Pioneer Unit

Attention all MXit heads!!

Rattex has 3 tracks on the MXit Music Audition Charts so go and show some love and get voting!

Look out for Hamba Nam, Hip Hop Love and Me No Play. We’ll be adding most of the tracks from Rah’s new EP, 7784, over the coming weeks so keep it locked for more info.

To vote for Rattex just follow these easy steps…

1. Log in to MXit (if you don’t have MXit Music added as a contact already, add it via Tradepost)

2. Once you’re in MXit Music, enter Charts & Voting

3.… then MXit Auditions

4.… then Voting

Scroll down the list until you find Hamba Nam, Hip Hop Love and Me No Play and follow the on-screen instructions. You can also preview the tracks for free before you vote.

Your vote is important! If any track gets 500 votes it is entered into the MXit Playlist. Once it’s there you can download the entire track for just 250 Moola (R2.50).

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

Rattex’s much-anticipated 10-track EP, 7784, is ready to hit the streets and it’s pure kasi FIRE!!

It’s only R30 (+ postage) so order your copy today!!

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!

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…

(click for larger image).

(click for larger image).

(click for larger image).

(click for larger image).

(click for larger image).

(click for larger image).

Check out the full set of photos here.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!

Listen to The Bridge on Yfm tonight at 10pm. Lee is going to be playing Why by Wordsworth and Ben Sharpa for the first time anywhere in the world.

Pioneer Unit’s Ben Sharpa recorded the track with Lyricist Lounge all-star, Wordsworth, while he was down in Cape Town recently. Check out the recording session here

If you can’t get Yfm on your radio, go to their website and listen to the live feed. Click the ‘Y-ired’ link at the top of the page, then click ‘Live audio’. Sadly it only works on Windows, so Apple peeps will have to find someone with a PC.

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

You asked for it, so here it is!… Pioneer Unit TV brings you Ben Sharpa LIVE!

Check out the videos of Ben performing at The Assembly in Cape Town.

The Eye Seen

Into the Black (Remix)

5ive Fingers

Hegemony

The Sick ‘n Tired

Off the Rails (EXCLUSIVE!!)

B to the E (EXCLUSIVE!!)

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!

It’s that time once again! Another FREE banger from Rah-Rah aka Ratteezy aka Rattex!

In this track Rattex raises the serious issue of women abuse. In 1998 there were around 50,000 cases of rape reported to the police in South Africa. The actual number of rapes was much higher as many are not reported.

The track is a remix of Sizzla’s Haffi Get It (Nah Rape) on the Inspector Riddim. Rah’s message is that women are our mothers, sisters and daughters - real men don’t rape women. Seeeeeen!

Haffi Respect (Nah Rape) - Rattex - MP3 - (4.1MB)

Haffi Respect (Nah Rape) - Rattex - ZIP - (4.1MB)

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

Check out the latest press shot of me and Sharpa taken by Anne-Sophie Leens.

(click for larger image).

That’s how we rrrrrrroll!!

I was just checking out references to Hegemony by Ben Sharpa on Google when I came across, Be Sharp, Be Subtle, Be Complex on Flight808.com. The article is interesting in that it goes beyond the usual superficial references to musical style and analyses both the content and visual language of Sharpa’s videos.

“(Hegemony) is extremely capable at accomplishing it’s goal of creating within the viewer the visceral feeling of what going through daily life under the constant threat of attack and fear of having your liberties stripped from you.”

Read the full article here.

Whilst searching Google, I also noticed that the video for Hegemony is part of the required viewing for the Introduction to Cultural Studies at Columbia College in Chicago!

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!

We’ve got another Spaza banger for you to download for FREE!

Rattex is on fire at right now,,, everything he touches turns to gold. Check out Love Hip Hop, a track dedicated to the one he loves - Hip Hop!

Love Hip Hop - Rattex - MP3 - (4.1MB)

Love Hip Hop - Rattex - ZIP - (4.1MB)

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

The one and only Lungelo dropped by the studio a few days ago to record a feature for Rattex. Not surprisingly, he killed the track with a typically powerful hook.

I’ve always believed Lungelo was going to be a big star since I first met him in 2004. His career has gone from strength to strength, especially after moving to Johannesburg. He’s making major moves at the moment and you are sure to be hearing a lot more from him in the near future.

We’re just happy to have got him on a track that will make Cape Town proud.

Check out Lungelo on Myspace

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

Cape Town was blessed with a typically massive performance by Lyricist Lounge all-star Wordsworth. The night, which also featured Pioneer Unit artists, Ben Sharpa and Rattex, was organised by Dominique from Unlearn Agency who cleverly took advantage of the fact that Words was in South Africa to judge the finals of the Sprite Emcee Africa battle competition.

Rah sets it off (click for larger image).

Rattex kicked off the live performances at The Assembly with his kasi anthem, Township Storm, from the Planetary Assault compilation. He then gave the crowd a taste of his forthcoming album Bread and Butter by performing Da Real Shit (produced by Planet Earth) and Welcome to Khaltsha (produced by Hipe). As usual, Rattex had the crowd going crazy with his punchlines and energetic performance.

Welcome to Khaltsha! (click for larger image).

Fire burn! (click for larger image).

Next up was Ben Sharpa and you know he always goes hard. He started his set with his classic, The Eye Seen, that always gets heads chanting “Ben Sharpa! Ben Sharpa!”. Ben’s 40 minute set also included crowd favourites, Into the Black (Remix), Hegemony, The Sick n Tired and Five Fingers. Ben also premiered two new tracks from his forthcoming album B. Sharpa, the dark and heavy, Off the Rails (produced by myself) and the fresh to death, B to the E produced by Sibot. Needless to say, the crowd was rocked.

Crowd goes wild for Sharpa (click for larger image).

Sharpa holds it down (click for larger image).

Why do we need a police protection service! (click for larger image).

Off the rails! (click for larger image).

Last, but definitely not least, Words took to the stage to huge applause. DJ Raiko cued him up and he went straight into his freestyle routine. I say ‘routine’ but there’s nothing routine about a Wordsworth freestyle - he has got to be one of the finest freestylers in the game today. The crowd were going bananas with every punchline - and they were coming thick and fast.

Words get busy (click for larger image).

Words then performed a selection of tracks from Mirror Music before driving the crowd wild with some of his older joints. He then freestyled again for what seemed like 30 minutes, almost non-stop. One of the highlights of any Wordsworth performance is when he gets in amongst the crowd and vibes with everyone. The energy is amazing.

Getting up close and personal with the crowd (click for larger image).

Feelin’ it (click for larger image).

Mic controller (click for larger image).

To round off the show, Words invited anyone who wanted to cypher with him, on stage to show off their skills. It was sad to see that too many cats seemed to want to take the oppotrtunity to diss, or battle, Words instead of taking their opportunity to shine. Either way, watching the ease with which Words dismantled anyone who tried to test him made for great entertainment.

Words (click for larger image).

All in all it was a great night. The Assembly is one of my favourite venues but because the event was organised at the last minute, there wasn’t enough promotion and therefore the venue wasn’t full to capacity. This was a real shame as we don’t get the opportunity to see artists of the calibre of Wordsworth up close and personal very often and he is a true master at work.

Words and Dplanet backstage (click for larger image).

Rumour has it that Words will be coming back to SA with his group EMC. Let’s hope this comes off and it gets the promotion it deserves. In the mean time, big up to Unlearn Agency for making this night happen.

Master of ceremonies (click for larger image).

Check out the full set of photos here.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!

This is the official Rattex remix of I’m So Hood by DJ Khaled from We the Best. The original track featured T-Pain, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross and Plies. Other remixes of this track have featured Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe and Birdman.

Download the Rattex Remix…

I’m So Hood (Remix) Ft. Rattex & T-Pain - MP3 - 4.99MB

I’m So Hood (Remix) Ft. Rattex & T-Pain - ZIP - 4.94MB

Watch the original video:

Watch the remix video:

That’s how we rrrrrrrrroll!!

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!!

Check out the new press shot of Ben Sharpa by Anne-Sophie Leens…

Feel free to download the high resolution version here.

Sharpaganda! (click for larger image).

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!

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.