Our next SHIFTER Boss profile is on Common Media Group (CMG) founder, Lauren Campbell. Founded in February 2020, her full-service branding and communications agency builds, develops, and bridges the gap between brands and creatives. Her roster includes actors, artists, athletes such as Lamar Johnson, Anders, Unimerce, Patricia Jaggernauth, K. Forest, Jayd Ink, Nate Husser, Kennedy Rd, and more. She also manages the talents of singers and songwriters Pisceze and Shanuka. Lauren has managed PR projects for some of the top brands in the world including adidas, FIJI Water, Tommy Hilfiger, Hudson’s Bay, Estee Lauder, TIFF, and more. Check out our full profile…
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.
Ottawa rapper and singer, Eazy Finesse, had a busy April releasing two brand new singles, including the Lxcid-produced “Swervin'”. On the track, Eazy Finesse gets introspective about some of the mistakes she’s made as of late and her desire to do better. The single came with some visuals, shot by her frequent collaborator Premi Productions, that show a vulnerable Eazy Finesse in downtown Toronto surrounded by tall buildings, including the iconic CN Tower. The pair previously worked together on the visuals for “Freestyle Pt. 1 & 2” and “Murda”. When asked about the inspiration for the song, Eazy Finesse told SHIFTER,…
Ottawa hip-hop artist, Mischa, is back with “Woke Up”, a brand new banger to help us usher in the spring/summer season. Produced by Quest of Dreamland Studios and mixed and mastered by Carde Blanche, the uptempo production features a heavy baseline and a bouncy “pop rap” drum pattern reminiscent of big bangers like Kodak Black’s “ZEZE” and Tyga’s “Taste”. As Mischa raps ‘Woke up feelin’ like it’s 2017,’ she hints at “being fed up with people who no longer serve you continuing to come back for more of the energy you retain”, she explains. Appearing on the track is fellow Ottawa…
It’s that time again! SHIFTER’s Canadian Music Video Roundup for March includes videos from Drake, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Boslen, SAFE, Swagger Rite, Lindasson, Manila Grey, Duvy, Killy, Mustafa and more! Check out the videos below in order of release date, then help us crown the top video in the country from March. Special shout out to our sponsor, realtor and Canadian hip-hop legend Greg Campbell. Last month you voted and crowned “On God” by AP as your Video of the Month. Video of the Month // AP – “On God” Who will win for April? Boslen TRIP Release date: March 2, 2021…
Today, Scarborough-born and Brampton-raised rapper, Ty’Dre, returned with his first release of 2021 – an empowering anthem about triumph and unity titled “We Up”. The song was inspired by his relationship with his close friends as he revisits the past while also looking ahead at his goals. As the song plays out you not only get a glimpse into his come up with his day one people, but also his aspirations for the future. As he raps lyrics like, “All my people, we up, our time, tell me, who can see us? Let’s come together, put some property up Was…
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…
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…
