That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Ghetto Dubs is a double EP of hypnotic soundsystem music with a lineage that includes dub, acid house, detroit techno and grime. Inspired by the dusty ghetto streets of the Cape Flats, the tracks are raw, aggressive, powerful and direct, relying on dutty bass grooves, heavy tape delays, hypnotic melodies and the hauntingly chopped vocals of some of Cape Town’s most rugged underground emcees. Headstrong music.

The digital EP comes with an extended artwork pack (PDF) designed by spo0ky.

Pure Solid is producer Damian Stephens aka Dplanet and VJ Anne-Sophie Leens aka spo0ky. Together they create an intense audio-visual assault on the senses.

Dplanet describes his musical style as ‘soundsytem music’, ‘robot army music’ or ‘dark’. This sound has influences of dub, grime, Detroit techno, Chicago house, acid, hip hop, juke and electro. Dplanet is best know for his work with Pioneer Unit artist, Ben Sharpa.

spo0ky creates bespoke graphic design and video treatments that interpret and enhance the music, providing a powerful, immersively hypnotic audio visual experience.

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Listen and Buy

Download the whole EP (or individual tracks) and check out the lyrics at our online shop

Check out the Ghetto Dubs page for production credits

Preview the EP on Soundcloud

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The price in our online shop appears in Euros but your credit card will be charged in your local currency. The whole EP costs R20.5. Individual tracks cost R1.9. You can choose to pay more if you want.

Please note. Our online shop accepts
• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Paypal

If you don’t have any of these you can also pay Pioneer Unit directly with a cash deposit or an EFT and we’ll send you a download code. Contact us for details.

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ATTENTION media, bloggers and DJs:
Please Contact us for your free download code.

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That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Jaak is an Afrikaans rapper from Paarl. He signed to Pioneer Unit Records in 2009 and featured on the 2007 compilation, Planetary Assault. He released his debut solo album, Flêtse Maniere at the end of 2009. Jaak recently featured in character as ‘gangsta rapper’, Jaak Paarl, on Die Antwoord’s internet smash hit album, $0$, which is due out on Interscope in the near future.

Rather than hype up Sweet, I’ll let Hakesy say it…

“This video below is called Sweet (it’s Afrikaans for sweat/persperation for my non-cape flats readers) produced by HIPE who is the best producer in the land. THE BEST VIDEO MADE IN SOUTH AFRICA!!!!!! This video is far beyond international standard…its of an intergalactic quality and can be enjoyed even if you dont understand the language.”

I think that just about covers it. Check out the video and tune into MK starting this Wednesday.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrroll!!

Rattex is back with a banging EP that cements his place as one of South Africa’s foremost hip hop talents. With production by Hipe and Dplanet, DJ Raiko on cuts and a special remix by Swiss electro-dub band Filewile, expect more kasi fire straight from the dusty streets of Khayelitsha. 7784 is definitely in the house!

This is Rattex’s first release since his debut solo album, Bread and Butter. He has just returned from an extensive European tour that saw him tear up stages at an impressive list of Festivals including Paleo Festival (CH), Electron Festival (CH), Fusion Festival (DE), B-Sides Festival (CH) and JazzParade (CH). Most of the EP was recorded at Red Bull Studios in Cape Town – big up Ivan, Steve, Richard and Jake. Sikubo was recorded at Wankdorf Studios in Berne, Switzerland while Rattex was on tour – big up Daniel, Andreas and the whole Filewile crew.

The digital EP comes with an extended artwork pack (PDF) designed by spo0ky. It also includes 2 acapellas for all the DJs and remixers out there. Although this is primarily a digital release, a limited number of CDs will be available at The African Music Store in Cape Town and via mail order in the coming days. Contact us to pre-order a copy now.

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Listen and Buy

Download the whole EP (or individual tracks) and check out the lyrics at our online shop

Check out the Streets, Raps & Us page for production credits

————————————————

The price in our online shop appears in Euros but your credit card will be charged in your local currency. The whole EP costs R14. Individual tracks cost R1.4. You can choose to pay more if you want.

Please note. Our online shop accepts
• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Paypal

If you don’t have any of these you can also pay Pioneer Unit directly with a cash deposit or an EFT and we’ll send you a download code. Contact us for details.

————————————————

ATTENTION media, bloggers and DJs:
Please Contact us for your free download code.

————————————————

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

To download just click the small black arrow on the right hand side of the player.

Welcome to Cape Flats by PioneerUnit

R.I.P. homie – this track is dedicated to you…

“Heads held high, this is a battle cry,
for all my kings in this warrior kingdom…”

Unreleased King Daniel track… Rags to Riches (free download – click the little black arrow on the right)
Rags to Riches – King Daniel by PioneerUnit

I’ve also had this track on my hard drive for years. It’s called Creep. I don’t know who all the emcees are but it features a nice verse by King Daniel. It’s an unmastered studio edit so it’s a bit rough. Apologies if you own the copyright – let me know and I’ll take it down.
Creep by PioneerUnit

“So unlearn with us, this is higher that Richard Pryor,
with a prior record to try your effort,
while the second place gets lapped,
for trying to extract resources like Jan van Riebeek,
if I was a tape you’d have pushed eject,
all of these Western ways we reject,
multinationals owning this land of ours,
raped Mother Afrika in front of her kids for hours,
that turned to days, and days to weeks,
weeks to years and years to Century City,
set up infrastructures that’s essentially shitty,
nothing’s changed, they still treating us like we’re mentally pitied,
third class citizens, word art infidels,
in Fidel’s school of thought we sustaining ourselves while fools abort,
like radio stations and pay for play we hold it down with no paperweight,
too many fish in the sea to take the bait,
so I advise you to stay awake cause life is something that can make or break,
most learn that the hard way and didn’t get to see vandals gamble like cards played.
Amandla!”

Hold tight – new improved site coming soon.

Nokia very kindly gave us a lovely X6 so that Rattex could record a video diary while he’s away.

Check out Rattex’s tour video diary on Vuzu.tv

Check out Rattex performing with Filewile at the Woodrock Festival…

That’s how we rrrrrrrrroll!!

The winner of the competition was a young emcee from Khayelitsha, Cape Town, called Manqoba. His prize was a recording session at Red Bull Studios where he made an EP that will be digitally released by Pioneer Unit.

We spent 3 days with Steve Elsworth, the head engineer at Red Bull Studios, recording 5 great tracks. 4 of the tracks were solo joints with Hipe on production. For the fifth track Driemanskap came through with an El Nino beat and recorded a collaboration.

We’re extremely happy with the work everyone put in and the quality of the music that was created. We have always believed that there is a huge amount of unrecognised and untapped talent in Cape Town. There’s always a concern that a dope street emcee may not have the necessary skills for a professional recording environment, but Manqoba was a pleasure to work with. He came well-prepared, his delivery was on point and most importantly, his attitude was great.

We hope to have Manqoba’s EP, Khaltsha Stand Up, ready for release by September 2010. Watch this space for more information.

Check out some photos and video of the recording session…

Steve sets up the mic (click image for larger version).

Manqoba on the mic (click image for larger version).

Manqoba spittin’ heat (click image for larger version).

Manqoba and his boys (click image for larger version).

Manqoba and Redondo (click image for larger version).

El Nino rehearses his verse (click image for larger version).

El Nino gives Manqoba some advice (click image for larger version).

Manqoba in the booth with Driemanskap (click image for larger version).

Check out some video courtesy of So Real TV.com

Check out the full set of photos (24) on Flickr

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrrroll!!

Here’s a sneak preview of the beautiful artwork for Rattex’s forthcoming EP, Streets, Raps & Us. As always, concept and design by spo0ky.

That’s how we rrrrrrrrrrroll!!