Author: Kevin Bourne

For years there has been a misconception that Canadian athletes aren’t as good as American athletes in many sports. It has seemed like Canada is only good for hockey for a number of years but in 2021 only 43% of the NHL is Canadian, so is hockey really Canada’s sport? Sure Canada has been a hotbed for hockey for years and will always be a large part of the country’s history and athletics, though as we continue to move forward into the future, sports like football and basketball are becoming for recognized in Canada internationally. Something that can continue that…

Ottawa native, Queenyy, returns with the final piece of her intricate puzzle to close off her wistful EP Distance. As she finalizes this chapter with the movement visual for “Broken English”, the introductory track and freestyle from the EP, we get to witness the undeniable sizzle and vulnerability she effortlessly radiates as both a vocalist and a dancer. The therapeutic sounds of “Broken English” tell a tale of the emerging artist falling in love with someone overseas that could barely speak English. Initially recorded as a freestyle in Switzerland, Queenyy took this gem back to Canada where producer 613Tino, and mix…

Weeks after being sold to video-making and social-networking service Triller, Verzuz, the brainchild of hip-hop mega producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, has announced a brand new partnership with a highly unlikely partner in popular exercise equipment maker Peloton. While the partnership between Verzuz and Peloton may be a head scratcher to some, the latter has quickly built a reputation for bringing together fitness and music through its music-led-classes and artist partnerships known as its Artist Series. Through the new partnership, Peloton will celebrate the music of two legendary artists in a friendly competition format, providing a backdrop for a series of high…

Today, Basketball Africa League, also known as the BAL, announced that tip off for the league’s inaugural season is set for Sunday, May 16 at Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. Twelve teams from across Africa, including champions from the national leagues in Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia, as well as Algeria, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique and Rwanda who qualified through BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA Regional Office Africa, are set to compete with the finals set to take place on Sunday, May 30. The adjusted schedule will include 26 games, beginning with an 18-game group phase. The top eight…

If you decide to start a business in 2021 one thing you’ll have to think about is branding. Although it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make, it’s something entrepreneurs spend the least amount of time and money on. Here are five tips for creating a brand that will make you stand out. 1. Be authentic This sounds so cliché, but your branding needs to be authentic. What does that mean? It means your branding should be a reflection of the mood, values, audience, mission and vision of your business. This means that you need to have an intimate…

Justin Bieber has surprised fans with the release of Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe), the deluxe version of the original album released on March 19. The deluxe album features six new songs including “There She Go” featuring Lil Uzi Vert, “I Can’t Be Myself” featuring his close friend Jaden Smith, “Lifetime”, “Wish You Would” featuring Quavo, “Know No Better” featuring Da Baby, and “Name” featuring Tori Kelly. The original album featured hits like “Holy” featuring Chance The Rapper, “Lonely” featuring Benny Blanco, “Anyone”, and “Hold On”, which combined for over two billion streams worldwide. It also included “Peaches” featuring fellow Canadian…

Tonight, the Origin Arts and Community Centre and the Great Canadian Theatre Company will close out International Women’s Month by presenting the latest installment of the Origin Kitchen Concerts featuring 2019 Polaris Prize winner Haviah Mighty. The Toronto rapper is no stranger to performing in the capital. She previously performed a signature high energy show at House of Paint 2019 and last performed in Ottawa at last year’s Bluesfest Drive-in festival. Since then she has gone on to release popular singles like “Obeah”, “Antisocial” featuring Rhythm and Flow alumn Old ManSaxon, and more recently “Good On My Own Tonight” featuring fellow…

Grenadian recording artist V’ghn and Bajan DJ/producer, DJ Puffy, recently dropped their new single “Brick By Brick”. Here’s a closer look. Two of the Caribbean’s finest have come together to drop some heat to get us dancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grenadian recording artist V’ghn and Bajan DJ/producer, and 2016 RedBull 3Style champ, DJ Puffy, recently dropped their new single “Brick By Brick”. The single also came with some new visuals directed by Careem Gilbert of CG Creative, Friz and V’ghn himself. The video opens with a scene of a car pulling up, eventually revealing a kidnapping victim in the…

After having a big year individually, Ottawa hip-hop artists AP and Lindasson have dropped a soulful collab with their new single “My Cry”. 2021 has been a great year for collaborations in the capital. Hueso and City Fidelia came together for their song “Legacy”. Night Lovell, Lindasson and FTG Reggie also teamed up on their big single “A Lot”. Today, the capital was blessed with another collab that we didn’t know we needed in “My Cry” featuring AP and Lindasson. Individually, they have both been having a big year so far, with Lindasson’s collaboration with Night Lovell and FTG Reggie…

The inaugural Ottawa Black Film Festival has finally arrived. To be presented online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival, which begins tonight and extends through to Sunday, will feature 30 films and various panels over four days. The lineup also includes 20 films from the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s BEING BLACK IN CANADA short film series which saw young Black Canadian filmmakers from Montreal. Toronto and Halifax create 20 documentary short films with the help of professional coaches. Here’s a bit of what you can expect to see at this year’s edition of the Ottawa Black Film Festival. The Special – The festival opens…

Nate “Thrilla” Gravelle has announced a new partnership with Stingray Music which will see him curate an Ottawa hip-hop playlist. When Ottawa radio host and A&R, Nate Gravelle, known in hip-hop circles as Thrilla, left his long-time radio show NU BRL Radio on CHUO 89.1FM it seemingly left a vacuum in Ottawa’s hip-hop landscape. Well, the long-time music and media entrepreneur recently took to social media to reveal his latest venture to put Ottawa hip-hop on the world’s radar. “After stepping down from five years on local Ottawa radio I promised I had something major in the works. I’m proud…

Freddy Printz is a staple in the Ottawa hip-hop music scene and has subsequently been expanding since the beginning of 2020 with a renewed vigor in his talents both musically and visually. Fresh off the release of his highly anticipated single for “Feel Like,” Freddy Printz has kept heads on a swivel when he dropped the buoyantly flowing single produced by frequent collaborator and Harlem-based producer Austin Marc. Now offering his audience a taste of what they want, Freddy Printz accompanies the melodic cadences with eye-catching visuals to have viewers immersed in the oozing charisma he drives home. Mixed by…