2020 was a year full of highs for Ottawa-based artist Kalix Breezy. Not letting the effects of the pandemic stop him from releasing quality content, the hip-hop hit maker has been working to follow suit in 2021. Hitting the ground running, his most recent single “Credit” outlines exactly what the emerging artist is looking to achieve. Touching down with a hunger in his voice, Kalix Breezy exudes a punchy confidence that drips through your speakers with a rich sense of braggadocio. Flaunting bars that reflect his feelings towards everyone skeptical of his personal and artistic growth, forthright lyrics like ’cause my…
Author: Kevin Bourne
Kevin Bourne
Kevin Bourne, also known as "KB The Boss" or simply "KB", is a Toronto-based host/on-air personality, arts & entertainment journalist, TV/film producer, and communications and content strategist. As a commentator and freelancer, he has appeared nationally as a correspondent on CBC News Network and host on CBC Music. He has also appeared locally on CTV, CBC Radio, CityNews, Newstalk 1010, and ByBlacks.com, and in the United States on Fox’s Black digital TV network, Fox Soul. He has covered some of Canada’s top red-carpet events, from the Toronto International Film Festival to the Canadian Screen Awards, and has interviewed everyone from Kevin Hart and "Fast and the Furious" star Tyrese Gibson to Ziggy Marley, Ava DuVernay, Dascha Polanco, Lilly Singh, and Howie Mandel. His years of work as an entertainment journalist led to him being named a Golden Globe® Awards voter and Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-Approved critic and being quoted as a critic in national ad campaigns for Black films and TV shows, both in Canada and the United States. Pivoting into the world of film and television, Kevin co-founded the film, TV, digital content, and live experiences company, SHIFTER Entertainment, alongside his wife and business partner, Koliah. Through SHIFTER he has produced a number of projects, including the Bell Fibe TV1 unscripted reality series A Date In The Life, serving as showrunner, executive producer, writer and co-director. Now, with a number of pilot and feature film scripts written and projects in development, KB is poised to continue to be a champion for Black entertainment and culture alongside his wife and business partner, Koliah.
It’s that time again! SHIFTER’s Canadian Music Video Roundup for April includes videos from The Weeknd, Belly, Dax, Lil Berete, Unimerce, Houdini, Boslen, Bizz Loc, Swagger Rite, anders, Maurice Moore, Ruth B, and more! Check out the videos below in order of release date, then help us crown the top video in the country from April. Special shout out to our sponsor, realtor and Canadian hip-hop legend Greg Campbell. Last month you voted and crowned “Trophy” by Nagy Gogetta as your Video of the Month. Video of the Month // Nagy Gogetta – Trophy Who will win for May? Boslen feat. Tyla Yaweh P2P…
With Nicki Minaj dropping her highly anticipated album last night at midnight and Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s projects reportedly on the way, 2021 may very well be the best year for hip-hop albums in years. Another album that hip-hop heads have been anticipating since he announced it just over a week ago is J. Cole’s The Off-Season. Whetting fans appetites with the lead single “The Interlude” and a masterful freestyle on his first ever appearance on L.A. Leakers, he reminded us that he has some of the most elite pen game in hip-hop (as if we needed any reminding). Whereas KOD…
Canadian hip-hop artist, DJ and producer turned record executive, Kardinal Offishall, recently celebrated a major milestone – the 20th anniversary of his classic album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1. The album achieved a number of accolades including south of the border and was the soundtrack of a generation for young Black kids growing up in Toronto. The lead single and Toronto anthem “Bakardi Slang” became Kardi’s first single to appear on the Billboard charts, peaking at #57 among U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Not only did the album secure him a 2002 Juno nomination for Best Rap Recording, but The Source,…
Dom Vallie recently released “Tell Me Please”, his long-awaited collab with City Fidelia and the track is straight fire. Here’s a closer look. Toronto-born and Kitchener-raised artist, Dom Vallie, recently released his long-awaited collab with City Fidelia and the track is straight fire. The single has already amassed over 84K streams on Spotify alone, as well as placement on playlists like Hip Hop Central and Northern Bars, so it seems fans and industry insiders agree. Recorded at Real House of Ensemble and produced and engineered by Jeff Sanon during a weekend trip to Ottawa, “Tell Me Please” is a braggadocious track…
Last night at midnight, Night Lovell dropped his latest album Just Say You Don’t Care. The 14-song project is a follow up to his 2019 release GOODNIGHT LOVELL and his first album since signing with G59 Records back in February. The album features Lovell’s signature dark and haunting sound with heavy bass. It also has no features which isn’t exactly out of character for the enigmatic rapper. The slow and dark vibes are broken up with the more up tempo “Bottom Top”, “On The Hill”, and “Crawl” which is one of the standout songs on the project. Rounding out the track list are previously…
Seventeen year old, Steven Harmon (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) lives a normal teenage life in Harlem, New York – going to school, hanging out with friends, drinking, and going to the nightclub. Everything changes when he meets local street hustler, William King (played by Harlem rapper, A$AP Rocky), and his friend Richard “Bobo” Evans (played by John David Washington) who attempt to introduce and lure Steve to the darker side of life in the neighbourhood. After a bodega robbery gone wrong, Steve finds himself behind bars, a victim to the system. Not only does the unfolding drama take a toll…
It’s been a very productive year so far for Ottawa area rapper, singer and songwriter, Baëbe Ruth. In the midst of a rebrand from her former name “Babe Ruth” and her upcoming performance at the second annual Capital Music Awards she has emerged as one of the most promising talents coming out of the capital. Known for her organic authenticity, a deep dive into her repertoire of R&B meets hip-hop creations delivers pieces of her inspirational story as she kicks the relatability factor up a notch. Highlighting the heartfelt lyricism showcased on her most recent release “On Me,” we hear…
Canada’s Godfather of Hip-hop, Maestro Fresh Wes, has been very active in recent years, releasing music at a steady clip. He has worn many hats over his illustrious and ever evolving career, including emcee, actor, mentor and hip-hop elder statesman. Now he has another hat to add to his impressive resume – children’s book author. Inspired by his 1998 track of the same name, Stick To Your Vision: Young Maestro Goes to School is an inspirational children’s book that tells the story of a young Maestro Fresh Wes as he navigates school, including competing in the school’s writing contest against…
Ottawa rapper, Romeo Don’t Die, dropped his brand new single “Accessible” with a little help from Montreal rapper, Shreez. Today, Ottawa rapper, Romeo Don’t Die, dropped his brand new single “Accessible” with a little help from Montreal rapper, Shreez. Together they rap effortlessly over the Alain & DiceFlyy drill production about finessing and making ends meet through mischievous ways. “The concept of the record was initiated by the fact I was wearing Gucci sneakers with a tiger print on the side. This inspired the first lyrics of the hook and from there the rest of the song was written & recorded in thirty…
Today, British-born, Toronto-based DJ and producer, Unimerce, returned with her latest single “Life” featuring scorching hot rapper and singer, Lil Berete. The single is a follow up to her previous release “What You Sayin?” alongside R&B artist Nadia Stone which has garnered almost 230K views on YouTube so far. “Life” is the second collaboration for the two Toronto artists in recent months. Unimerce also produced “Murda” featuring 2K Baby on Berete’s recently released project Icebreaker 2. The song currently sits at almost one million streams on Spotify alone. For the now frequent collaborators, their latest single came together rather quickly. “I definitely…
Actor, speaker and University of Ottawa graduate, Jesse Jones, is your next host for the upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise Canada. Rogers Sports & Media along with Citytv made the announcement on Twitter last week, as well as on Breakfast Television Toronto. “The Bachelor nation has been super excited and super pumped and I’m just honoured to be a part of it and I hope I can do it justice.” expressed Jones. Hosting is nothing new to Jones as he is creator, executive producer and host of his own show, The Drive, available on his YouTube channel ‘IamJesseJones’, where…
