Joburg! Are you ready for Driemanskap?

Driemanskap will be doing two special Joburg editions of their highly successful event, ‘The Jukebox Sessions’. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Cape Town’s spaza sensations in your hood.

The line-up also includes Kanyi (Ingoma), Sbo Da Poet (Zone 14), Siya Shezi, Kay E (Bona Re Etsang), iFani (Ewe), Kweriez, F-Ezzy, Chillimane, Ma-B (Don’t Doubt Me), Natural Style and many more.

There are two shows…

4th May
Chaf Pozi
Soweto
Damage: R40

5th May
Club Illusions
Vanderbijl Park
Damage: R40

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Ben Sharpa / Pure Solid – 4DLS European tour dates

As we previously mentioned, Ben Sharpa is due to release his second full length solo album on May 21st through French label, Jarring Effects. The project is called 4th Density Light Show or 4DLS for short – it sees him collaborate with audio visual electro-dub crew Pure Solid, both in studio and live.

Ben Sharpa and Pure Solid will be in studio rehearsing for the next 2 weeks before heading off to Europe to start their promotional tour. Some highlights of the tour include opening for Roots Manuva (Tourcoing, Nancy and Mulhouse), Filastine (Bordeaux), Dope D.O.D. (Grenoble, Limoges), Aucan (Neuchatel) and Designer Drugs and Porter Robinson (Paris).

Be sure to follow them on Twitter for behind the scenes photos of life on tour:
@BenSharpa / @Pure_Solid

Confirmed Tour Dates:

Mon 23rd April, 2012
w/ Roots Manuva
Le Grand Mix
Tourcoing, France

Tues 24th April, 2012
Magasin 4
Brussels, Belgium

Wed 25th April, 2012
w/ Roots Manuva
L’autre Canal
Nancy, France

Thur 26th April, 2012
w/ Roots Manuva
Le Noumatrouff
Mulhouse, France

Fri 27th April, 2012
Festival ind’Hip-Hop w/ Enigmatik, Trainspotters & Zajaza
Le Molodoi
Strasbourg, France

Mon 30th April, 2012
Desi
Nuremberg, Germany

Wed 2nd May, 2012
w/ Nengato
Raymond Bar
Clermont-Ferrand, France

Thurs 3rd May, 2012
Marché Gare
Lyon, France

Fri 4th May, 2012
Queen’s Festival w/ Aucan
La Case a Chocs
Neuchatel, Switzerland

Sat 5th May, 2012
L’embobineuse
Marseille, France

Tues 15th May, 2012
w/ Dope D.O.D.
EVE
Grenoble, France

Wed 16th May, 2012
w/ Filastine
I.Boat
Bordeaux, France

Thurs 17th May, 2012
w/ Porter Robinson & Designer Drugs
Le Nouveau Casino
Paris, France

Fri 18th May, 2012
w/ Dope D.O.D.
La Fourmi
Limoges, France

Thurs 31st May, 2012
IOMMA Festival
Réunion Island

Check our Live Shows page for more details.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!

Ben Sharpa 4DLS album artwork + international tour news

Ben Sharpa is due to release his second full length solo album in May through French label, Jarring Effects. The project is called 4th Density Light Show or 4DLS for short – it sees him collaborate with audio visual electro-dub crew Pure Solid, both in studio and live. Check out the album artwork…

Ben Sharpa and Pure Solid kick off their first international tour together by opening for Roots Manuva in Tourcoing (France) on 23rd April. The final date is at IOMMA Festival in Reunion Island on 30th May. Stay tuned for full tour details.

Before the release of 4DLS, Ben Sharpa will be dropping an 8 track EP called The Transition. It features John Robinson, Siete Nueve, Gin-i Grindith, Snazz the Dictator, Ootz tha Afronaut and Tebz. Production by Beatology, Hipe, Kanife and Dplanet.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrroll!!

Driemanskap US trip cancelled

Driemanskap will not longer we travelling to Washington DC to take part in the 8th Annual SA Week. Having been on standby since Sunday waiting for the promoter to finalise travel arrangements, Driemanskap finally gave up hope of making the journey yesterday when the promoter could not be contacted.

SA Week is a 7 day event held in Washington DC to celebrate South African culture and heritage through music, art, cuisine and fashion. It aims to create an opportunity for South African artists and musicians to showcase their talents. Driemanskap were due to perform at a music extravaganza on 24th September featuring Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri, Stimela, BLK JKS, Thandiswa & Nomsa Mazwai, Lorraine Klaasen and Black Coffee.

Driemanskap are bitterly disappointed to be missing out on this prestigious opportunity, but assured their fans and supporters that they will not allow this small setback to discourage them.

Ma-B posted the following message on Facebook

SAD NEWS! Some of y’all must have seen this on Dla’s status but i also owe 2 all of those who prayed & wished us a safe & a fruitful journey. Thank u but y’all deserve 2know that the USA trip is no longer happening. We found out the hard & disturbing way, but it’s only gonna make us stronger.

Redondo posted the following message on his Facebook page:

Okwenzekileyo kuyafana nokudaliweyo, kungakuninzi endikuluzileyo kukwakuninzi nendikufundileyo. 2 al dem 3manskap wellwisherz i b-live uv already heard wat happened about da u.s. trip, as much as al we r dissapointed bt only GOD knowz why. anyway life goes on nd asoze aphele amandla. aluta continua!!! nd 2 much luv 4 ur support, CAMAGU!!!

Pioneer Unit would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their messages of support. You can rest assured that there will be many other opportunities for Driemanskap to expose their talent to the rest of the world. For now, Driemanskap will continue to focus on creating more great music.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Driemanskap 8th Annual SA Week Promo (Video)

We caught up with Dla and Redondo after a recording session at Pioneer Unit Studios in Cape Town. Dla had just finished lacing his vocals for a potential Driemanskap collaboration with legendary conscious hip hop crew Dead Prez.

Dla and Redondo broke down their forthcoming trip to Washington DC to take part in the 8th Annual SA Week…

Click here For more information about Driemanskap’s participation in SA Week

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Ben Sharpa and DJ Cadik in Budapest

Ben Sharpa recently returned from Budapest where he performed at Sziget Festival with DJ Cadik. The photo above was taken on a boat on the Danube river on their way to the festival. The building behind them is the Hungarian Parliament.

Cadik is a stalwart of the Hungarian electronic underground party scene. He’s a producer, promoter, radio DJ and live performer. Ben and Cadik have been working on collaborations which should be out soon. Watch this space.

While Ben was at Sziget he also ran into Gas Lamp Killer so they got their pose on…

For more about DJ Cadik, check out his Tumblr

That’s how we rrrrrrrrroll!!

Driemanskap heading to Washington DC to take Part in 8th Annual SA Week

On Sunday 18th September Driemanskap will be joining a heavyweight delegation of some of South Africa’s finest musicians who are heading to Washington DC to take part in the 8th Annual SA Week.

SA Week is a 7 day event held in Washington DC to celebrate South African culture and heritage through music, art, cuisine and fashion. It also aims to create an opportunity for South African artists and musicians to showcase their talents. The event, now in its 8th year, is hosted by Khabo Mabe On Time, Inc., a Washington-based South African company that was set up to promote South African interests in the United States.

Driemanskap will be joining musicians, Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri, Stimela, BLK JKS, Thandiswa & Nomsa Mazwai, Lorraine Klaasen and Black Coffee, as well as a host of esteemed participants including the Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile.

The packed itinerary includes a series of daily cultural and business events, culminating in a music extravaganza on Saturday 24th.

Stay tuned to PioneerUnit.com for regular updates, photos and videos documenting Driemanskap’s trip. You can also get live updates by following @Driemanskap, @pioneerunit and @MthethoTshemese (Driemanskap’s manager) on Twitter.

Click here for more information about SA Week (including detailed itinerary)

That’s how we rrrrrrrrroll!!

Driemanskap take Jukebox Sessions to the Eastern Cape

Having created a massively successful platform for spaza hip hop in Cape Town with their Jukebox Sessions events, Driemanskap are hitting the road to give the Eastern Cape a taste of their unique kasi flavour over 3 nights in 3 different locations.

After only six editions, Jukebox Sessions has become an iconic event in Cape Town hip hop. It has become so successful that Driemanskap have been forced to look for a larger venue to accommodate the massive crowds they have attracted.

In keeping with their philosophy of creating a platform for aspiring artists, Driemanskap will be featuring local musicians on the line up at all three Jukebox Sessions: Spring Hip Hop Bash events.

Driemanskap recently came into the public eye after the SABC 1′s primetime music show, Live, showed the video for their street hit, S’phum’eGugs. This was followed by a studio appearance on Live to perform, Camagu. Since then they have released a video for, I Will Make It, which was also featured on Live.

Event #1: Friday 9th September 2011 – East London
E Lounge
Buffalo City Stadium (formerly ABSA Stadium)
East London
R30 (before 11pm)
Doors open at 8pm

Event #2: Saturday 10th September 2011 – King William’s Town
Platinum Lounge
1 Grey St
King William’s Town
R30 (before 11pm)
Doors open at 8pm

Event #3: Sunday 11th September 2011 – Mdantsane
Cappello
Mdantsane City Mall
Mdantsane
R30 (before 11pm)
Doors open at 1pm

Check out the Facebook event page

For further information call:
Xolani: 076 484 3103
Chris: 071 174 6433

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!

Ben Sharpa Leaving for European Tour

Tomorrow, after spending a week in Cape Town recording his new project, 4DLS (Fourth Density Light Show), Ben Sharpa flies out for his 3rd European tour of 2010. This will probably be his last visit to Europe this year so don’t miss the opportunity to catch him live if you can.

Ben’s confirmed dates:
Saturday October 9th – Salle des Fêtes – Tignieu-Jameyzieu
Saturday October 16th – La Vapeur – Dijon
Friday October 22nd – Festival Rocktabiles – Grenoble
Tuesday October 26th – L’Olympic – Nantes
Thursday October 28th – Nouveau Casino – Paris

Ben will also be performing with the legendary Vast Aire, Archetypes and Gin-i Grindith when he gets back to South Africa on November 13th in Joburg.

If you would like to book Ben while he’s in France, contact Val at Jarring Effects:
val (at) jarringeffects (dot) net

For more details on Ben’s live shows, check out our gig page.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Ben Sharpa Interview on So Real TV

Ben Sharpa talks to So Real TV about his recent European tours and his latest project, 4DLS. Check it out…

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrroll!!