146 posts tagged “pioneer unit”

Sorry we've been quiet for a while, but you know that just means we're working hard, right?

After his massively successful tour of France last month, Ben Sharpa came down to Cape Town this week for some meetings. He also got in the studio for some major international collaborations.

These collabs have been a long time coming so we're really excited. With our very own super-producer, Hipe, on production you already know the tracks are banging!

The first collaboration is with Puerto Rican Hip Hop artist, Siete Nueve. On working with Sharpa he said, "It's real good to connect PR to the Motherland. I'm a protector of our Afro-Caribbean culture and it's very important to create a bridge to hip-hop as it is universal."

The second collaborator is probably more well know on the African continent, Nigeria's most deadly emcee, Mode9.

Keep it locked for more info about these tracks.

Check out Ben Sharpa on Myspace
Check out Siete Nueve on Myspace
Check out Mode9 on Myspace

That's how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

As promised, check out the interview we did on the African Hip Hop Show on Dutch national broadcaster FunX...

Radio | J4, GMB & DJ 360: Dplanet & spo0ky (Pioneer Unit, Kaapstad)

View behind the scenes photos (20) on Flickr

That's how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

I have to say, Back to the City was AMAZING! I can't big up Domz, Osmic and the whole crew enough for the work they put into making the event the massive success it was. It really made me feel proud to be part of the SA hip hop movement!

We arrived straight from the airport and joined a panel discussion about the state of South African hip hop. The panel included Mizi from Hype Magazine, and Slikour and Sugasmaxx from Ventilation Productions. Everything from local music quotas, the quality of production, being self-motivated, unity in SA hip hop, making it overseas and wearing South African designer clothes was discussed. Hopefully everyone went away feeling more positive about SA hip hop.

When the show started there were too many dope performances to mention, but my personal highlights were HHP, F-Eezy, Young Nations and El Nino performing ama Vuvuzela (El Nino's verse brought the house down) and of course, Driemanskap.

Drie were performing new material from their soon to be released album, Igqabhukil’ Inyongo for the first time in J-Section. Judging by the crowd's reaction, the boys are going to take the country by storm. All I can say is that I was grinning like a fool for the whole performance and the boys made me proud!

I'm already looking forward to Back to the City 2010!

Check out some photos by Anne-Sophie Leens...

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Check out the full set of photos (18) on Flickr

That's how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

On Wednesday we did an interview on Dutch national radio station FunX. The African Hip Hop Show is hosted by J4, GMB and DJ 360, so big ups to them for putting us on.

It's amazing that national radio in Holland has an entire show dedicated to African Hip Hop, and we don't in South Africa. Go figure.

We'll be posting a link to the mp3 of the interview as soon as it goes live. In the mean time check out some photos...

Getting ready for the interview (click for larger image).

Dplanet on da mic (click for larger image).

DJ 360 (click for larger image).

J4 and DJ 360 on air (click for larger image).

Mustafa Maluka on air (click for larger image).

The show's co-host GMB (click for larger image).

Mustafa Maluka, Dplanet and GMB (click for larger image).

Check out the full set of photos (20) on Flickr

That's how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Press Release
For immediate release

Album Release Date: 11th May 2009

Download the Igqabhukil' Inyongo Press Kit (704k)
Listen to Igqabhukil' Inyongo on Last FM  

It has begun!

South African hip hop is about to change forever. An epic, earth-rending collision of two cultures coming together, Driemanskap embody the best socially conscious, cutting edge lyricsm of Cape Town, and the passion and deeply felt African pride of the Spaza movement. The result is a hip hop supernova, the shockwave of which will be felt across Mzanzi and beyond.

Hailing from Guguletu's notorious KYD hood, Driemanskap members Redondo, El Nino, Ma-B and Dla are 4 of the most distinctive, real, unique and talented voices ever to come from the ghettos of the Cape Flats.

Driemanskap cut their teeth at park jams, cyphers, battles and shows for more than 7 years, establishing the beginnings of a cult following in South Africa. In 2005 they took part in the Baobab Festival where they opened for the legendary New York hip hop crew Dead Prez. Anyone who was there that night will tell you that Driemanskap stole the show! They also took part in the 2006 Tri-Continental Festival, warming up the stage for one the New York's illest freestylers, Wordsworth, the UK's Jonzi D and Ben Sharpa. They drove the crowd wild at Back to the City in 2008.

Having claimed number 1 spot in the Hype magazine 'Unsigned Hype' chart, Driemanskap also received nominations for Best Hip Hop Crew, Best Song and Best Mixtape in the 2007 Hype Awards. Driemanskap have released 2 mixtapes, Battle of Gugulethu Vol 1 and Battle of Gugulethu Vol 2. Their street anthem Go and Ask (Hamb’ubuza) also features on Pioneer Unit's Planetary Assault compilation.

Like many ghetto youth, Driemanskap have been exposed to hardships and frustrations. Their unshakeable desire to prevail has turned adversity into success. Their debut album has been a long time coming and Driemanskap have used Igqabhukil' Inyongo to vent many years of pent-up frustration, passion, creativity and raw energy.

Translated literally from isiXhosa, Igqabhukil' Inyongo means 'the gall bladder bursts'. However, it is a common expression that loosely translates as, 'things are about to get crazy' and there's no false advertising here!

On Igqabhukil' Inyongo Driemanskap draw inspiration not only from street life in the ghettos of the Cape Flats, they also delve deep into traditional African culture. The album contains moving songs with universal themes of hope, love and the importance of home and family. It also addresses African unity, the determination to stay strong through adversity and Driemanskap's commitment to their art. The vocal dexterity, fearsome passion and street-hardened lyricism with which Driemanskap deliver each track paints a vivid and moving portrait of kasi life.

Musically, Igqabhukil' Inyongo is a Spaza masterpiece constructed around classic, rugged hip hop beats. Richly layered samples reference traditional South African music, reggae, soul and jazz. Diverse and well-rounded, the album contains inspirational, soulful melodies, visceral, powerful choruses and chants, and, of course, rugged street anthems.

On production is El Nino, Planet Earth, Hipe, Dplanet and Beatology. Between them, they have helped shape the hip hop landscape in South Africa and beyond, having produced classic material for Pro Kid, Zubz, Teargas, Ben Sharpa, Imbube, Black Lez, Proverb, Wordsworth (USA), Tumi, Nemza (Skwatta Kamp), Ready D, KONFAB, Young Nations and many more.

There are guest features by Kanyi (fresh from rocking the Cape Town Jazz Festival with Rus Nerwich), Black Dillinger (making waves in the international Reggae scene), Siya, Sugar, Macho and Bizzah. Guguletu is definitely in the house!

The gall bladder has burst - and things will never be the same.

#**Track List**

01. Intro (02'22)
02. 2000 We Shine Ft. Black Dillinger (03'26)
03. Anti-Xenophobia (05'07)
04. Better Tomorrow (04'20)
05. Bambelela Ft. Sugar (04'44)
06. iSilo (Skit) Ft. Bizzah and Siya (01'46)
07. Camagu (04'43)
08. Ivamna (Love Potion) (04'23)
09. Peep This (Skit) (01'07)
10. iZtreets Zam (03'56)
11. Tsotsi (03'50)
12. Hip Hop SoulJahs Ft. Kanyi and Siya (04'21)
13. Sphithiphithi (04'39)
14. Mama Ft. Siya (04'48)
15. I Miss Home (04'17)
16. I Will Make It Ft. Siya (04'52)
17. Bless Us Jah Ft. Siya (04'19)
18. Ngcosiz from Guguletu (Skit) (01'13)
19. S'phum'eGugs Ft. Macho and Kanyi (05'41)

Booking Driemanskap
Contact Hardy: info (at) hitentertainment (dot) co (dot) za

Where to buy:
Look & Listen (across SA)
Reliable Music Warehouse (across SA)
Musica (across SA)
Ozmic’s Ritual Store, Nr. Carfax, Newtown, Johannesburg
Munks Concept Store, 10 7th Street, Melville, Johannesburg
Mabu Vinyl, Rheede St., Cape Town. (021) 423 7635
Shelflife, 119 Loop St., Cape Town. (021) 422 3931
Hi-Five, 34 Kloof St., 5 Mooikloof Centre, Cape Town. (021) 422 5455/6
African Music Store, 134 Long St., Cape Town. (021) 426 0857
If your local retailer doesn't have it on the shelf, don't forget to order it at the counter!

Links:
Driemanskap Bio (Zipped Word Doc.) (93k)
Driemanskap Hi-res Album Artwork (818k)
Driemanskap Press Photos (Print) (6.6 MB)
Driemanskap Press Photos (Web) (1.2 MB)
Driemanskap on Myspace   
Become a Driemanskap Facebook fan
Igqabhukil' Inyongo Press Kit (704k):
Press kit contains: Bio / Album artwork / Igqabhukil' Inyongo Press Release / Track List & Production
Credits

Videos:
Fakes and Snakes
El Nino in AmaVuvuzela by Imbube
I Will Make It (Rehearsal)
Driemanskap Rehearsal Freestyle

Note to media: for more information, artist biogs, press photos, audio samples and other press opportunities, please contact Damian at Pioneer Unit.
E-mail: pioneerunit [at] gmail [dot] com
Call: +27 (83) 658 8921.

For distribution enquiries, please contact Soul Candi:
E-mail: leyton [at] soulcandidistribution [dot] co [dot] za.
Call: +27 (0)11 880 5662.

If you're in Paris this Friday, check out Ben Sharpa at Glaz'Art for the F@#k You I'm Furious party. Our partner in crime, Milanese, is also going to be dropping science so you know it's gonna get ugly. Check it out!

For more details check out our gigs page.

That's how we rrrrrrrroll!!

Last weekend in Cape Town, cellular service provider, MTN, officially launched their mobile digital music download platform MTN Xploaded. The launch was a 3 day event that started with a press preview at the Radisson hotel on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday there were live performances at the Waterfront Amphitheater. Needless to say, Rah, Kritsi and Vux rocked the spot on all three days.

Tracks from Rattex's debut album Bread and Butter are currently available for download either online or directly from your cellphone via MTN Xploaded. Check it out!

Rah and Kritsi rock the press (click for larger image).

The Scooter Dance (click for larger image).

Get down (click for larger image).

Rockin' the Waterfront (click for larger image).

Hold up (click for larger image).

Rah and Kritsi (click for larger image).

Throw your hands in the air (click for larger image).

Crowd getting down (click for larger image).

Kritsi and Rah having fun (click for larger image).

Spaza rock star (click for larger image).

Check out the full set of photos (29) on Flickr

That's how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Click image to see larger version

If you happen to be in Lyon, France, this evening, check out Ben Sharpa live at Le Sonic.

Ben has been rocking crowds in France and Switzerland this month as part of his first tour organised by our sister label Jarring Effects. You can check out his remaining dates on our gigs page.

That's how we rrrrrrrroll!!

Check out your boy Rattex in the latest edition of Obrigado magazine, which is available free of charge at any Vida e Caffe coffee shop.

Rah brought his unique brand of kasi swag to the 'zoo' theme of the feature where he appears as a,,, rat!

"One listen to D's Molotov cocktail of boom-bap beats and grimy digitalia and you'll hear just why Rattex was inspired to write some of the most poisonously real tales to come out of the Cape since Prophets of da City."

Visuals courtesy of Obrigado magazine. Creative Director: Georgia Gardner / Photographer: Xander Ferreira

Check out the behind the scenes photos here

That's how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

What's up people.

Have you all heard of Twitter.com? Everyone from Kanye West to Xzibit to Puff Daddy to South African cats like Proverb and Imbube are using Twitter.

Naturally Pioneer Unit has been on Twitter for a while now too.

It's basically a web-based service that works like the status update on Facebook, or in their words...

"Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"

We'd like our friends and fans to start following us on Twitter because it's a really cool way for you to keep up to date with what we're doing.

What you'll get:
- Updates about live events
- Tour information
- News from the studio
- Behind the scenes updates
- Album release news
- Links to free MP3s
- Links to latest videos
- Random stuff about what we're currently doing

What you won't get:
- An inbox full of junk promo mail

To help sweeten the deal, we will be giving away Pioneer Unit hampers (signed CDs/ stickers/ badges) to every 100th follower we get on Twitter. Every 1000th follower will get a hamper plus a cash prize of R500*.

To follow Pioneer Unit on Twitter:

1. Go to http://www.twitter.com and create and account - it's easy, quick and free.

2. Go to http://www.twitter.com/pioneerunit and click 'follow'.

3. Encourage all your friends to follow us.

That's it.

See you on Twitter!

*South Africa residents only