Author: Kevin Bourne

When you look at the NFL of old, especially at the quarterback position, you would think of names like Elway, Marino and Montana. But today’s game has been revolutionized and the proof is in the pudding. Five out of the top seven quarterbacks in the NFL are African-Americans. Coincidence? I think not. The NFL hasn’t been this exciting since the early 90’s with the likes of Jerry Rice and company. It surely has something to do with the way the position has blossomed and to be more specific, what doors it has opened for duel-threat quarterbacks.  Why the prototypical quarterback…

Several years ago, I attended a poetry slam at a rustic, unsophisticated pub in suburban Toronto. I was there to see my friend, and headliner, Scribe, an incredibly passionate poet. Yet, despite the fact I was an English major in university, I had limited experience with the genre.  What surprised me was the diversity of the poets who competed. There was this short, spunky university student, a quiet, unassuming comic book fan, and this plainly dressed, slightly awkward but very friendly 30-something. None of them had a vibe that screamed “poet,” but their work was astounding. Each person delivered a…

Canadian hip-hop songwriter, artist, and producer The LJ is back with his new video for “Victory”. Produced by his labelmater Mcjoeey and his longtime friend and collaborator, Yung Fokus (Ice Cube, 2Chainz, Lloyd Banks), the single celebrates our successes as the Black diaspora through high-class taste and lifestyle, and reminds us to enjoy life even in uncertain times. Growing up as an African-raised Canadian and having spent his high school years in West Africa, The LJ has inherited styles intuitive to him. ‘Victory’ has smooth vocals, with an African-Caribbean flavor, over a lush dancehall-Afrobeat riddim. The LJ shows his cultural vibrancy, reflecting…

SHIFTER’s Artist of the Month for October is Vancouver rapper, Terrance Richmond. Vancouver, B.C.-based, Oakland-raised Terrance Richmond is a dynamic and innovative songwriter, rapper and creative. Having recently released his 10th project Glory Cloud, Richmond is continuing to stretch and redefine the boundaries of hip hop as a genre – refusing to be limited to trends, instead pressing towards defining a unique sound. His latest project serves as both his most lyrically deft and most vulnerable to date as he delves into ideas of legacy, pursuing call and following The Glory Cloud. Bringing together Gospel, hip-hop and neo-soul, this project…

A week after declaring his innocence in “The Most High” off his latest project DAYSTAR, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that Brampton, Ontario native, Tory Lanez, has been charged with one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle in the July 12th shooting incident involving Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 22 years and eight months in prison. Although the case is still under investigation by the LAPD, Lanez will be arraigned on October 13th. DAYSTAR debuted at number 10 on the Billboard…

Long time Anjou, Quebec pastry chef, Lindsay Brun, was recently crowned the winner of Food Network Canada’s brand new reality show Wall of Chefs.  In the episode 12 introductions Brun stated, “What I’m bringing to the competition is creativity, energy, drive. I also want to win $10,000.” Well, that she did, taking home the top prize. Each episode of the culinary competition show features four home bakers and home chefs from across Canada, all looking to impress 12 of Canada’s best chefs. In the opening crowd pleaser round, Brun prepared sautéed shrimp with rice, green peas, spicy pepper and onion…

Last month, hip-hop and R&B artist Queenyy dropped her latest single “Replace Him”, off her upcoming EP, Distance. Known for giving us songs we have no choice but to move to, the dancer turned singer has given us what may be her best single yet. Produced and recorded by 613Tino and mixed by Carde Blanche, the song is raw and vulnerable, inspired by the perils of long distance dating. “When I wrote replace him I was in a very frustrated mood, as I only write based on real experiences I am going through at that current time. My writing was inspired…

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of businesses have closed their doors and the retail sector is no different. Across the country, retailers are vacating their spaces in Canada’s malls while others are finding hard to keep up with their rents. In the midst of this uncertainty, one of Canada’s most quintessential brands, Canada Goose, has opened its ninth Canadian store in the nation’s capital at CF Rideau Centre. The store includes a heritage visual display of their oldest and most iconic jackets and of course their parkas, including the Warmest Jacket in the World, tested at -70 degrees.…

A month after dropping visuals for “Gotta Believe”, Mississauga rapper Fame Holiday is back with visuals for his latest single “My Thang”. The song, which features Brampton, Ontario native Monte Biggz, has almost 200,000 streams on Spotify thus far. Holiday once again teamed up with director Trey Timeless on the visuals that keep the Summer vibes going into Fall. The video shows Holiday and Biggz out on Lake Ontario with the Toronto skyline peeking in background as they enjoy the Summer breeze in the company of some beautiful women. The party continues as we see the pair live it up…

Five months after the release of their smash “Puff Daddy”, Calgary hip-hop crew Y.S.R is back with their latest single “Floss”. Accompanied by some newly released visuals, the Zikino Beats produced track is an all out flex, promoting a flashy lifestyle as well as the unique sound of the west. “The song is us being real cocky about our style and how we have a way with the females”, they told SHIFTER. “It’s also an indicator to the people in our city that nobody does it better than us.” Directed by Munachimso and 99films, the video follows the same theme, depicting…

It’s been a busy year for Ottawa-based Nigerian artist Asuquomo. Fresh off being included in the SHIFTER and CBC Ottawa mini-doc series “OT Rising”, he is back with visuals for “Don’t Be Scared” off his EP OT Riddim, one of two projects he released this year alongside his debut EP Diobu. With its haunting and menacing sound and aesthetic, the JustJay directed video reveals a darker side of Asuquomo that we’ve never seen before. “‘Don’t Be Scared’ is an invitation into a darker side of my world, this time taking the viewer from the streets of Port Harcourt to the frozen-over…

Unless you’re hiding under a rock, you know that Toronto is on a bit of a run right now with the likes of Drake and The Weeknd leading the charge, but flying under the radar are a pair of signings that could pay dividends for the Toronto music scene. On a quest to find Canada’s next big hitmakers, American record label, Blimp City Records, has signed Toronto hip-hop artists King Fou and Qsofresh and the pair have hit the ground running with their first singles under the Universal Music distributed imprint. Back in July, Qsofresh dropped his new single “Potion”…