Author: Kevin Bourne

Rock had John Lennon, R&B had Marvin Gaye and Hip-hop, we had Tupac. Like Lennon and Gaye, as an artist Tupac used his craft and platform to bring social awareness and change the way people think. Like them he also died too soon. Today marks the 20th anniversary of Tupac’s death which has some of us reminiscing about where we were when we heard the news (and reflecting on how old we’ve become). Tupac has been one of the most successful recording artists in the world, selling over 75 million albums worldwide. His 1996 classic All Eyez On Me is…

For a long time I despised Apple with its loyal fanboys and cult-like culture. Over the past few years their announcements were nothing more than software updates and iPhones and iPads in varying sizes. Oh yeah…and a watch. Before yesterday’s product announcements I passed Apple off as lacking true innovation, but they made me a bit more of a believer. A bit. When it comes to design, Apple has always been innovative and daring. From the beginning they pushed the envelope with their designs for the original Macintosh and iMac computers. Having the monitor and CPU in one unit, which…

The model that has driven the fashion industry is changing. Fashion weeks all over the world are dying, most recently in Toronto. The internet is providing designers, and really creators of all kinds, with the opportunity to showcase their work to potential clients directly for very little cost. As a result, shoppers are choosing to spend more of their dollars online. Consumers have also grown to love fast and affordable fashions made popular by H&M and Zara. Every year brands that we’ve grown to love are dying or changing the way they do business. Last year, Parasuco filed for bankruptcy…

Make the decision and just do it!

Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, isn’t typically known as a hotbed for hip-hop culture but it’s slowly carving out its own niche. At first glance you’d ask what a government town like Ottawa would know about hip-hop but when you really think about it, it’s a match made in heaven. Hip-hop started as a non-violent way to express your thoughts on what was going on around you. It was social commentary at its finest; it was intelligent, angry, political, and rebellious. As the national gathering place for the country’s politicians and bureaucrats, there’s already a bit of an irreverent f*@! you,…

It’s too soon to pronounce a death sentence on Snapchat, but the team at the sexiest social media outlet today have reason to be a little scared. Mark Zuckerberg, the man who killed Google Plus, now has his sights set on Snapchat with the release of Instagram Stories. While Instagram is the fastest growing social media platform on the planet, Snapchat is the fastest growing social media app among millennials, a demographic that many media outlets and brands covet. At SHIFTER Magazine we took the plunge into the wonderful world of Snapchat early this year. Although we were skeptical at…

Name: Jeff Sanon Home Base: Ottawa, Ontario Biggest accomplishment so far: My biggest accomplishment so far would have to be never giving up on my dreams after all this time, holding on to everything I believe in and what I’m passionate about. The crazy part is I have so much more big accomplishments to come, so it definitely begins with me staying persistent and having the tenacity that God has graced me with. What creativity means to me: Creativity to me is an energy that drives and motivates you to do and be great instead of just good. It’s something…

By now you’ve heard that Kevin Durant, arguably the third best player in the world, has left the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the second best player in the world, Steph Curry, on the Golden State Warriors. This decision has been quite controversial. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called the decision “weak” while Charles Barkely said he’s “cheating his way into a championship”. Larry Bird said he would’ve never thought of joining Magic Johnson and the Lakers. Others say it’s no different than what Lebron did in going to Miami (which is true but that’s not a good thing). The truth…

Out of all the talented directors, actors and producers in Hollywood, the person who inspires me the most is film director Ava DuVernay. Never heard of her? Well you need to. Starting off as a journalist, she later became an accomplished, Academy Awards nominated director. As an African-American woman she made a name of herself in an industry and profession dominated by men and lacking representation from people of colour. She’s made history and she’s the real deal! I studied journalism and film and I would love to someday shoot short documentaries so I’ve been impacted personally by Ava DuVernay.…

The entertainment world is full of actors, directors, and musicians who have had personal shortcomings. Every year there are celebrities going to rehab or being exposed for some kind of lack of good judgment. But not all lapses in judgment are created equal. It’s almost commonplace for Hollywood stars to have problems with alcohol and drugs, and sex tapes come out every few years. But there’s a difference between doing harm to yourself and doing harm to others. The general public can forgive people like Robert Downey Jr., who battled with drugs and eventually rebounded. The public has little grace…

Photography is one of those things that has always been a part of my life. In elementary school I got a camera as a gift one Christmas and fell in love. I’d just take random photos, especially of cars for some reason. Fast forward a few years, I took photography as an elective in high school. Back then it was film, and yes I must be making myself sound real old but honestly it wasn’t that long ago. My teacher really encouraged me and that just made me want to learn and keep pushing. As the years went by my…

For Winnipeg rapper, Scribe, the road to recording artist has been a long journey that crosses international borders. Born in Jamaica, Scribe immigrated to Canada at three years old, settling in Regina, Saskatchewan, adopted into a loving family. For Scribe his first love was soccer. His love and talent for the beautiful game would take him across Canada playing at provincial levels and eventually to a Real Madrid soccer academy in Mexico and college in California. It wouldn’t be until 2009 that he discovered his ability to rap. First known as “Young Scribe”, it wouldn’t be until 2012 that he…