Author: Kevin Bourne

Pro Sports Gaming Could Become the New Frontier. I’m sure most of you won’t believe me after reading these words, but I’ll try to convince you anyway. The NBA has created an official NBA 2K League. No. this isn’t a joke or click bait. This is real. The ‘National Basketball Association’ has created a virtual league based on its best selling video game. Before you ask me about how official or credible this is, just know NBA commissioner Adam Silver was on hand at the first ever 2K League draft a few weeks ago, when real NBA e-franchises, who are…

Jebril “Fresh” Jalloh is the CEO and founder of ‘The Get Fresh Company’. At the tender age of 15, he had a vision of owning his own store called ‘The Get Fresh Company’, and he never lost it. Jebril has gone from hustling clothes from the trunk of his car to owning his own store, which is a major staple in Toronto, located on Queen St. West. Being the first Toronto brand to collaborate with PUMA, and having a partnership with Remy Martin, Jebril is making a way for the next generation. He shares his journey and talks about not…

SHIFTER Sports writer Markus Marshall interviewed Ottawa Fury FC coach Nikola Popovic earlier this week. The club has suffered two heavy defeats at the start of the USL season, although producing two spirited performances. Popovic took the time to share with us his feelings on the start to the season, what life has been like since he arrived in Ottawa just a few months back, and opened up about his life and career as a coach. The fans of Fury FC have been looking forward to hearing from their new head coach in-depth and Popovic certainly didn’t disappoint. SHIFTER Sports: What…

Growing up on Keele Street in Toronto was a great experience. It was a good neighbourhood, and after a quick trip to Lawrence West station the city was at your fingertips. That all changed when we moved to Mississauga. Instead of roaches we had horses across the street and the smell of manure in the air. That was Mississauga back in the early 90’s. I still remember the sign that welcomed you to the city near Pearson International Airport- “Mississauga: Population 383,000”. Today that population has nearly doubled, the horses and cows (along with their manure) have gone, the farms…

Belcalis Almanzar, aka Cardi B, aka the gangster that your grandmother loves. An open book that effortlessly merges the identities of ex-stripper, gangster sweetheart and rap superstar. Cardi B has taken the world by storm, both with her unprecedented Billboard charting, and completely authentic social media persona. She felt the glory of the #1 Billboard spot with Bodak Yellow and she’s shooting for it again. Invasion of Privacy describes the album content perfectly. This album stood out as a magnifying glass into Cardi B’s past, present and potential future. But, how did this massively anticipated album stand up to its hype? Well… For Cardi…

Melissa Lamm is a singer-songwriter based in Toronto, Canada. She combines her love of pop music with thoughtful lyrics that resonate with listeners. Her music takes influence from her favourite artists, including John Mayer, Lights, Zedd, and The Weeknd. Biggest accomplishment so far: For as long as I can remember, I have been a creative person battling with the conventional little voice inside my head. I have always wanted to be a songwriter. I wanted to create music that complete strangers listened to. I wanted to turn complicated ideas into beautiful phrases that resonated with others. I wanted to be…

Tristan Barrocks also known as the Digital Storyteller is the CEO and founder of Felicity Moments, an international luxury wedding cinematography company. His passion for telling stories is something he has had for as long as he could remember. Tristan has been in the arts for over 12 years and with his experience, he has created a successful business that caters to elevating brands, and weddings to the next level. Tristan has a gift when it comes to capturing special moments, hence the Digital Storyteller being so fitting. Tristan shares his story of how he began into this industry, creating…

Wendy’s has beef. I know what you’re thinking; not that kind. A few days ago the fast food restaurant released a five track mixtape called We Beefin’ ?. It’s genius content marketing. Some people may see it as cheesy or a gimmick, calling out their competitors like McDonald’s with tracks like Rest In Grease and 4 for $4. It is a gimmick, but the truth is it’s actually good, so let’s give this a review, seriously. Here’s a track by track look at Wendy’s first body of work (I can’t believe we’re actually doing this). Twitter Fingers – “You’re Twitter beefin’ for some clout.…

Louise Mangalino, also known as “The Head Barbie In Charge” is the founder and creator of Burger Pawty, a catering company for special events and pop-ups. Her love for burgers evolved when she started her own burger blog, BURGERS AND BARBIE$, back in 2010. Through that blog, Louise was able to channel her love for food, fashion, music and photography all in one place. After some time of doing burger reviews, she had yet to see a pink style burger and she was ready to be the one to bring it to life. The opportunity was hers for the taking…

Markus Marshall of SHIFTER Sports recently sat down with Ottawa Fury FC GM, Julian de Guzman, for our first feature piece ahead of the new USL season. De Guzman took the time to share some of his story, talk about soccer in Canada and opened up on expectations for the new season. Fury FC’s season last year ended with disappointment after missing out on the play-offs for the second season in a row. There has been a revamp in the off season, with many changes to the first team squad. A new head coach and with de Guzman himself transitioning…

Canadian hip-hop recording artist Morris Ogbowu recently released an EP titled This That Mo. Seeing that I was already familiar with his previous work, as well as him as an artist, I was excited to delve into his latest release and see what this offering would bring. It seems that now, more than ever, Mo wants to introduce himself to the world as a fully formed artist. This project seeks to let people know once and for all that he’s a worthy contender and ready to compete in this game called Hip-Hop. The album’s flow is impeccable, both sonically and thematically. I was impressed…

Move over Diddy, Jay-Z, and Dr. Dre. There’s a new player vying for the final spot on the Mount Rushmore of almost-billionaire hip-hop moguls and it’s none other than Queensbridge’s finest, Nas. Over the past few years, Nas has been somewhat flying under the radar as a tech investor. While Diddy, Jay-Z and Dr. Dre have been making their millions through more sexy and mainstream industries like music and consumer products, Nas is carving out his own niche as a Silicon Valley tech investor through his Los Angeles-based company Queensbridge Venture Partners. A quick glance at Nas’ angel.co profile shows Dropbox,…