Pioneer Unit

The time has finally come!! B. Sharpa by Ben Sharpa and Bread and Butter by Rattex drop today!

We believe that these are two of the most important albums in South African hip hop history and we’re really excited to finally get them out.
- Read the B. Sharpa press release here
- Read the Bread and Butter press release here

Both albums are should be available in Look & Listen and Musica across South Africa. If you don’t see the albums on the shelf, ask at the counter. If they don’t have them in stock, demand that they order them! Don’t take no for an answer!

Where to Buy:
- Look & Listen (across SA)
- Musica (across SA)
- Ozmic’s Ritual Store, Nr. Carfax, Newtown, 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 you want to make real cash selling Pioneer Unit music in your hood, join our street team today! Click here to read more.

If you’re in Joburg on the 29th October, make sure you come through to the joint album launch party. Check out the Facebook event page here.

Check out Ben Sharpa on Myspace

Check out Rattex on Myspace

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

Calling all club or radio DJs (commercial or community), bloggers, podcasters and journalists!

Pioneer Unit is dropping two big albums on 15th October 2008; B. Sharpa by Ben Sharpa and Bread and Butter by Rattex.

We’ve put together downloadable promo packs for both albums that include:
- 5 tracks (high quality MP3s)
- Cover artwork
- Document containing production credits, links to press releases and videos

Simply send us an email with information about what you do at your organisation and we’ll send you the download links.

If you would like to arrange interviews with either Ben Sharpa or Rattex, just let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

(click for larger image).

B Sharpa - Ben Sharpa - Track List_

01. Epoch (Ft. Tebs)
(T. Semela)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

02. Callin’ It Quits (We’re Here)
(K. Semela)
Produced by Milanese
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Milanese at Iacon Studios, East Sussex

03. The Eye Seen
(K. Semela)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded at GroundWorks by Shorty Bang
Mixed at Pioneer Unit Studios by Dplanet

04. Ken Illworth (Interlude)
Produced by HueMan (RIP) for GroundWorks
Recorded and mixed by HueMan at GroundWorks, Cape Town

05. Hegemony
(K. Semela)
Produced by DJ Sibot
Recorded and mixed by DJ Sibot at Say Thank-you Studios, Cape Town

06. Check The Evidence ‘08
(K. Semela)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

07. B to the E
(K. Semela)
Produced by DJ Sibot
Recorded and mixed by DJ Sibot at Say Thank-you Studios, Cape Town

08. Into the Black (Refix)
(K. Semela)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

09. Sharpa Dub (Dubwise Special)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

10. Edwin The Hardboiled
(K. Semela)
Produced by Kaptin
Recorded by Rob at City Varsity, Cape Town
Mixed at Pioneer Unit Studios by Dplanet

11. 5ive Fingers
(K. Semela)
Produced by DJ Sibot
Recorded and mixed by DJ Sibot at Say Thank-you Studios, Cape Town

12. Sick ‘N Tired (Ft. Archetypes)
(K. Semela/ S. Dunga/ P. Klaas/ S. Petros)
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

13. Critical Mass
(K. Semela)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

14. Genocide Awards
(K. Semela)
Produced by Kaptin
Recorded by Rob at City Varsity, Cape Town
Mixed at Pioneer Unit Studios by Dplanet

15. Off the Rails
(K. Semela)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

16. Avant Garde (Front Line)
(K. Semela)
Produced by DJ Sibot
Recorded and mixed by DJ Sibot at Say Thank-you Studios, Cape Town

17. B. Sharpa
(K. Semela)
Produced by X-24th Letter
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

18. Ason of Old (Ft. Tebs)
(K. Semela)
Violin: Teboho Semela
Produced by Kaptin
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

19. Statement (Ft. KONFAB)
(K. Semela/ H. Ntoi)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

20. The Disclosure
(K. Semela)
Produced by Milanese
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Milanese at Iacon Studios, East Sussex

Bonus
21. Why (Ft. Wordsworth)
(K. Semela / V. Johnson)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

Executive producer: Dplanet

Album due out mid-October 2008. Keep it locked for more info.

For national distribution enquiries, please contact Soul Candi. E-mail: leyton [at] soulcandidistribution [dot] co [dot] za. Call (011) 880 5662.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!

(click for larger image).

Bread and Butter - Rattex - Track List_

01. Bread and Butter
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Nyambz
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Nyambz at The Studio Next Door, Pretoria

02. Hamba Nam
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

03. Welcome to Khaltsha
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Hipe
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Hipe at Hiperdelic Studios, Cape Town

04. Love Hip Hop
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

05. My Life
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Hipe
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Hipe at Hiperdelic Studios, Cape Town

06. Vova Kancane
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

07. Ndenza Ka So
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

08. Da Real Shh
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

09. Shona Phantsi
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Hipe
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Hipe at Hiperdelic Studios, Cape Town

10. Hurts So
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Hipe
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Hipe at Hiperdelic Studios, Cape Town

11. The Government (Ft. Ben Sharpa)
(T. Twetwa / K. Semela)
Produced by Planet Earth
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

12. Ngubani Lo Rah
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

13. Get Down (Ft. Kritsi Ye’Spaza)
(T. Twetwa / S. Jonas)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

14. Deadly Poison (Ft. Lungelo)
(T. Twetwa / L. Lubelwana)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

15. Masoja Am
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Nyambz & Rochus (for JC Music)
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Nyambz at The Studio Next Door, Pretoria

16. Nguwe
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Hipe
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Hipe at Hiperdelic Studios, Cape Town

17. Cape Town (Ft. Driemanskap)
(T. Twetwa / S. Kambi / E. Mpengesi)
Produced by Dplanet
Recorded and mixed by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town

18. Streets
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Nyambz & Rochus (for JC Music)
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Nyambz at The Studio Next Door, Pretoria

19. Xenophobia
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Nyambz and Ingi Mar
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Nyambz at The Studio Next Door, Pretoria

20. Dankie
(T. Twetwa)
Produced by Hipe
Recorded by Dplanet at Pioneer Unit Studios, Cape Town
Mixed by Hipe at Hiperdelic Studios, Cape Town

Executive Producer: Dplanet

Album due out mid-October 2008. Keep it locked for more info.

For national distribution enquiries, please contact Soul Candi. E-mail: leyton [at] soulcandidistribution [dot] co [dot] za. Call (011) 880 5662.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!

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!!

We know it’s not always easy getting hold of SA’s hottest Hip Hop album of 2007, Planetary Assault, so we’ve started setting up regional Street Teams.

We’ve already got J-Sec on lock through a collaboration with Landymynz Entertainment. If you’re favourite music store doesn’t stock Planetary Assault, call deePea on 083 642 3159 or email him on deepeaster (at) gmail (dot) com.

In Durban, we’ve got two dedicated soldiers on the Street Team, Pasgenik aka Pas and Russell aka Firearms. If you’re from Durban you probably know these cats already. If not, Pasegenik is a beatboxer who won the regional African Hip Hop Indaba battle in DBN this year & represented DBN at the recent national Battle of the Year event. Firearms is a local MC who has gained a lot of respect amongst heads in DBN.

These cats have got copies of Planetary Assault and they’re waiting for your call or email:

• Pasgenik aka Pas
  Cell: 073 614 3671
  Email: pasgenik (at) webmail (dot) co (dot) za

• Russell aka Firearms
  Cell: 082 328 3382
  Email: Russel.Hlongwane (at) hlag (dot) com

Want to be on the Street Team?

We’re looking for heads who want to represent other provinces and be part of the tightest Street Team in SA. It’s the easiest money you’ll ever make! If you sell 10 CDs a week, you can earn R1600 cash a month!!

All you have to do deposit R400 (+ R50 for postage) into the Pioneer Unit Records CC bank account and we’ll send you 10 copies of the Planetary Assault CD the next day by registered mail. Contact us for more details.

Support your local product - the proper Hip Hop to cop!

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

A couple of weeks ago Anne-Sophie from Apartment Applied Visual Arts took to the streets of Cape Town to shoot Archetypes for the Pioneer Unit Street Life campaign. The campaign will promote the new range of Pioneer Unit t-shirts and will be used online and in the form of postcards.

We’re really happy with the results. Check it out…

‘Massage’ (click to enlarge)

‘Wall’ (click to enlarge)

‘Robots’ (click to enlarge)

‘Cadiz’ (click to enlarge)

‘Archetypes’ (click to enlarge)

‘Sky’ (click to enlarge)

Back of the postcard (click to enlarge)

That’s most definitely how we rrrrrrrrroll!!

Press release. For immediate release. 18th Sept 2007.

To help engage grass roots support for their first release Planetary Assault and future projects, Pioneer Unit launches a new marketing initiative, the ‘Street Pioneers’ street team.

Street Pioneers is a group of highly motivated individuals who represent the Pioneer Unit brand on the streets. Their job is to let everyone know about the latest music, events, and releases from the labels.

The ‘street team’ concept is common in the US and Europe but not widely used as a promotional tool in South Africa. Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways of generating buzz on the streets, which is after all where Hip Hop lives.

Keep reading →

Get ready for the Planetary Assault!!

Hip Hop ain’t dead, but the revolution starts now.

25-06-07: As of 16:00 CAT- One of African hip hop’s most eagerly anticipated releases is unleashed on the urban music landscape; Planetary Assault smashes its way into the global hip hop music scene with 21 blazing tracks, bringing fire straight from the streets eKasi, the dusty ghetto vlaktes and the grimiest clubs in Cape Town.

Africa is the birthplace of rhythm. Through the songs of slaves, that rhythm found its way to the Caribbean where it evolved into what we now recognize in the forms of Reggae and Dancehall. From there it travelled to the US where it became Hip Hop. Soon after, it spread out around the world and back to Africa, constantly evolving and mutating on its way. Planetary Assault represents one completed circle in Hip Hop’s journey. It also keeps that journey alive by creating African Hip Hop that continues to blaze trails around the world.

Planetary Assault is the first major release from Cape Town-based independent label Pioneer Unit. The label’s unique sound reflects the many influences that have shaped the course of Hip Hop today. Listen closely and you will hear everything from classic Boom Bap, to Dancehall and Dub, to Electro, Detroit Techno and UK Grime. All these influences are brought together to form an epic journey into the future of South African hip hop.

The 21-track project was produced by label founder Dplanet (a Hip Hop veteran of more than 20 years and a pioneering name behind classic material by Pro Kid, Ben Sharpa, Trusenz & Middle Finga). It features a total of 19 different MCs spitting in a combination of six of South Africa’s eleven official languages. The artists featured on the project smashed down cultural, language and political barriers, as well as inter-crew rivalry, to come together and bring this vision to life.

Besides Ben Sharpa, Middle Finga and KONFAB, Planetary Assault is made complete by the inclusion of the unquestionable vocal skillz of Rattex, Jaak, Oracle Flo, Driemanskap, Macho, Terror MC, Purple Simba, Shyam, Rato, T.O.P., Trusenz, Cozi G and the Archetypes.

Don’t believe the hype? After hearing pre-release copies of Planetary Assault, influential cult British radio personality Mary Anne Hobbs was moved to state that Ben Sharpa and KONFAB are “two of the most inspired and agile lyricists in the world today.” Planetary Assault dub plates have featured regularly on her legendary ‘Experimental’ show on BBC Radio 1 since the start of 2007, creating big international buzz around the project’s imminent release. Ben Sharpa and KONFAB performed at Glastonbury Festival and ‘You Don’t Know’ (a Ninja Tune/ Big Dada event) respectively as a result of this exposure.

Planetary Assault is released locally in association with cult Cape Town independent label African Dope Records and distributed nationally by Soul Candi distribution. For heads, limited copies of the album have been made exclusively available to buy at the African Dope online shop and Mabu Vinyl (Rheede Street, Cape Town), or listen & buy tracks off the album at the great South African music portal that is Rhythm Records!

The album is also marketed and distributed globally in a number of digital formats thru dig.it.all solutions in Cape Town.

The album will be officially launched at a star-studded event in Cape Town on the 29th of Auguest at The Roosevelt. (Watch the press for details!)

For a taste of what’s to come, a different free mp3 single will be made available each week leading up to the main launch event on the 25th of July. The first free track ‘Go and Ask’ (Hamb’ubuza) by Driemanskap featuring Macho is available as of today at www.cnet.download.com and www.podshow.com.

Listen to Planetary Assault at Last FM

Make friends with Pioneer Unit at Myspace

Join the Pioneer Unit Facebook group!

Visit www.pioneerunit.com for behind the scenes and frequent updates.

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Note to media: for more information, artist biogs, audio samples and other press opportunities, please contact Plus 1 Media Productions. E-mail: monsoon@p1mp.co.za. Call +27 (21) 426-1623.

For label information, please contact Pioneer Unit. E-mail: dplanet001@gmail.com. Call 083 658-8921.

For national distribution enquiries, please contact Soul Candi. E-mail leyton@soulcandidistribution.co.za Call (011) 880-5662

For global distribution and marketing enquiries, please contact dig.it.all music solutions.

E-mail: dig@itall.co.za.

To display this banner, simply copy and paste this code in your blog or myspace page:

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That’s how we rrrrroll!