Author: Vladimir Jean-Gilles

Men are often encouraged to “be a man”. SHIFTER columnist, Vladimir Jean-Gilles, talks about toxic masculinity, “nice guy” archetypes, red pill ideologies, and offers five ways to be a man. Really. “Being a man isn’t something you prove. It’s something you become, one hard, humble choice at a time.” What does it mean to “be a man”? Even asking the question is enough to spark controversy in today’s cultural climate. Masculinity has become a polarizing topic, but perhaps that makes it more important than ever to address. We’ve all heard the saying: “Hard times make strong men. Strong men make…

Rap + animation is the collaboration hip hop culture never knew how much it needed. Kid Cudi is making it happen through the animated film Entergalactic” “Love is the easiest thing in the world when it happens by accident, but it doesn’t get real until you do it on purpose.” Picture this. You’re coming back home late from work on a Friday night. You feel a buzz in your pocket. Quickly you check your phone. Nope, it’s not a text from one of your friends asking you to go out tonight. Instead, you get a notification from Netflix. “New animated…

Riceboy Sleeps made its premiere at TIFF, where director Anthony Shim tells the emotional story of loss, family dysfunction, immigration, and starting from scratch. There is a profound enjoyment to be experienced when cinema explores the true inner depths of the human experience. Movies like Riceboy Sleeps are the perfect gateway towards such an experience. Directed by Anthony Shim, the film revolves around a South Korean family trying to navigate their inner trauma and dysfunctional dynamic while trying to adapt to their new Canadian lives. The film follows two main characters, a single mother named So-young (played by Choi Seung-yoon)…

The TIFF premiere of Bruiser was one of intense emotion and cinematic precision as director Miles Warren made his debut. One of the highlights of this year’s iteration of TIFF was the premiere of Miles Warren directorial debut Bruiser. Starring Jalyn Hall, Shamier Anderson, and Moonlight’s Trevante Rhodes, Bruiser was one of the best surprises of the year. Jalyn Hall plays Darius, a young fourteen year old boy raised by a stern father named Malcom (Shamier Anderson) and his wife Monica (Shinelle Azoroh). One day, a conflict arises at school, resulting in him getting beaten up. Humiliated, Darius goes and…

In his The Woman King review, Rotten Tomatoes and CCA critic Vladimir Jean-Gilles calls TIFF standout The Women King a clear Oscar contender. I have always been a fan of traditional African storytelling. Growing up, I was obsessed with these epic tales of ancient heroes, kings and queens who made a strong impact on history. Figures like Mansa Musa or the Warrior-Queen Amina Mohamud. The kid in me always dreamed of seeing such stories told on the big screen. Fast forward 20 years later and here comes the TIFF premiere of The Woman King starring Viola Davis. Though the marketing…

Gifted Hands completely changed the narrative of Hip-hop and R&B with his authentic and uplifting lyrics on his hit song “Why Not Start”. I’m tellin you now I don’t care if it’s a race Imma set my own pace On my mark Ready, set, go I’m ashamed that I used to shift the blame when I hadn’t done my part… Like, say it ain’t so… Barely even took the time to just stop and use my mind or try hard… That was befo… But now I figure why not start I figure why not start… Hearing these lyrics for the…

Ottawa born rapper and R&B singer Badda recently premiered a new sports anthem titled “Let’s Go” last Thursday during the final game of the Ottawa Senators season. The anthem was produced by Miami-based producer Hey Samyr who was inspired by this famous sport chant. “Let’s Go” represents being a champion in any ventures you take on, always believing in yourself and having good sportsmanship. DJ Prosper, who is also the official Ottawa Senator’s DJ, premiered the track during the first and second intermission as part of his set. The crowd did not hesitate to sing along and to light up…

Whether you feel the need to buy a new house, start a family or move to a new city, SHIFTER columnist, Don Ayiti, offers four tips on how to accept and welcome change. I used to dread the idea of change. It honestly scared the living hell out of me. With time, I’ve come to understand and accept that life is about change. Why would you want to remain the same person for 80 plus years when life can offer you so many opportunities to explore and discover different parts of yourself? Whether you feel the need to buy a…

Journalist, radio host and SHIFTER columnist, Don Ayiti, shares “6 things that changed when I turned 30 years old”. As far as I can remember, I was never stressed about the idea of turning 30. After all, turning 30 is an incredible milestone in one’s life. It’s also a great vantage point that allows you to observe your life from a more nuanced perspective and with more objectivity. I couldn’t wait to get to that point…And now I have. The big 3-0 and I have finally met and let me tell you, it’s a lot more strange than I expected.…

SHIFTER’s Don Ayiti offers his list of the top 5 Afro-Caribbean restaurants in Ottawa. Despite having quite a diverse population, many people are surprised to hear about Ottawa’s equally diverse food culture. Indeed, the nation’s capital has some of the most astonishing dinery scene in Canada. This scene also includes a variety of Afro-Caribbean restaurants that have provided some of the best culinary experiences in the city for many years. You just need to know where to spot them and that, dear SHIFTERS, is what we are here to help you with. Without further ado, here are SHIFTER’s recommendations for…

Anything that makes you a little be scared… Anything that makes you a little worried, I now take it as a good sign. Something to jump in on. Because if you’re not nervous about it, there’s no risks…” – Jarred McGriff For Jarred McGriff, there are no limits to what an artist can create and explore. It’s the same fearlessness that drives him in his many endeavors. Jarred McGriff is a director, producer, editor and cinematographer who wears multiple hats. He is currently a Technical Director and Senior Editor for BET and Viacom Digital Studios and has worked on several…

Friday was definitely a great day to be a hip-hop fan. Meek Mill, Lil’ Baby and a few other artists all dropped their new projects at once and yes, they’re all fire. But we know which one you really want to talk about right now―Tech 9ine’s Planet. Just kidding. Let’s talk about Meek Mill’s Championships. It’s almost ironic that Meek Mill and Tekashi 6ix9ine dropped their albums one after the other having had two very different years. One came out of jail celebrated as a hero and voice for the people, while the other is fighting for freedom with his…