Driemanskap CDs now available at Shesha Stores through Butan’s support of #PlayLocalOrDie

Pioneer Unit and our partners Butanwear are proud supporters of the #PlayLocalOrDie campaign which aims to push a patriotic agenda by celebrating South African arts and culture. As part of Butan’s commitment to this campaign, they have partnered with Shesha Stores across the country to make local music CDs available in all their outlets. Driemanskap’s classic first album, Igqabhukil’ Inyongo, will be among the first CDs to be available at all Shesha outlets for the next four months.

The CDs will be prominently displayed in all Shesha outlets and the music will be played on the store’s sound system. By supporting this campaign you will be doing your bit to ensure the viability of proudly South African businesses. Get yourself down to your local Shesha store and while you’re buying your Butan gear, cop yourself a Driemanskap CD.

Help spread the word by tweeting #PlayLocalOrDie and link to this blog post.

Follow Driemanskap on Twitter
Follow Butan on Twitter
Follow Shesha on Twitter
Follow Pioneer Unit on Twitter

Driemanskap’s CD will be available at the following Shesha Stores…

The Zone
Shop FF21
The Zone
Oxford Road
Rosebank
Johannesburg

The Glen
Shop 6
The Glen Mall
50 Del Erven
Cnr. Orpen and Lethaba Str.
Oakdale

Eastgate
Shop L1 AB Level HH
Eastgate Shopping Centre
43 Bradford Avenue
Bedfordview

Sandton
Shop L313
Sandton City Shopping Centre
Cnr Rivonia Rd and 5th Street
Sandhurst Ext 3
Sandton, JHB

Menlyn
Shop UF 80
Menlyn Park Shopping Centre
Cnr Atterbury Rd and Lois Ave
Pretoria

Canal Walk
Shop 271
Canal Walk Shopping Centre
Century City
Milnerton
Cape Town

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Rattex at MTN Xploaded Launch in Cape Town

Last weekend in Cape Town, cellular service provider, MTN, officially launched their mobile digital music download platform MTN Xploaded. The launch was a 3 day event that started with a press preview at the Radisson hotel on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday there were live performances at the Waterfront Amphitheater. Needless to say, Rah, Kritsi and Vux rocked the spot on all three days.

Tracks from Rattex’s debut album Bread and Butter are currently available for download either online or directly from your cellphone via MTN Xploaded. Check it out!

Rah and Kritsi rock the press (click for larger image).

The Scooter Dance (click for larger image).

Get down (click for larger image).

Rockin’ the Waterfront (click for larger image).

Hold up (click for larger image).

Rah and Kritsi (click for larger image).

Throw your hands in the air (click for larger image).

Crowd getting down (click for larger image).

Kritsi and Rah having fun (click for larger image).

Spaza rock star (click for larger image).

Check out the full set of photos (29) on Flickr

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Pioneer Unit Twitter Promo

What’s up people.

Have you all heard of Twitter.com? Everyone from Kanye West to Xzibit to Puff Daddy to South African cats like Proverb and Imbube are using Twitter.

Naturally Pioneer Unit has been on Twitter for a while now too.

It’s basically a web-based service that works like the status update on Facebook, or in their words…

“Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?”

We’d like our friends and fans to start following us on Twitter because it’s a really cool way for you to keep up to date with what we’re doing.

What you’ll get:

- Updates about live events

- Tour information

- News from the studio

- Behind the scenes updates

- Album release news

- Links to free MP3s

- Links to latest videos

- Random stuff about what we’re currently doing

What you won’t get: – An inbox full of junk promo mail

To help sweeten the deal, we will be giving away Pioneer Unit hampers (signed CDs/ stickers/ badges) to every 100th follower we get on Twitter. Every 1000th follower will get a hamper plus a cash prize of R500*.

To follow Pioneer Unit on Twitter:

1. Go to http://www.twitter.com and create and account – it’s easy, quick and free.

2. Go to http://www.twitter.com/pioneerunit and click ‘follow’.

3. Encourage all your friends to follow us.

That’s it.

See you on Twitter!

*South Africa residents only

B. Sharpa / Bread and Butter Drop Today!!

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. Contact us to find out how

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!!

Advanced Promo Packs for DJs, Bloggers, Podcasters and Media.

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.

Rattex on Mxit

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!!

Introducing the Durban Street Team

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!!