21 posts tagged “south africa”
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!!
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!!
Check out the brand new video for Welcome to Khaltsha by Rattex. The video was directed and edited by Anne-Sophie Leens for Apartment Studios.
You can read about the shoot and check out some behind the scenes photos here.
That's how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!
Check out the brand new video for Snakes and Fakes by Driemanskap. The beat is by El Nino who will be handling quite a bit of the production on their forthcoming album, Igqabhukil' Inyongo. Expect the album in stores in May this year.
You can also download Snakes and Fakes here...
Snakes and Fakes - Driemanskap - MP3 - (12.59 MB)
Snakes and Fakes - Driemanskap - ZIP - (11.5 MB)
That's how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!
Nic Haralambous wrote a vitriolic piece about Pioneer Unit Spaza artist Rattex on his personal blog in which he accused him of, "poisoning the music and culture in South Africa."
Haralambous' accusation came after watching the video to Rattex's first single, Get Down. Haralambous, who is the General Manager of Zoopy in Johannesburg and a 'qualified journalist' asked, "Is it so tough to be local that you mimic American artists down to the background colour of your music video, your caps, baggy shoddy denims and “bling”. Why are our young rappers trying so hard to be American?
The ironic thing about the timing Haralambous' attack on Rattex was that he published it the very same day as another Zoopy employee, Terri Hayward, contacted us in order to set up an interview with Rattex, "to discuss his album Bread & Butter and to chat about what makes him different in today’s market."
Needless to say, we vehemently disagreed with Haralambous' defamatory claim, accusing him of cultural ignorance and thinly-veiled racism.
Go and read the blog post (and subsequent replies) here and make your own mind up...
Another day, another photo shoot!
On Wednesday we went to meet Dino von Chapman, a freelance writer and Lloyd Edy, a freelance photographer. The two of them have recently started doing some work for Hype magazine (check out the feature on our boy Jaak in the April/ May edition - that's their work).
They were commissioned by Hype to do a feature on Rattex for their June/ July edition. After a great interview with Dino in their loft studio in Salt River, Lloyd took us to the railway tracks to shoot Rattex. The photos looked great on the camera's small screen. We're really looking forward to seeing them in the next Hype.
In case you're wondering, Rattex was wearing a limited edition Mustafa Maluka t-shirt by FOC.
Check out the photos of the shoot...
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Check out the full set of photos here.
That's how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!
Legendary Brooklyn-bred Lyricist Lounge all-star Wordsworth was in Cape Town for one night last Thursday. He was down here to perform alongside Ben Sharpa and Rattex at The Assembly. You know how we roll, we couldn't just let the opportunity pass us by so we had to get Words on a track with our very own Ben Sharpa.
It all started last week when Sharpa gave me a call to say that Words was down to put in work if we could find the right beat. Sharpa also said that we'd only have an hour or so with Words because of his other commitments.
I prepared a selection of 12 beats that I thought would be appropriate. When Wordsworth, Sharpa and DJ Raiko came to the studio we got straight down to business. After listening to 6 tracks, Words chose a beat and immediately started writing.
Within half an hour, Words had written the verse and come up with a concept for the hook. Getting straight on the mic, Words did 3 run-throughs and the verse was laid down. Needless to say, the track was sounding dope, but time was running out and we needed to get to the sound check, followed by the Red Bull Academy workshop (where Words was speaking) so we had to bounce.
I was worried that we weren't going to have time to finish the track, but Words assured me that he was down to finish no matter what. We decided it would be better to try and finish the track between the Red Bull Academy session and the start of his set at The Assembly.
The Red Bull Academy session ran over time so I was getting worried that we weren't going to have time to record. We rushed back to the studio after Words had finished talking. As soon as I turned on the light the power went off. Luckily it wasn't Eskom tripping, it was only the fuse box. Words finished the hook and the intro in plenty of time to get to the show. We also managed to shoot video of Words recording so we'll have footage for the full video.
It was a real honour to work with Words. When I think about who he has worked with - Masta Ace, Da Beatminerz, Ayatollah, A Tribe Called Quest, Nicolay - I feel even more blessed.
Keep it locked to PioneerUnit.com for more information about the progress of this track. While you're waiting, check out the photos from the session...
Words gets busy while Sharpa, DJ Raiko and Rattex look on (click for larger image).
Words writing lyrics (click for larger image).
Dplanet on the boards. Words on the mic (click for larger image).
Words writing (click for larger image).
Words and Sharpa (click for larger image).
Anne-Sophie shooting the video (click for larger image).
Words and Dplanet (click for larger image).
Check out the full set of photos here.
That's how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!
When non-American actors go to Hollywood, they often have to learn how to speak with an American accent so that they can increase their chances of landing roles in films (where they are predominantly required to play Americans). Charlize Theron is an obvious example.
The same goes for non-American musicians such as Akon who live in the States. If they want to be accepted by the US mainstream, they need to be assimilated into the culture by sounding American.
However, I'm not sure that I understand the justification (or the value) of putting on an American accent for South African rappers. To me, it is one of the key factors holding SA hip hop back.
It's one thing to listen to 50 Cent - he is American so we expect him to have that accent - but what does it say to the SA consumer when a _local_ rapper sounds American?
Firstly it speaks to authenticity, or the lack thereof - why listen to a copy of the original when the original is so readily available? Secondly, it implies that these rappers are ashamed of their local culture, feeding into the innate inferiority complex that any country feels when comparing themselves to America, especially in relation to hip hop.
People want to feel proud of their own culture, but SA Hip Hop appears to be a brand built on self-loathing and inauthenticity.
The pro-American accent camp argue that it gives them international appeal that makes them more attractive to the local market. Whilst this may be true to a certain extent, the success of 'proudly South African' rappers such as HHP and Skwatta Kamp would point to the fact that the local audience actually prefer their emcees to be more representative of South African culture.
Whilst the top American Hip Hop stars will always be popular around the world, it has been shown time and time again that consumers also want music that is specifically relevant to their own culture. Language is one of the most powerful factors in expressing cultural identity. Limit yourself to speaking in American English and you lose the richness of your cultural identity.
The Sprite Emcee Africa competition highlighted how wack cats can sound when they try to rap with American accents. They can't say what they want to say because they have learned to speak with American accents by copying what Americans say (in records or on tv). This places huge limitations on them.
It is important to make the distinction between being influenced by something, and copying it. America's influence on global culture is huge because of the strength of their economy and the power of their media. We take it for granted that most of what we hear on the radio or see on TV is produced by America. It is all too easy to see global culture in terms of what America says it is - after all, they sell more records and gross more at the box office than anyone else.
This distinction between 'influence' and 'immitation' is a delicate balancing act that local emcees often get wrong. There is nothing wrong with wearing Bathing Ape or dressing along the lines of any global fashion trend. Likewise, there is nothing wrong with using a crunk beat. However, the balance between local and international must resonate with local consumers and the fine line between influence and immitation must not be overstepped.
The tiny island of Jamaica has a population of just 2,780,132 (2007). They are influenced by American culture as much as anywhere else in the world yet they retain their cultural identity. Africa should be taking its lead from Jamaica and start trends, not follow them.
It's official (click for larger image).
We are proud to announce that we have completed a recording deal with The Realist. We believe they are one of the most talented and innovative Hip Hop acts in South Africa and we're very excited to be working with them to release their debut album in the first quarter of 2008.
Stay tuned for more information in the new year.
Sinister Dexter, Kid Klever & TOB (click for larger image).
Signed contract (click for larger image).
That's how we rrrrrrrrroll!!
The Realist tore up the stage on a blisteringly hot evening at Summer X in Camps Bay, Cape Town yesterday. The venue, Camps Bay High School, has to be one of the most scenic venues in the world with views over Camps Bay and the 12 Apostles.
The whole event was very well organised, featuring freestyle motor cross, skateboarding, BMX, sport climbing, wakeboarding and other exhibitions. The Realist were in good company, performing on the same bill as The Dirty Skirts and Van Coke Kartel.
This was The Realist's first big show and they demonstrated why we have so much faith in them with an intense performance. The Realist is TOB (Triplet of Belville), Kid Klever and Sinister Dexter. Their sound is a dark, textured electronica, hip hop mashup. We're convinced that they're going to be massive on the festival circuit in 2008 so watch this space.
The Realist on stage (click for larger image).
Kid Klever and Sinister Dexter (click for larger image).
Kid Klever rips the mic (click for larger image).
Kid Klever waves to the crowd (click for larger image).
Sinister Dexter rocks the crowd (click for larger image).
Kid Klever or Jimmy Hendrix? (click for larger image).
Double team (click for larger image).
TOB, Sinister Dexter and Kid Klever (click for larger image).
Click here for the full set of photos on Flickr.
That's how we rrrrrrrrroll!!
