Cape Town Effects live at Les Abattoirs | Photos

The Cape Town Effects team spent 8 days in residence at Les Abattoirs in Bourgoin-Jallieu, a small town near Lyon, France. During that time the team, consisting of KONFAB, El Nino (Driemanskap), Jaak, Tebz, Big Space, spo0ky, Dplanet, FX (lighting technician) and Chris (sound engineer), rehearsed and prepared for their first two shows.

The ‘Cape Town Effects’ project aims to create a snapshot of the South African underground music scene by creating a live show and releasing an album – a beautiful way for Jarring Effects to celebrate 10 years of musical connection with Cape Town.

Putting together a full show in such a short time was quite an achievement but everyone worked hard and the results showed. Check out these photos taken by Hélène Mejza at the first show in Bourgoin-Jallieu.

KONFAB (front), El Nino (background).

Big Space, Dplanet, spo0ky

Tebz feeling it

KONFAB and Jaak get down

Jaak and El Nino

El Nino, Jaak, KONFAN and Tebz share a moment

El Nino bringing the fire

Tebz performing Kodi Ya Malla

Cape Town Effects Crew!

Tebz on the violin

El Nino summoning the spirits

Cape Town Effects is due to be released by Jarring Effects in August 2013. In the mean time, check out ‘All Rise’ by KONFAB and El Nino. Dplanet and Led Piperz on production…

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!

‘Badman’ video by KWAAI featuring Driemanskap and Kanyi

In December last year, a group of Swedish musicians came to South Africa to record an album project called KWAAI. The aim of the project was to bring together some of Sweden and South Africa’s finest rappers and producers to create a collaborative album and, later this year, a tour of Sweden. Naturally your boys Driemanskap got all up in the project and did what they do best – kill ish!

The first offering from the project is a track called, ‘Badman’. It features Syster Sol, Mofeta, Kristin Amparo, Cleo, Driemanskap and Kanyi. The beat is by Khosh, who also produced Izulu Lelam, Driemanskap’s first offering from their forthcoming album, Hlala Nam, which drops later this year.

The video was only released last Friday and already has over 15,000 views on Youtube! Check it out below…

Stay tuned for the forthcoming KWAAI album (June 7th) and peep the website: kwaai.nu

Connect with Kwaai on Facebook

Download Badman for free

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Cape Town Effects European tour

In the middle of last year we were approached by Jarring Effects to work on a collaborative project called ‘Cape Town Effects’. The project was conceived as a celebration of Jarring Effects’ 10 years of involvement with Cape Town’s independent music scene. We set out to create a forward-looking take on Cape Town hip hop.

The project features Led Piperz (Dub Invaders, High Tone), Dplanet (Pure Solid), Big Space, Jaak, El Nino (Driemanskap), Konfab, Tebz, Ben Sharpa & spo0ky (Pure Solid). The whole project was overseen by Jarring Effects’ studio boss, Lenfant (R;zatz). There is also an accompanying documentary and photo exhibition.

The first tour starts on 1st May with a residency at Les Abattoirs in Bourgoin Jallieu, France. The first show will be at the highly prestigious festival, Nuits Sonores on Saturday May 11th.

Check out a preview of the Cape Town Effect documentary, ‘Mother City Blues’…

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!!

Ben Sharpa & Pure Solid to perform at 14th Cape Town International Jazz Festival

We’re massively excited to be able to officially announce that Ben Sharpa and Pure Solid will be performing at the 14th Cape Town International Jazz Festival. We believe that this is some well-deserved recognition (in South Africa) for one of South Africa’s finest rappers.

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival has grown into a hugely successful international event since its inception in the year 2000. Attendance figures have increased from the initial 14,000 to 34,000 in the last 13 years.

Melodytrip has ranked this proudly South African event as No.4 in the world, outshining events such as Switzerland’s Montreaux Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland.

Rashid Lombard and Ben Sharpa in Réunion Island

The CEO of ESP Afrika (the company behind the Cape Town Jazz Fest), Rashid Lombard, saw Ben Sharpa and Pure Solid perform in Réunion Island at the IOMMA festival in May 2012. He immediately booked them for the Jazz Fest much to their surprise and delight.

Ben Sharpa and audio-visual electro-dub group, Pure Solid, will be performing on the Bassline stage on Saturday 6th of April, 2013. Joining them will be Tebz (violin / vocals) and Lelo (percussion).

Also on the Bassline stage will be Mi Casa, Khuli Chana and AKA, Dubmarine, Trenton and the Free Radicals, Brother Ali, Mafikizolo and Chef’Special. Jill Scot, Thandiswa Mazwai and Jimmy Dludlu will be headlining the festival.

The Cape Town Jazz Festival is on the 5th & 6th of April 2013. Tickets cost R440 (day pass) and R645 (weekend pass). You can buy tickets at all Computicket outlets and Shoprite Checkers outlets.

Buy your ticket online at Computicket

Feel free to leave a comment below.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Pioneer Unit and Jarring Effects to collaborate on ‘Cape Town Effects’

We’re really excited to be working on a new project with our friends at French label, Jarring Effects. The project, ‘Cape Town Effects’, is a cross-continental collaboration between music producers, musicians, emcees and visual artists. The project is due to be released in May 2013, along with multiple European tours, workshops and exhibitions. The show will debut at the highly prestigious Nuits Sonores festival in Lyon.

We have been working with Jarring Effects since 2005 when we released music on ‘Cape Town Beats‘. Since then, we have released 2 full Ben Sharpa albums (‘B. Sharpa‘ and ‘4th Density Light Show‘) as well as contributions to various compilations. Jarring Effects have also facilitated numerous international tours.

‘Cape Town Effects’ is a celebration of Jarring Effects’ 10 years of involvement with Cape Town’s independent music scene and we are proud to be part of it. The project features Led Piperz (Dub Invaders, High Tone), Dplanet (Pure Solid), Big Space, Jaak, El Nino (Driemanskap), Konfab, Tebz, Ben Sharpa & spo0ky (Pure Solid). The project will be overseen by Jarring Effects’ studio boss, Lenfant (R;zatz).

We are currently recording at Red Bull Studios in Cape Town. Big up to Richard, Steve, Jake and Ivan as always!

Also, a big thanks to Aki from Eastern Acoustics for supplying us with a whole host of pro audio gear, including some beautiful Focal Twin6 Be monitors, for the duration of recording.

Check out the Cape Town Effects page on the Jarring Effects site.

Follow our progress on the official Cape Town Effects Tumblr (English and French).

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Ben Sharpa Joins IDEM on SA Tour

Hip hop heavyweight Ben Sharpa will be joining up with French electro-dub-rock band IDEM for their South African tour this September.

Ben and IDEM started working together while Ben was on tour in France. Their first collaboration was a track called ‘Work in Progress’ which is on IDEM’s new album, ‘Good Side of the Rain’.

Check out ‘Work in Progress’.

Check out ‘Good Side of the Rain’

Tour Dates

Johannesburg
8th September
Mary Fitzgerald Square

Johannesburg
9th September
Cafe Culture

Cape Town
12th September
The Assembly

Bloemfontein
13th September
Aasvoelklub

Durban
14th September
Live – The Venue

Potchefstroom
15th September
Memphis Rock

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

4th Density Light Show Live at Nouveau Casino in Paris | Video

Check out this footage of Ben Sharpa and Pure Solid performing ‘Initiate Sequence’ from their recently released album, 4th Density Light Show (4DLS), live at Nouveau Casino in Paris, France. This video was shot towards the end of their recent European tour. It is the first video that shows off the full multimedia experience of 4DLS, with bespoke visuals by spo0ky and lighting by French light artist, Simon Delescluse. You can also see Ben Sharpa working the Kaoss Pad to loop his voice and create vocal effects. Check it out…

You can buy 4DLS as a digital download or in CD format from cd1d

That’s how we rrrrrrrrroll!!

Ben Sharpa and Alex Live on RFI | Video

Ben Sharpa recorded this freestyle with Alex for Radio France International while on tour in Réunion Island for IOMMA festival. Alex is a rapper / singer from Réunion who fuses traditional Maloya music with hip hop. Maloya is one of the major music genres of Réunion, usually sung in Réunion Creole, traditionally with a purely percussion accompaniment. Check it out…

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Ben Sharpa performs ‘It’s On You’ live on RFI | Video

Ben Sharpa and Pure Solid recently launched ’4th Density Light Show’ (4DLS), a live audio visual show accompanied by an album that was recently released by Jarring Effects in France. As part of their 4DLS tour, Ben and Pure Solid performed at the IOMMA festival in Reunion Island. While on the island Ben did an interview on Radio France International where he dropped a live version of ‘It’s On You’. Check it out…

4DLS is available from cd1d – buy it now!

Limited 4DLS CDs are available in South Africa. Contact us to order a copy.

That’s how we rrrrrrrroll!

Ben Sharpa and Pure Solid live in Paris | Video

Ben Sharpa and Pure Solid have just got back to South Africa from the first leg of their ‘Fourth Density Light Show’ (4DLS) 2012 European tour. The tour took in 15 dates including Paris, where this video was shot by spo0ky from the stage of Nouveau Casino.

You can also check out a review of the 4DLS live show on Le Mauvais Coton. It’s in French but you can either use Google Translate which is embedded in Chrome or cut and paste.

Ben Sharpa will be heading back to Europe in September / October for the second leg of their European tour – keep it locked for dates.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrroll!!!