Pioneer Unit

Hey everyone,,,

Firstly, apologies for postponing the original launch party. I hope no one turned up at the Bang Bang club last week!

Anyway, we’re sorted again. This time the party is at The Roosevelt (160 Bree Street) on the 29th August. We really like The Roosevelt. For any of you that haven’t been there before, it’s chic and intimate, without being boojee.

We chose the date for two reasons. Firstly it’s month end so everyone’s gonna be paid. Secondly, it will mark the end of the annual Hip Hop Indaba so you can think of us as the unofficial afterparty.

We’re really excited. It’s not often you get to hear so many of Cape Town’s finest MCs jamming in one place at the same time. Don’t get it twisted though, this party isn’t just for hardcore ‘heads’ (Hip Hop aficionados), we’re gonna make sure it’s a proper party for everyone ‘cause that’s how we rrrrrroll!! :)

Don’t forget to invite your friends!…

Planetary Assault launch party on Facebook

See you there!

D_

Big shout to Ignatius and the team at Mfm 92.6 out in Stellenbosch.

It’s always nice to break in to new markets and get exposure in unexpected places. I wouldn’t normally associate Stellenbosch with Hip Hop but Mfm were open-minded enough to play How We Roll and interview me about the release of Planetary Assault.

That’s how we rrrroll!!

The Bang Bang club has had to cancel our launch party on 25th July (tonight) for reasons outside their control.

Rest assured we’re busy looking for a new venue at a slightly later date in order to give us time to re-organise an even bigger and better party.

Stay tuned for more info!

Fresh from his exploits in Glastonbury, our boy Ben Sharpa tore up High on Dub at Roosevelt in Cape Town last week.

The packed club got down to the sound of Dubstep supplied by selectors Fletcher, Stephan Small, Binary & Hamish. Ben Sharpa controlled the crowd like only he can.

Click on the photos to see them bigger.

That’s how we rrrrrrroll!!

Just want to say a big thanks to Lee from Yfm for showing love to Pioneer Unit and hooking up an interview last Tuesday.

That’s how we rrrrrrroll!!

We are very pleased to announce that we have signed a heads of agreement with Soul Candi to distribute Planetary Assault.

Our partnership with Soul Candi will ensure that Planetary Assault will be available at major stores countrywide.

That’s how we rrrrroll!!

KONFAB brought his unique energy and lyrical dexterity to ‘You Don’t Know’, Ninja Tune’s regular club night at the Big Chill House in King’s Cross, London.

Mary Anne Hobbs got the crowd fired up with a heavy Dubstep selection before KON got things poppin’ like only he can. He started his set with the heavy intro ‘Of Hip Hop’ warning, “Let me impress upon you this stretches beyond music.” drawing the crowd towards the stage. He then hit them with a rapid-fire burst of seSotho acapella rap which had the audience bewildered and amazed all at once. KON then moved into the no holds barred ‘They Sleep’ where the audience chanted along with the hook, “that’s why they sleep”. It was pure rolling ‘r’s with ‘How We Roll’ next…

… KON also hit the crowd with ‘Swart Gevaar’, ‘They Don’t Know’ and ‘Sick Dictators’.

Big ups to Mary Anne Hobbs, Doug at Coda Agency and Sam from Ninja Tune!

Check out photos from the whole tour at Flickr.

That’s how we rrrrroll!!

Me, Jonzi-D and Wordsworth muggin’ for the camera after EMC performed at Mass in Brixton, London.

That’s how we rrrrrrroll!!

KONFAB was invited to perform at Jonzi-D’s The Surgery at the venerable British institution that is Sadler’s Wells. The Surgery is experimental Hip Hop theatre designed to explore various socio-political issues through raw ‘workshop’ performances. The audience is encouraged to participate by asking questions and giving feedback after each performance.

KONFAB delivered a powerful theatrical acapella performance of ‘Swart Gevaar’ followed by a seSotho verse from ‘What’. The lively crowd were duly impressed and KON received his props. KONFAB’s dense and passionately political lyrics are perfectly suited to the theatre environment where each and every word can be heard and digested.

Mad respect to Jonzi D and UK DJ legend Pogo!

Check out Jonzi D’s myspace and his website.

That’s how we rrrrrrroll!!

KONFAB lit up London with his unique brand of conscious wordplay when he performed live at Deal Real Records just off Carnaby Street in the West End of London.

The in-store event was organised as a promo for EMC, a group comprising Wordsworth, Masta Ace, Punchline and Stricklin, who were in town as part of their European tour. We passed through to check out EMC and to drop off copies of Planetary Assault to one of Deal Real’s directors, Sef Khama.

Sef suggested we warm up the set for EMC and KONFAB duly obliged. KON hit the crowd with a couple of tracks before freaking out London heads with an acapella verse in seSotho. Props were duly given.

When it was EMC’s turn to do their thing, Wordsworth suggested a cipher. He invited any MCs in the shop to step up just for fun and rock 4 bars each…

Check out Hip Hop legend Masta Ace video taping the whole thing.

You know that’s how we rrrrroll!!

Pioneer Unit artist Ben Sharpa returned safely from Glastonbury where he rocked the BBC Introducing stage with his unique brand of conscious Hip Hop.

After a spot of bother with Her Majesty’s Immigration officials, Sharpa was allowed into the UK to do what he do best - rip mics.

The revellers that braved the foul weather were treated to a classic performance by Sharpa. He performed a variety of tracks from his forthcoming solo album B. Sharpa including ‘Into the Black’, ‘Hegemony’, ‘The Eye Seen’ and ‘Ason of Old’.

Check out Ben Sharpa on the BBC Glastonbury site

When Sharpa got back to South Africa he did an interview for Showbiz Report on Etv. Thanks to spo0ky for the photo!

You know that’s how we rrrrrrrroll!