Author: Kevin Bourne

“People On The Move” takes a look at people moving on to new and exciting roles in our community and culture. Today, veteran Toronto hip-hop radio broadcaster, Mastermind, is on the move joining the team at SiriusXM to launch their new All Canadian Hip-hop and R&B channel Mixtape: North. Almost three years since parting ways with Flow 93.5, eventually landing at VIBE105 where he once hosted a successful radio show, long-time Toronto hip-hop radio broadcaster, Mastermind, is on the move once again. Earlier today, he took to Instagram to announce he would be joining the team at SiriusXM to launch…

SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne calls the ALLBLK Original Series Send Help refreshing, different and needed. Co-created, co-showran and executive produced by Insecure alumni Jean Elie and Mike Gauyo, the ALLBLK Original Series Send Help tells the story of Haitian-American actor Fritz Jean-Baptiste (played by Elie) and his journey of trying to make it in Hollywood, all while navigating the pitfalls of family tragedy and dating. During the lead up to the premiere, we had the chance to sit down with co-creator, co-showrunner and executive producer, Mike Gauyo, to talk about the brand new series. From the interview, we gathered that this…

The Legacy Awards was about pride and self-acceptance says SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne in his The Legacy Awards 2022 recap. Tonight, the who’s-who of Canadian Black entertainment and culture descended on History in downtown Toronto for the first annual Legacy Awards presented by the Black Academy. Canada’s brightest Black talent, including Kardinal Offishall, Jully Black, Savannah Ré, André De Grasse, and Tyrone Edwards, took to the black carpet to celebrate this groundbreaking moment. While focusing on the accomplishments of Black Canadians, the Legacy Awards not only represented the coming-of-age of Black Canada, but of Canada at-large, with these kinds of outright…

Toronto producer Boi-1da has his own shoe thanks to Nike and Kevin Durant. Here’s a closer look at the Boi-1da x Nike KD 15 86 BPM and how you can get a pair. After the initial announcement back in August, this week Toronto music producer Boi-1da got his own sneaker courtesy of Nike and Kevin Durant. The drop is the latest in a long list of accolades the Toronto producer Boi-1da has accumulated in his career so far, from Grammys to platinum plaques. Not only did he get to put his name on the shoe, but he was hands-on with…

In our interview with Savannah Ré we talk about her new EP “No Weapons”, her latest Juno Award win and more. KB: So we’re gonna obviously talk about the project, but let’s talk about another JUNO. How was that because we were actually there. We were backstage in the press conference room and kind of got to see everything. How was that feeling of winning that JUNO? Savannah: It was honestly surreal, like I went there feeling like a winner, because you know what, obviously I had won the year before, and it was in the middle of the pandemic.…

PK Subban retires from the NHL after 13 seasons. He took to Instagram to make the announcement. Here’s a quick look at his All-Star career. In the last few days, hockey pundits were discussing the next possible landing spot for NHL defenceman PK Subban. Well, today he shocked the hockey world by announcement his retirement after 13 seasons. He took to Instagram to share the news. I remember my dreams of playing in the NHL and winning a Stanley Cup, similar to the guys on the Don Cherry Rock’em Sock’em tapes at the end of every volume, with the black…

Based on a script he wrote 27 years ago, Tyler Perry’s latest film is his “best work yet” says SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne in his A Jazzman’s Blues review. Known for delivering Black comedies like Madea, Tyler Perry takes audiences in a different direction with his latest film A Jazzman’s Blues; a coming-of-age period drama about young, forbidden love in the late 1930’s and 1940’s South The shy and starry-eyed Bayou (Joshua Boone) finds himself in love with Leanne (Solea Pfieffer), a light skinned Black girl facing trouble at home. After being separated, the two young lovers reconnect in Hopewell, Georgia, but…

Micheal Ward and Olivia Colman deliver award-worthy performances says Kevin Bourne in his Empire of Light review. Another standout film from the Toronto International Film Festival is Empire of Light starring Micheal Ward, Olivia Colman, and Colin Firth. The Sam Mendes directed film is set in a small seaside town in England in the early 1980’s and tells the story of a group of co-workers in a local movie theatre. The story is centered around friends turned unlikely lovers, Stephen (Micheal Ward) and Hilary (Olivia Colman), who are separated by both age and race. Making matters even more complicated is…

In his Black Ice film review, SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says the documentary is not only a damning look at racism in hockey, but in Canada at-large. Executive produced by Lebron James, Maverick Carter, Drake and Future The Prince, Black Ice chronicles the history of anti-Black racism in hockey, from the Coloured Hockey League in 1895 through to today. In the documentary, we not only discover the historical ties between Black communities and Canada’s pass time, but the innovations that Black players introduced to the modern game. We also learn that not only have the historical ties between Black communities and…

On The Come Up provides a universal story of self-discovery while highlighting the strength of Black women. Here’s our On The Come Up review. One of our more highly-anticipated films premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival was On The Come Up. Set in the fictitious neighbourhood of Garden Heights, affectionately known as “The Garden”, On The Come Up tells the story of 16-year-old rapper Bri, also known as Lil Law, who is looking to follow in the footsteps of her father and local rap legend Lawless. It’s an 8 Mile-like story as the young phenom navigates the local battle…

Nav shows depth, substance and “melodic lyricism” says SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne in his Demons Protected By Angels album review. After initially hinting at a July 29th release date, NAV has finally dropped his new album Demons Protected By Angels. In his relatively short professional career, NAV has built a reputation for delivering albums that are complete bodies of work. Like his Juno-nominated 2019 release Bad Habits, NAV creates albums you can play from beginning to end with little to no fillers. While he’s given us big singles in the past, his albums are more like collections of songs that together…

Ari Lennox’s new project is “equal parts soulful and sexy” says Kevin Bourne in his Ari Lennox age sex location album review. Days after releasing a surprise EP titled Away Message, Ari Lennox has dropped her highly anticipated album age/sex/location. According to Wikipedia, the term is “used as a question to find out the age, sex, and general location of the person one is talking to.” With that in mind, the album explores relationship dynamics ranging from sexuality and passion, to finding the strength to move on. It’s equal parts soulful and sexy as Lennox brings the raw and unfiltered…