, and at times smile”. At SHIFTER, we recently stumbled onto Shut Up and Paint, a documentary about the pressures Black artists face to silence their voice and message in order to sell their art. Released in December 2022, it follows artist and filmmaker Titus Kaphar, who directs and produces the film alongside Alex Mallis. Kaphar is a self-taught painter who learned the craft by going to museums and taking in white-centric art. Now turning that same imagery one its head, he…

NF drops a new song HOPE ahead of the release of his upcoming album of the same name. He also dropped cinematic new visuals to go with it. Michigan rapper NF has returned with a brand new single titled “HOPE”. On the track he tackles a number of topics, from faith and fatherhood to pain and success. We hear a version of NF who doesn’t want to play small or shrink back, as well as one who no longer wants to stand in his own way. What’s my definition of success? Creating something no one else could Bein’ great enough…

Zatima get heated, Danni gives in to temptation, and Karen and Andi’s friendship is tested. Here’s our Tyler Perry’s Sistas Season 5 Episode 18 recap. Rumble at the restaurant We continue from the previous episode with Zac and Aaron fighting at the Steamplant restaurant. After being a serial nice guy, Aaron holds his own. Gary shows up at the restaurant and tries to son Robin as he thinks he will be losing his company soon. Unfortunately for him, he learns that Robin has the money for the call option on the law firm. He calls Hayden to find out where…