Universal Music Group recently announced the launch of their new Middle Eastern division Universal Arabic Music with the goal of discovering and bringing artists in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region to the world. At the helm of the new label is Lebanese-Canadian record executive Wassim Slaiby, CEO of SALXCO and XO Records. Known to most as “Sal”, he rose to fame as the manager of R&B superstar The Weeknd and rapper/songwriter Belly, and now counts NAV, French Montana, Metro Boomin, Doja Cat, Bebe Rexha, Ty Dolla $ign, Rowdy Rebel and Swedish House Mafia among his long list…
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.
San Diego producer Desren has teamed up with Ottawa artists Swisha T and Jstn Dmnd on his recent single “Dusk Till Dawn”. On the track, Desren takes time to address his haters and his love for money, as the two Ottawa rappers also talk about their grind and the haters they’ve attracted along the way. In the first verse, Swisha raps, “7:30, get up bright and early, that’s the way I like it Workaholic, everyday I’m writing, they been hating on me but they never like me They don’t really understand me, I just do this for my family, I…
About Takis SHIFTER’s Artist of the Month for April is DJ, producer and songwriter Takis. The Winnipeg native has performed on some of the most prestigious stages in dance music including EDC Mexico, Beyond Wonderland Monterrey, ISY Festival China, Ever After Music Festival Ontario, Marquee Las Vegas Nightclub, Marquee Dayclub, TAO Las Vegas, LAVO Las Vegas, Rehab Beach-club Las Vegas, LAVO New York, New Gas City Montreal, Stereo Live Houston, Time Nightclub OC and many more. Takis solo debut Wait for Me landed on Spotify’s Viral Daily & Weekly Chart in Netherlands (#35) and on Apple Music Dance Charts in…
Ottawa-based R&B singer-songwriter, Omari Mydz, is back with his new single “Tonight”, the follow up to his 2020 release “Ease”. Produced by UK-based beatmaker, Certibeats, the song talks about the spark and feeling that comes with new love. “To be honest, this song is for anybody who’s ever talked to someone long distance. Whether it be flirting, something serious or absolutely nothing. It’s about that first spark you get when talking to someone new. It’s about that feeling you get when you start talking to someone and that’s all you wanna do”, he explains. “I was driving home from Montreal…
Days after being promoted to Senior Vice President, A&R at Universal Music Canada, Canadian hip-hop staple Kardinal Offishall is celebrating another milestone – the 20th anniversary of the release of his second studio album, Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1. Kardi took to social media today in celebration of the achievement posting, “Ol Time Killin, Bakardi Slang, Maxine and other chunes from this album changed my life FOREVER and also the lives of everyone from Toronto, and Canada who were part of hip-hop culture as a whole. Everything was a raw representation of who we were at that time. Our slang,…
Night Lovell has returned with a three-song EP Bottom Top, including a song of the same name and previous releases. Here’s a look at Night Lovell’s Bottom Top. After going into the shadows on and off in recent years, Ottawa rapper, Night Lovell, has been keeping fans satisfied with a steady supply of new music as of late. Last October, he reemerged with his video and single “Alone” which has garnered almost 10 million views on YouTube to date. Then he treated fans to a rare feature, collaborating with fellow Ottawa rappers Lindasson and FTG Reggie on the upbeat CR…
A month after releasing his latest EP, Lil Berete drops Icebreaker 2 deluxe featuring four brand new tracks. A month after releasing his latest mixtape Icebreaker 2, Lil Berete is back with a deluxe version of the project featuring previous hits “Murda” featuring 2KBaby and Unimerce and “War Ready”, as well as four brand new tracks – “No Scale”, “ikik”, “One Week” featuring Toronto-based British DJ and producer Unimerce, and “Reunited”. If the new songs sound completely from the previously released tracks that’s completely by design as Berete old SHIFTER in a recent interview. “The way my mixtape was mixed and…
SHIFTER’s new “People On The Move” feature takes a look at people in our moving on to new and exciting roles in our community and culture. Today, Kardinal Offishall is “on the move”. Today, Universal Music Canada announced Canadian hip-hop legend, Kardinal Offishall, was named the new Senior Vice President, A&R. In his new role, the multi-platinum, award-winning artist and producer will continue to discover, sign and foster the next generation of Canadian artists. Among his recent signees are Emanuel, the first Canadian domestic act co-signed to the Motown label, R&B singer-songwriter Savannah Ré, and Montreal rapper Zach Zoya. True to his monicker…
Neflix has bought the rights to an upcoming docuseries about polarizing music producer, rapper and clothing/shoe designer, Kanye West, who recently made headlines after his split with his wife, Kim Kardashian. The deal was initially rumoured to be worth $30 million although that has been refuted by sources and industry insiders. The documentary was shot over 21 years by West’s previous collaborators Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah who directed version three of West’s music video for “Jesus Walks”, as well as “Through the Wire”, shot after his nearly fatal car accident in 2002. It is said to include pivotal moments…
For his 37th birthday, XO/Roc Nation artist, Belly drops new singles IYKYK and Money On The Table, his first new solo material in three years. In time for his 37th birthday, XO/Roc Nation artist, Belly, released two brand new tracks, his first new solo material in three years. For the first single, “Money On The Table”, he enlists Buffalo rapper and Griselda member, Benny The Butcher, as well as The ANMLS and Los Angeles producer, Skinny, on production. “This felt like something nostalgic when I first made it, and being a fan of Benny, it only made sense to have…
For the past few months, SHIFTER has been partnering with Invest Ottawa to promote the Digital Main Street program to help our community to start an online business or to take their existing business online. As the program comes to a close, we want to offer some final advice to the new and existing entrepreneurs in our network. Here are three things entrepreneurs should remember to stay motivated. 1. Entrepreneurship isn’t easy The first thing you need to remember is that not only is starting a business hard, but staying at it long enough to see results is extremely hard. At…
Toronto rapper Swagger Rite is back with his new eight-track EP, Detour. The project includes previous releases like “Heart Broke Rockstar Sh*t”, “Drugs and Love” featuring OVO Sound artist Roy Woods, and “Compton” featuring fellow Canadian Eva Shaw and Sha Hustle, with alongside four brand new tracks where he explores a variety of styles and genres. There’s “Spicy” where he gives us some Reggae vibes, comparing his love interest to a scotch bonnet pepper. Then he slows is down with “Isolated” as his smooth vocals are accompanied by an equally smooth acoustic guitar. In this song his breaks away from…
