Author: Kevin Bourne

From the acting, action sequences, and visual effects to the score, Dune is “simply epic” says SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne in his Dune review. Groundbreaking Oscar-nominated director, Denis Villeneuve, has returned with Dune, the story of Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet), the son of Duke Leto who embarks on a harrowing journey to the most dangerous planet in the universe to preserve the legacy of his family and people. At the core of this intergalactic power struggle is spice which has become the most important commodity in the universe. Based on Frank Herbert’s bestselling novel of the same name, it…

What sold Lil Durk manager Ola Ali on the opportunity to work with the young star was not only his talent as a rapper and singer, but his drive and hunger to succeed; something he also saw in himself. When you think about Chicago hip-hop, it’s become synonymous with big names like Kanye West, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa and Chief Keef. But during the pandemic, another artist has been asserting himself in the game and taking Chicago to the masses―Lil Durk.  One of the men behind Durk’s mid-pandemic rise to superstardom is none other than Ola…

Canada Goose recently dropped their new Fall/Winter collection and to say we’re impressed is an understatement. The collection features a number of cool features and materials, including backpack straps allowing certain jacket to pack within itself, snorkel hoods that eliminate the need for a hood, metallics, performance satin, word marks, a marble-like glacial print, and more. The collection also features brand new toques, headbands, hoodies and knitwear as Canada Goose evolves into a full lifestyle brand. The company even announced they’d be ending their purchase of fur by the end of 2021 and removing fur from their product line completely…

It’s been a busy year for Shamier Anderson and Stephan James. Back in January, the Scarborough-raised brothers announced the launch of the Black Academy awards to celebrate the accomplishments of Black talent in Canada. Produced by Insight Productions, the ceremony is set to air next fall on CBC under a multi-year deal. Then in February, the brothers, alongside younger brother and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon James, launched Bay Mills Investment Group, a private equity that supports and invests in young BIPOC entrepreneurs. Now, Shamier Anderson and Stephan James have launched their third venture of the year with their new production…

The sequel to the film Venom (2018), Venom: Let There Be Carnage continues the up and down (and up again) story of investigative journalist, Eddie Brock (played by Tom Hardy), and his sometimes reluctant symbiote crime fighting partner Venom. Whereas the first film depicts the duo wrestling for control and learning how to co-exist in this new partnership, Venom: Let There Be Carnage shows that their arrangement has grown beyond partnership to friendship. The irony of an alien being and a human being learning to live together in harmony when many humans have difficulty co-existing is clear. This is where Hardy shines,…

The buzz is in the air. After a successful virtual event in 2020, the Cranium Festival 2021 is here with an in-person event and the line up is crazy. Featuring some of Canada’s top hip-hop and R&B artists, the festival will be taking over some of the capital’s leading downtown venues from October 1-3. While the Friday, show is almost sold out, there are still tickets available for the weekend shows. Here are my picks for the must-see shows from each day at Cranium Festival 2021. OCTOBER 1 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eazy…

Back in the day, my friend Tony and I would regularly make the trek downtown to St. Joseph College School to pick up our friend Koliah (who would later become my wife) and her friends from school. One of them was Flo King. She was bold, blunt and the big sister of the pack. I soon found out that what made her such a force to be reckoned with was her upbringing in one of Toronto’s roughest neighbourhoods. The beginning Flo was raised in Regent Park by a single mother who exemplified the power of education and entrepreneurship. “I grew…

Tonight marked the opening night of Cityfolk at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa as some of Canada’s brightest young talents took to the stage. With the world still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, many music festivals have opted for an all-Canadian lineup and Cityfolk 2021 is no different. The opening performance, sponsored by RBCXMUSIC, featured Töme, the Montreal born singer, songwriter and actor who has been gaining steam as of late. The Nigerian-French Canadian performer set the tone with her smooth vocals and powerful message, including her 2021 single “Nana”. Before going into the closing number she encouraged women to own…

Based on a 2020 documentary of the same name, The Eyes Of Tammy Faye is a film adaptation of the real life rise and fall of televangelist couple Tammy Faye Bakker (played by Jessica Chastain) and Jim Bakker (played by Andrew Garfield). The film begins by exploring Tammy Faye Bakker’s childhood, from growing up in poverty in Minnesota and her early religious awakening, to being a product of divorce―something that was taboo at the time. It is a story of religion, politics, love and greed, providing insight into the couple’s call to ministry, rise to fame, and subsequent fall from grace. The film…

On the heels of the recent release of Fast 9, actor and singer, Tyrese Gibson, has launched a brand new partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund in order to invest in Black education. To jumpstart the partnership, Voltron Travel LLC, of which Gibson is CEO and President, has pledged $100,000 of its profits based on a percentage of net sales. The recently relaunched online travel platform powered by Priceline® Partner Network is currently the first and only Black-owned service of its kind dedicated to providing an exceptional booking experience for people of colour. Gibson launched the service after his experience…

Whether he’s doing his thing on TikTok or releasing single after single, Ottawa-based Egyptian artist, Mazyn, has been putting in work in 2021. Now, the rapper and singer formerly known as Capé, who started writing raps in his dorm room as an Egyptian international student to cope with homesickness, anxiety, and college stress, has returned with his new single “Wanna”, an R&B-infused, Afro Beat influenced track where he finds himself in a state of euphoria over the object of his affection. Now baby tell me why waste time Come closer let me go and hold ya Grab you by that…

Artist and free spirit, Isaiah Maxwell (played Kofi Siriboe) is busy navigating Washington, DC’s competitive arts scene until he meets Georgetown law student Stevie Richmond (played by Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing). Together, they go on a journey of fulfilling their dreams and ambitions, all while cultivating their blossoming love. Rounding out the all Black all-star cast are Michael Ealy, Uzo Aduba, Mack Wilds, Naturi Naughton, Blair Underwood, and Suzzanne Douglas who passed away in July after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The 2020 film, which was recently released on Netflix, is refreshing for a few reasons. First, the film is set in…