Author: Kevin Bourne

It’s that time again! SHIFTER’s Canadian Music Video Roundup for March includes videos from Drake, Hueso, Lance Lorenzo, Lil Berete, JaioftheRise, NAV and Jessie Reyez. Once again, we ask you (the fans) to vote for our Video of the Month. Check out the videos below in order of release date, then help us crown the top video in the country for March. Special shout out to our sponsor Greg Campbell – Blue Panda Realty. Last month you voted for “21” by OTG Rhys feat. Arty Warhol as your video of the month. Video of the Month (March) – OTG Rhys feat.…

The creative Quebecois, L1y4h, isn’t afraid to open her heart. Her latest release “Alive” is a lyrical portrait of her emotions from a humble and honest point of view. “The important thing to remember is that we are all humans”, says the now Toronto based songstress. Inspired by her very personal experiences, Lyi4h sings about the process of growing through the challenges, facing her fears and overcoming internal battles. In times of self-isolation, Lyi4h invites you to look at the darkest moments with clarity. “We all go through hardships, it’s normal. This, essentially, is how you build your character; then you…

As the world continues to self-isolate, the music industry has almost ground to a halt. We took this time to ask our Instagram followers one simple question- “Name a Canadian artist people are sleeping on”. We received a lot of responses and discovered some dope artists from across Canada, so we decided to share the responses right here. As you look for some new music to listen to during your self-isolation, here are the most slept on Canadian hip-hop and R&B artists according to our Instagram followers along with the cities they represent. We placed them in order based on…

$VN [pronounced “Seven”] are back on the scene with their second release of the year, a heartfelt ode to the struggles of love, titled “Not True”. The independent Canadian R&B duo, based out of Toronto, is comprised of childhood friends nyXsun and SAGS.  The song finds the duo exploring failed relationships and the push and pull that comes with falling deeply for someone. The duo lay it all out on the track providing melodic yet vulnerable verses and hooks on top of a rich musical backdrop courtesy of their friend and collaborator Jahmal Gittens (a go-to producer for artists such…

It was around this time last year that we were first introduced to Mississauga hip-hop artist Fame Holiday when he headlined the Easter weekend edition of Taste of the 6ix at Orchid Nightclub in downtown Toronto. Since then Holiday has been gaining momentum, releasing a lot of visuals and travelling to Atlanta, Montreal, and more recently, Barbados; a reflection of his global ambitions. His hustle isn’t going unnoticed. Holiday was recently named one of Amazon’s Artists to Watch for 2020; a recognition for artists who are “poised to make a mark in 2020”. Despite the global economic slow down due…

Fast-rising producer and multi-instrumentalist SLMN teams up with frequent collaborator and Juno Award-nominated R&B vocalist anders on new single “Love in the Winter”  an uptempo hard-hitting love anthem from his much-anticipated debut EP Late Bloomer. The single will also appear on anders’ next upcoming full length release. If you are a fan of anders’ genre-bending pop/R&B output, there is a very good chance that you would have already heard the sweet sounds of SLMN, who is one of two sonic architects behind anders’ definitive sound that has yielded him over 100 million plus streams as an independent artist. Boasting production credits with everyone from multi-Grammy Award…

It’s been a big year so far for Ottawa artist JAIoftherise. Fresh off opening for the late Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke earlier this year in Waterbury, Connecticut, Jaioftherise is back with “Hopscotch”, a new single and visuals featuring Toronto hip-hop artist Lil Berete. JAIoftherise says of the Woody Productions directed visuals, “The video depicts the ambition of worldly treasure while still remaining humble and true to self.” True to the concept, the video features money, expensive cars and a lot of jewellery. A number of familiar Ottawa sites also make an appearance, from the skyline in Gatineau, Quebec to the abandoned…

If you haven’t heard the name Liz Clarke, aka htbsle (pronounced “hitabaseelay”), it’s a name you should remember. In recent years, the Toronto-born, Ottawa-based spoken word poet, rapper, videographer and photographer, has been gaining some steam, using her creative touch to influence positive social change. Her latest creation is AIR FORCE BLACKS―what Clarke refers to as a “social story” created to shine a bright light on the tenacious spirit of young black men. The name is a play on Nike’s Air Force 1’s and the influence the brand has had on black culture. The project was born on July 6 2019, as…

All good things must come to an end. Over the past few months we’ve decided to do away with our music video roundups for individual cities, first Toronto and then Ottawa, and have decided to replace it with one Canadian Music Video Roundup. Our national roundup for February includes videos from Tory Lanez, Haviah Mighty, Mischa, KAYTRANADA, Yung Tory, and Pressa. We ask you, the fans, to vote for our Video of the Month. Check out the videos below in order of release date, then help us crown the top video in the country for February. Special shout out to our…

Dear Ottawa hip-hop and R&B artists, Over the past few years, I’ve done quite a bit in the Ottawa hip-hop community. I worked with King Kimbit and 4theworld in co-founding the Cap City Cyphers. I co-founded The Morning Shift on CHUO 89.1FM alongside my friend Vlad. I’ve managed artists. I’ve started a playlist. I’ve taken phone calls and had coffee meetings with some of you when you reached out. I’ve attended studio sessions. When I do speaking engagements or visit other cities, I talk about the local hip-hop and R&B scene. I send some of your music to my friends…

This past Tuesday, the Code Black Communicator Network, a network of black integrated communications professionals, tag teamed with long-time Cityline host Tracy Moore to present Industry Secrets for PR & Media Professionals, a panel discussion, mentoring and networking event featuring leading practitioners in the field. Hundreds of current and aspiring black PR and media professionals gathered at Airship 37 in the Distillery District as panelists, including PR strategist Dalton Higgins, journalist Kathleen Newman-Bremang and TV broadcaster Marci Ien, shared their experiences and industry insight. Topics included contract negotiation, career transitions and navigating the industry as a black professional. Following the panel discussions,…

In her first opinion piece for SHIFTER, downtown Toronto teacher, Avril Addie, explains why teachers are striking in Ontario and why the status quo just isn’t good enough. I love teaching. I have been teaching in downtown Toronto for 16 years. During that time, the needs of my students have not decreased, if anything I have watched them increase in complexity and in scope. The Special Educational Needs alone that I deal with in my classroom can range from Dyslexia and other learning disabilities to Attention Deficit Disorder. to Oppositional Defiant Disorder, as well as a rise in the number of…