Author: Kevin Bourne

Anaya Arts and Tunkas Fashion bring African craftsmanship to a Ottawa malls for the holidays If you take a walk through Ottawa malls, you will notice a number of brands from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and across the world, but very few local brands. Well, that recently changed thanks to two brave local entrepreneurs. What sets them apart is not only the fact that they’re both Black women, but they both come from Africa, with its long history of entrepreneurship and craftsmanship (despite what you tend to see on TV). Back in October, Anaya Arts founder and creative director, Fiona Khaemba,…

There’s excitement in the air as the students of Crenshaw and Beverley high schools prepare for prom. SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne breaks it all down in his All American Winter finale recap. The winter finale of All American sees the students of Crenshaw and Beverley high schools prepare for prom. Jordan is dateless after Simone leaves for her tennis tournament, but all isn’t lost as the story continues to hint at a budding romance between Jordan and Layla. The episode also introduces us to two new characters. First, Clay, a music producer friend of Layla’s who doesn’t hesitate to shoot his…

Ottawa hip-hop artist and songwriter TwoTiime had been pretty quiet in recent months, but this week he re-emerged with a new live rooftop performance video for his track “Deep Inside”. Shot by Toronto music video director My Name French, it opens with a drone shot of downtown Ottawa and a close up of Parliament Hill before switching to TwoTiime inside the Andaz Hotel in the Byward Market. He then rides the elevated to the 16th floor rooftop patio overlooking the market and Parliament and treats fans to a performance. Featuring a healthy dose of jump cuts and slow motion shots,…

As Toronto continues to flex its R&B and hip-hop muscle, producing some of the top artists in music today, there’s a new artist looking to join the ranks of the city’s top R&B and hip-hop exports. His name is Jaiden Lewis and it’s a name you’ll want to remember. Although he may be fairly new to the music game, he’s no stranger to the limelight. He started dancing at just four years old, taking lessons and performing with the Toronto area dance company DOAHL Academy. Then at 12 years old, while living in New York, he landed the role of…

After facing shattered dreams, things are beginning to look up for many of the characters. SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne takes a look at all the feel good moments in his All American season 4 episode 5 recap. Jamie Turner, the writer of tonight’s episode, took to the Gram and said, “So yo, tonight’s episode is written by yours truly. So expect a lot of “my man’s” and an inordinate amount of bro and sis hug. My apologies. But seriously, I’m super proud of this one…” as he should be. After a lot of shattered dreams in previous episodes, tonight’s episode has…

SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says you will leave theatres “inspired and a little choked up” in his King Richard film review. Starring Will Smith as Richard Williams, King Richard tells the story of visionary and sometimes controversial father and coach of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, played by Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the film explores Williams’ unique innovations and approaches to coaching, from the Williams’ signature open stance to practicing in the rain, that propelled his daughters to superstardom. The overarching themes are the power of dedication, hard work, trusting your instincts and betting…

With Spencer’s high school football career coming to a close, this was a tear-jerking episode. SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne takes a look at all the new and shattered dreams in his All American season 4 episode 4 recap. With Coop’s rap career threatened by her injuries from the shooting, Asher sidelined permanently from his heart condition, and Jordan looking at attending community college, many of the ongoing storylines reveal how the characters grapple with broken or altered dreams. Coop is forced to sit on the sidelines as Layla completes the album with her new artist. After providing Layla with some valuable…

Last night at midnight, Toronto rapper Smiley dropped his highly anticipated album Buy Or Bye 2 and it was well worth the wait. The 15-track project includes previous hit singles “In My Zone”, “Moving Different” and “Breakdown”, and of course the mega smash “Over The Top” featuring OVO Sound boss Drake. The album, a follow up his 2018 release Buy Or Bye, opens with the laid back and piano heavy “When I Die” where he continues the braggadocious flex we’ve heard on recent singles, as he lists all the people that fuck with him, from 6ixbuzz and Drake to his…

SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne explores the life altering decisions our favourite TV high school students must make in this All American season 4 episode 3 recap. Spencer has a dilemma―Should he enroll in college early, and leave his family and Liv behind, or delay enrollment? Liv and Spencer decide to make the most of their time together before Spencer goes off to university. But there’s one problem―Liv is nervous about the idea of having sex with Spencer. At the same time he is dealing with his continued fall out with Coach Baker after training Jordan. Grace then confronts Billy about his…

SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne explores the questions, details and new relationship dynamics in his All American season 4 episode 2 recap. While the season four premiere of All American answered a lot of questions, including whether Coop would live or die and who would win the state championship, there are some questions and details that are still up in the air. Although there’s less drama in this episode than the premiere, we’re being set up for some on the edge of our seat storytelling and we’re here for it. Here’s our All American season 4 episode 2 recap. Will Coach Baker…

2021 has been a big year for Somali-Canadian singer-songwriter Amaal. Back in July she returned with her single “Honey”, produced by the Grammy-nominated duo Nicky and Davey, where she celebrated her sexual liberation having grown up in an environment of fear, judgment and shame. Then in September she returned with “Heaven”, tackling the subject of love in an Afrofuturistic context. Now, the Toronto-based artist has returned with her sophomore EP Milly, the follow up to her previous EP Black Dove which earned her a 2020 Juno Award nomination for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. Named after her former nickname that…

SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says the stories “unfolded frustratingly slow, but in the end it created a tension that was worth the wait” in his All American season four premiere recap. The season three finale of All American left us with a lot of questions. Will Coop live or succumb to her gunshot wounds? What exactly does scary Carrie have up her sleeve and where is she taking Layla? Will Crenshaw high finally win that elusive state championship? Well, the All American season four premiere answered some of those questions while posing a few more. At times, the different stories unfolded frustratingly…