Author: SHIFTER Staff

“People On The Move” takes a look at people moving on to new and exciting roles in our community and culture. Today, we look at DJ Frank Vinatra who is on the move joining the team at SiriusXM as Music Programmer and DJ at their new All Canadian Hip-hop and R&B channel Mixtape: North. After recently being promoted from DJ to Music Director at Toronto’s Hip-hop and R&B Flow 98.7, DJ Frank Vinatra is taking on a new position as Music Programmer at SiriusXM. He will be joining the team launching their brand new All Canadian Hip-hop and R&B channel…

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Former TV broadcaster turned media entrepreneur, Brandon Gonez, is shaking up the media landscape once again with GMI’s acquisition of Toronto’s NOW Magazine. Two years after shaking up the media landscape by leaving CP24 to launch Gonez Media (GMI) and its highly popular The Brandon Gonez Show YouTube channel, Brandon Gonez is shaking up the media landscape once again. Today, it was announced that GMI has acquired the long time Toronto publication NOW Magazine. Now known simply as NOW, it is set to relaunch as a digital-only platform with a focus on news, as well as arts, music and entertainment,…

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Popcaan and Drake have brought the mid-Winter Summer vibes on their surprise new single and music video. Here’s our We Caa Done single review. Popcaan is ringing in the New Year with a brand new single “We Caa Done” featuring OVO cornerstone Drake. Although we’re in mid-Winter in Canada, Popcaan has us dreaming of island vibes and good weather. On the song, the pair celebrate success and good vibes that “caa don”. Choppa loud up di place like one new stadium Know say you love when mi come in a yuh belly, yea Badman she like, champagne and candlelight Money…

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Netflix has revealed the trailer for You People starring Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, Nia Long, Lauren London, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and David Duchovny. Here’s a first look at the You People movie trailer. Today, Netflix released the trailer for the Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill written and produce film You People. First teased in early December, the film tells the story of an unlikely interracial couple, played by Johan Hill and Lauren London, who must face societal expectations, as well as generational differences and culture clashes among their parents, played by Eddie Murphy, Nia Long, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and David Duchovny, that…

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Bunji Garlin and Eva Shaw both had busy years releasing new singles and projects. The pair end 2022 with a new dance single “The Cure”. A soca legend and international performer from Trinidad. A hip-hop and dance music DJ and producer from Canada. It may seem like an unlikely pair on the surface, but it all comes together nicely on the new Bunji Garlin and Eva Shaw track “The Cure”. Each known for big genre-bending tracks which fuse different styles and sounds, the two have more in common than you may think. The song is exactly what you would expect―Garlin’s…

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From activists, to athletes, authors, and entrepreneurs—SHIFTER is proud to present its second annual Outstanding Black Men in Canada list for 2022. Launched back in 2020, following the murders of George Floyd and Toronto rapper Houdini, SHIFTER’s annual Outstanding Black Men in Canada list was created to celebrate Black men having a positive impact at work, at home and in the community, all while promoting brotherhood among Black men and dispelling negative stereotypes. The contributions of Black men across Canada stretch far and wide in a variety of sectors. Whether it’s coaching kids in sports, addressing food insecurity, creating job…

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UK rapper Central Cee drops new single Let Go, a heart-felt and slightly edgy love song which samples a well-known Passenger classic. Fresh off his viral L.A. Leakers freestyle where he taught Americans U.K. slang, the UK and European leg of his ‘Still Loading World Tour’, and his massive hit “Doja”, West London rapper Central Cee is back with his new single “LET GO”. Sampling the hit single “Let Her Go” by Passenger, the new single is a type of love song with a little bit of edge. Only know you’ve been high when you’re feeling low Only hate the…

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Atlanta rapper and YSL member was Gunna released from prison today after pleading guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge. After serving eight months in prison in the YSL Rico case, Atlanta artist Gunna has been freed from prison after pleading guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge. Gunna, born Sergio Kitchens, was all smiles as he was released from Fulton County Jail around 3:10pm Pacific Time and picked up by an unknown woman. He released a statement following his release where he denounced gang life, admitted to exaggerations in his music, and assured fans he would not be cooperating in the…

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For the remainder of 2022, going into 2023, the National Arts Centre is partnering with SHIFTER to spotlight Canadian women of colour in live performance with its first ever Innovators & Icons lists. As a part of this groundbreaking article series, every month the NAC and SHIFTER will be honouring Canadian women of colour who align with the NAC’s various disciplines―Popular Music & Variety, Dance, Indigenous Theatre, English Theatre, French Theatre, and NACO (the NAC Orchestra). These women are not only stellar live performers, representing the geographical and ethnic diversity of Canada, but they are pushing the envelope and breaking…

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Roy Woods, Haviah Mighty, Trey Richards, K. Forest, Leila Dey, LolaBunz, Troy Crossfield and Marlon Palmer are among those who will take part in the third annual Do You Part Celebrity Basketball Game in Brampton. This Sunday, November 27th, the Save Max Sports Centre in Brampton will play host to the third annual Do Your Part Celebrity Basketball Game, a sport for climate action initiative that empowers and educates the BIPOC community on actionable steps towards climate resiliency. The event was organized by Return The Love Community Support, an organization created “to strengthen the resilience of BIPOC communities against the…

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ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective, is paving the way for Black music industry professionals. Step into the journeys of entertainment industry shakers like Jesse Jones, 4Korners, and Ebonnie Rowe through The AMPLIFY Podcast. Read the exclusive Season 1 recap of AMPLIFY here. The music industry has come a long way in working towards representation of Black folks in front of the screen. But despite Black creatives’ dominance on the music charts, there is still a lot more to be done towards achieving the same representation behind the scenes. With a mission of developing, promoting, and better retaining Black talent,…

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The Cranium Festival have announced their lineup including A$ASP Twelvyy, TwoTiime, Duvy and more. Here’s Cranium Festival lineup and ticket info. The Cranium Arts Project has been busy in recent weeks teasing the lineup for its namesake annual festival. Set to go down from September 29 to October 1, the hip-hop and R&B music festival is Cranium’s marquee event and will showcase the rich and diverse talent of established and emerging artists from the Canadian music scene. On Day One, Halifax’s Reeny Smith and Ottawa’s Dominique Gorley and Badda will perform. Day Two will see Ottawa’s TwoTiime, FTG Reggie, KG…

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