KOL / Pioneer Unit Open Mic Challenge Champ Crowned at Zula

Last Saturday (29th May), Manqoba won the KOL / Pioneer Unit open mic challenge, narrowly defeating Garlic Brown, Lex Luthor and Nicotine Lung. The winner was decided by crowd reaction but, despite great performances by all four finalists, Manqoba’s punchlines and high energy performance sealed the victory for the Khayelitsha representative.

Manqoba’s prize is a recording session at Red Bull Studios where he will make an EP that will be digitally released by Pioneer Unit. All money earned through sales will go to the artist. Because we felt that all the finalists were so strong, and that no one really deserved to lose, we decided to also record a track featuring all the finalists for inclusion on the EP.

Saturday’s event was part of the Kool Out Live / Pioneer Unit joint birthday celebrations. One emcee was chosen from each of four open mic sessions that were held in four different hoods (Kuils River, Phillipi, Khayelitsha and Guguletu) during the month of May. The winners of each open mic session were invited to compete at a final which was part of the KOL Presents: Pioneer Unit All Stars event at Zula Sound Bar on Long Street that featured Ben Sharpa, Driemanskap and Jaak.

Pioneer Unit is proud to have been part of this initiative. There’s a lot of talent out there and virtually no platform for artists to shine. We’d like to thank Red Bull for playing their part, and of course KOL. Also thanks to Camilo, Caveman, Driemanskap, Illverse, Metabolism and Mingus for hosting the various open mic sessions. Last, but not least, big up all the emcees who came through to take part. Keep your dreams alive and keep doing your thing! Hopefully we’ll be doing this again.

DJ ID and Mingus enjoying hosting (click photo for larger version)

Manqoba ripping the mic (click photo for larger version)

Nicotine Lung asking what’s up (click photo for larger version)

Lex Luthor takes his turn (click photo for larger version)

The unmistakeable Garlic Brown (click photo for larger version)

Manqoba and Lex Luthor wait to hear the verdict (click photo for larger version)

The crowd showing love (click photo for larger version)

Jaak setting it off (click photo for larger version)

Driemanskap sending the crowd wild (click photo for larger version)

Ma-B working the crowd (click photo for larger version)

Amandla Awethu! (click photo for larger version)

The aliens are coming! (click photo for larger version)

Click here for the full set of photos (84) on Flickr

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!

KOL / Pioneer Unit Open Mic Sessions – Gugs & Khaltsha This Weekend!

Kool Out Live and Pioneer Unit are searching for the illest unsigned emcee in Cape Town as part of our joint birthday celebrations.

One emcee will be chosen from each of four open mic sessions in four different hoods. The four winning emcees will perform at the Kool Out Live event on the 29th of May in Cape Town. The winning emcee on the night will win a recording session with Pioneer Unit at Red Bull Studios.

So far we’ve been to Kuils River and Phillipi where we crowned two winners; NICOTINE LUNG (Kuils River) and MANQOBA (Phillipi).

This weekend we turn our attention Guguletu and Khayelitsha…

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SATURDAY 22nd MAY – GUGULETU
2pm – 5pm at the Sports Complex
Hosted by Driemanskap
Live performances by Driemanskap and Ill Skills
Sound by Red Bull
Skateboard workshop
FREE!

For more information contact Dla on 082 067 9297

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SUNDAY 23rd MAY – KHAYELITSHA
2pm – 5pm at I Section Park, Nanana St.
Hosted by Metabolism
Live performances by Metabolism and Rattex
Sound by Red Bull
FREE!

For more information contact Metabolism on 072 264 4327

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You don’t have to be from those hoods to enter, you just need to bring your A game and be ready to represent yourself to the fullest.

Please note: we cannot accept entries from crews, only from individual emcees. If you are in a crew, each member can enter separately.

See you there. May the best emcee win!

Check out the Facebook event page

Phillipi representing (click photo for larger versions)

Manqoba – the winner in Phillipi (click photo for larger versions)

Big crowd in Phillipi (click photo for larger versions)

The crowd in Kuila (click photo for larger versions)

Nicotine Lung representing (click photo for larger versions)

Nicotine Lung – crowned champ of Kuila (click photo for larger versions)

Click here for the full set of photos (28) of Flickr

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

Kool Out Live Presents: Pioneer Unit All Stars Ft. Ben Sharpa

Kool Out Live Presents: Pioneer Unit All Stars

Ben Sharpa
Driemanskap
Rattex
Jaak
DJ Raiko
DJ ID
…and your host, Mingus.

Saturday, 29 May. 9pm at Zula Sound Bar, Long Street, Cape Town.

R40 on the door

This month marks Pioneer Unit‘s 3rd birthday. By coincidence, it is also one year since Kool Out started their, now infamous, Live sessions that have seen amazing international acts such as John Robinson, DJ Babu and People Under the Stairs rocking Cape Town. We had to do a joint birthday party to celebrate because you know there ain’t no party like a Kool Out party!

This will be Ben’s first show in Cape Town for over a year. Ben and Raiko are both jetting back to Europe in June so don’t miss this rare opportunity to catch them live!

This event also features a joint KOL and Pioneer Unit outreach in association with Red Bull Studios. We will be hosting open mic sessions throughout the city in preparation for the main show. The winner of each open mic will perform at Kool Out Live to determine the overall winner. This artist will have the opportunity to record 2 tracks at Red Bull Studios with the Pioneer Unit team.

The open mic heats will be at Kuils River (Friday May 14th), Phillipi (Sunday, May 16th, TBC), Guguletu (Saturday May 22nd) and Khayelitsha (Sunday, May 23rd).

Check out the Facebook event page for more details

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!

Ben Sharpa + DJ Raiko Live in Paris (Video)

Ben and Raiko are still killing shows on their European tour. Check out videos of live performances of Callin’ It Quits, The Disclosure and Critical Mass…

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

Artists Against Crime N Drugs

Come join us at Guguletu Sports Complex this Saturday 27th March between 13h00 and 19h00 for an afternoon of great music and basketball. Artists include: Driemanskap, Rattex, Crosby, Fifth Floor, Ill Skillz and many more.

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

Driemanskap Featuring in Hip Hop Kaslam at The Baxter Theatre, Cape Town

Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre will host an explosion of Xhosa street slang and Spaza hip hop on Saturday 6th March 2010 at 6pm. This musical celebration of homegrown hip hop from the kasi features a jam-packed line-up lead by local legends of the genre with an exciting crew of emcees, singers, dancers and musicians. Expect performances by Driemanskap, Delft South Origins (D.S.O), Maxhoseni. The show is directed by, and stars, DAT.

There will be a FREE after party at Dumalisile Arts and Culture Centre (KwaMlamli), Guguletu. Taxis will be available to transport people from the Baxter (usual rates apply).

Event Info

Call Phila Nkuzo on: 021 680 3963 (office hours), Cell 083 239 7850.
Email: pnkuzo@gmail.com
Hip Hop Kaslam Facebook event page
Hip Hop Kaslam on the Baxter website
Buy tickets at Computicket or any Shoprite Checkers. R20 only.

That’s how we rrrrrrroll!!

Rattex Collaborates with Filewile in Cape Town

A big thanks to Pro Helvetia (the Swiss arts council) and Tracy Semptember for organising a collaboration between Swiss electro-dub band, Filewile, and Rattex during their recent visit to Cape Town.

The combination of Rattex’s spaza lyricism and Filewile’s dubby electronic melodies was beautiful. Filewile are good peoples and we hope to continue working with them in the future.

Check out some photos of the performance at All Nations…

Check the full set of photos here (22 photos). All photos courtesy of Filewile and Niklas Zimmer.

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!!

Basic Training Sessions 002 – Photos

Thanks to everyone who came through for the second Basic Training Sessions party. Another dope session! I don’t know where all you lovely ladies came from, but we love it! Check out some photos…

Check the full set of photos here (108 photos)

We’re moving venues. Stay tuned for more info…

That’s how we rrrrrrroll!!

Driemanskap at 2K WE SHINE Summer Bash in Joburg

2K WE SHINE SUMMER BASH

Hip Hop, Reggae & House Extravaganza

Live Performances by:

Black Dillinger
Driemanskap (4 x 2009 MTN Hype Awards Nominees)

Featuring:

T-bo Touch (Metro FM)
Tholi-B (Yfm)
DJ Mix
DJ Scratch
Zootah MC
Mapaputsi
Bongo Riot (Gang of Instrumentals)
Mad Koolia Ft Badda Badda (Reggae Dancehall)
Selekta O Jugglin’
DJ Splendid

Venue:

Shoosh, Cnr. Aitken & Alexandra Avenue, Midrand, Johannesburg

Date:

Friday 20th November

Time:

21:00

Price:

R80

Check out the event on Facebook

Rattex to Perform and Collaborate with Swiss Electro-Dub Band Filewile

Swiss club sensation Filewile are set to rock Africa in a tour presented by Pro Helvetia Cape Town, the Swiss Arts Council.

The dub-driven Filewile duo, Dustbowl (Andreas Ryser) and Dejot (Daniel Jakob), will perform with guest vocalist Joy Frempong and Mago Fluck on bass, and will collaborate with top local artists for a series of concerts in Dar Es Salaam, Johannesburg, Maputo and Cape Town.

The Johannesburg shows will feature Pedro Da Silva, lead singer of the award-winning band 340ml, while the Cape Town shows will feature Rattex, the multi-lingual, edgy Cape Flats rapper.

“This is an awesome opportunity for SA club goers to experience the sound of one of Europe’s leading club acts, in a unique fusion of music with our talented local performers,” says Colin Miller, Deputy Head of Pro Helvetia. “The blending of different styles is going to make for electric performances.”

Filewile began in 2003 as two mobile laptop street musicians, blasting the streets with their battery-driven mobile sound-system. They have recorded and performed with artists from all over the world, own a record label, and produce music for commercials, theatre and documentaries.

Their sound is constantly evolving, from dub-influenced electronica and twisted hip hop, to jangling percussion from mistreated echo devices with cheesy synthesizers.

The SA leg of the Filewile African Tour line-up is:
Joburg: Friday 27th Nov – The Woods, Newtown
Joburg: Saturday 28th Nov – Pretty Drastik at Arts on Main
Cape Town: Friday 4th Dec – The Assembly
Cape Town: Saturday 5th Dec – Fong Kong Bantu Sound System at All Nations

There will also be 2 free outdoor jam sessions:
Joburg: Sunday 29th Nov – Munks Concept Stores, Melville
Cape Town: Sunday 6th Dec – Nyanga Arts Centre, Nyanga

For bookings and further information contact:
communications@prohelvetia.org.za or phone 082 976 7010.

Links:
Pro Helvetia Cape Town
Filewile on Myspace
340ml on Myspace
Rattex on Myspace

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!