Author: Kevin Bourne

SHIFTER editor Kevin Bourne says the West owes Africa and the Caribbean more than just an apology; they owe reparations. Growing up in the West (Canada to be exact), we grew up seeing Africa through a particular lens; even those of us who are of Caribbean heritage. We saw endless commercials stating that for the price of a cup of coffee we could sponsor a poor child with a swollen belly and flies buzzing around their head. As Black people growing up in the West, our relationship with Africa was always complicated. We grew up in very Eurocentric societies and…

Cassius fights for his job and Amina is carrying another secret. Here’s our All American season 8 episode 4 recap. Amina’s secret It’s three days until the showcase. The flashbacks continue as Amina has a bad dream where she recalls her decision to write her anti-ICE article which may get her expelled. On a video call with KJ, she decides to not go to the school dance because she’s the only one out of her friends who isn’t booed up. Still in the flashback, KJ visits her at Dinsburg. He could visit his mom, but he doesn’t feel he should…

Now that the wait is over, SHIFTER editor-in-chief Kevin Bourne offers four reasons why LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 2026 NBA offseason has been one of the busiest in recent memory with marquee players like Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kawhi Leonard joining new teams. But the piece de resistance was the next destination for LeBron James who has informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he wouldn’t be returning next season. There were a number of teams that made sense. There were the Golden State Warriors which offered him the chance to finally team up with Steph…

Amina continues to hide a secret and Cassius has a kind of new love interest. Here’s our All American season 8 episode 3 recap. We tried to avoid any major spoilers. It’s showcase day at West Beverly and things are a little hostile between KJ and Principal London. We then flashback to four days before the showcase to see what happened. Cassius’ job At West Beverly, Cassius tells Principal London that Sportscenter is going to be covering the showcase at the school. Principal London congratulates him on his hard work, but he’ still hiding something. Later, Cassius tells KJ about…

Amina returns and tension is brewing in the Baker house between Jordan and Layla. Here’s our All American season 8 episode 1 hour 2 recap. CLICK: HOUR 1 RECAP Cassius and Jordan team up Cassius and Jordan are hard at work planning their showcase. Cassius and Jordan decide to ask for forgiveness instead of asking for permission. After seeing their work, Principal London allows them to host the combine at Beverly. Meanwhile, KJ and Khalil are locked in on their workouts. Jordan comes home and talks nonstop about the combine which doesn’t go over well with Layla after he missed…

Layla returns from tour to find life isn’t the same as she left it, and Cassius, KJ, and Khalil deal with bad news. Here’s our All American season 8 episode 1 (Hour 1) recap. CLICK: HOUR 2 RECAP Jordan and Cassius friends? Hour one starts with an emergency before we’re taken back six months to Beverly and South Crenshaw going head to head in a big game. Jordan and Cassius make peace, but still have a competitive relationship. While Layla has been away for six months on tour, Jordan and Cassius have become close, but their weekly hang out time…

In his The Invite movie review, Kevin Bourne calls the film an “entertaining therapy session that will make you laugh, smile, and think.” An award-winning all-star ensemble cast? Check. An all-star writing trio? Check. An award-winning director? Check. On paper, The Invite has the all the ingredients for an exceptionally made and highly enjoyable film. In practice and execution, it Is exactly that. Set in San Francisco, The Invite follows husband and wife, Joe (Seth Rogan) and Angela (Olivia Wilde), whose life and marriage are turned upside down when their unconventional upstairs neighbors, Piña (Penelope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton),…

Lucid State founder Andrew Daye shares his journey from childhood trauma to Breathwork and Mental Performance Coach. “Your brain constructs reality based on your state, and your breath is the instrument that orchestrates your state.” – Andrew Daye Andrew Daye is a man who has overcome the odds. He grew up in Ajax, Ontario in a trauma-filled, low income environment where his single mother worked three jobs to make ends meet. It’s in that environment that the former “unlucky kid” says he was hardwired for survival and seeking validation and self-worth. This trauma would affect his health as well. As…

In his Maid of Honour album review, SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says despite a few bright spots, “less would’ve definitely been more.” Last night, Drake surprised fans and the hip-hop world by dropping not one but three albums in one night. While some are impressed by this level of output, others have concluded the three album release is his way of getting out of his current record deal with Universal Music Group. That was my initial reaction. Let me preface this by saying that I’m a big Drake fan. I wouldn’t be too far off to call me a Drake Stan.…

In his Iceman album review, Kevin Bourne says the album proves once and for all that Drake is among the best lyricists to ever do it, The time has come. After months of waiting, Iceman is finally here. Drake set the tone with a partly pre-taped and partly live stream on Toronto 24-hour news channel CP24’s YouTube channel. The stream was a moment of pride for those of us from Toronto as the city was front and center as the world tuned in. After Drake kinda turned the CN Tower to ice and treated fans to a live fireworks show…

In his Is God Is movie review, Kevin Bourne says that the film “pulls no punches” and is “twisted and unapologetically Black”. Based on an award-winning play of the same name, Is God Is tells the story of twin sisters who go on a mission to find and seek revenge on their father (Sterling K. Brown) at the behest of their emotionally and physically scarred mother (Vivica A. Fox) as she lies on her death bed. Racine (The Rough One) can be seen as Malcolm X to Anaia (The Quiet One)’s Martin Luther King Jr. as the two take two…

After a life threatening airplane accident and finding God, Dave Jonsson is now serving the world through inspiration, community and skateboarding. “Leadership is what you’re able to do without your presence being there.” -Dave Jonsson I recently braved a snowy evening in Toronto to serve as a judge for the February edition of Speaker Slam, North America’s largest inspirational public speaking competition. Themed “Against All Odds”, the night saw a number of speakers, who traveled from as far as Baltimore and California compete for a spot in the Speaker Slam finals in November. The winner for the night was Dan…