Ben Sharpa
Encyclopedia
Kgotso Semela aka Ben Sharpa aka Oh Kaptin My Kaptin (born March 25, 1977 in Soweto
, South Africa
) is a veteran underground rapper and music producer. Considered by many as one of South Africa
's most accomplished lyricists, Ben Sharpa is a founding member of cult crews GroundWorks and Audio Visual.
Ben Sharpa has shared the stage with artists such as Immortal Technique
(June 2005), Jonzi-D (June 2003), Black Thought
(August 2001), Mr. Len
and Jean Grae
(May 2001). In June 2006, Sharpa headlined alongside Wordsworth and Jonzi-D as part of the Tri-Continental Hip Hop Festival - a historical 3-city Hip hop
tour that was held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Youth Month in South Africa
. He is also a founding member of the performance crew for the annual Hip-Hop Connected lyrical theatre event held at Artscape Theatre in Cape Town
every September (Heritage Month). In 2007 He was discovered by accomplished BB1 Radio DJ Mary-Anne Hobbs, and soon after performed at the annual Glastonbury Festival
(June 2007) on the BBC Introduces Stage.
----
Extended Bio: Here's an extended bio on Ben Sharpa. It provides some insight on to the many influences that helped craft his music.
----
Ben Sharpa Facebook Page
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
) is a veteran underground rapper and music producer. Considered by many as one of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's most accomplished lyricists, Ben Sharpa is a founding member of cult crews GroundWorks and Audio Visual.
Ben Sharpa has shared the stage with artists such as Immortal Technique
Immortal Technique
Felipe Andres Coronel , better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper of Afro-Peruvian descent as well as an urban activist. He was born in Lima, Peru and raised in Harlem, New York. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics...
(June 2005), Jonzi-D (June 2003), Black Thought
Black Thought
Tariq Trotter , better known as Black Thought, is an American hip-hop artist who is the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots and occasional actor...
(August 2001), Mr. Len
Mr. Len
Mr. Len is a hip hop DJ from Bronx, New York. He was a member, with Bigg Jus and El-P, of the underground hip hop trio Company Flow, which disbanded in the late-1990s. Presently he is in a group with Kimani Rogers from The Masterminds named Roosevelt Franklin...
and Jean Grae
Jean Grae
Jean Grae , born November 26, 1976 is an American hip hop artist who hails from South Africa. She rose to prominence in the underground hip-hop scene in New York City, and has since built an international fanbase.- Early life :...
(May 2001). In June 2006, Sharpa headlined alongside Wordsworth and Jonzi-D as part of the Tri-Continental Hip Hop Festival - a historical 3-city Hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
tour that was held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Youth Month in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He is also a founding member of the performance crew for the annual Hip-Hop Connected lyrical theatre event held at Artscape Theatre in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
every September (Heritage Month). In 2007 He was discovered by accomplished BB1 Radio DJ Mary-Anne Hobbs, and soon after performed at the annual Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
(June 2007) on the BBC Introduces Stage.
----
Extended Bio: Here's an extended bio on Ben Sharpa. It provides some insight on to the many influences that helped craft his music.
----
Ben Sharpa Facebook Page
Discography
- GroundWorks Demolition: The MeStory - GroundWorks, Con Camp Publishing (CC001)
- Pavement Special Vol.1 - Concentration Camp, Con Camp Publishing (CC002)
- B. Sharpa - Ben Sharpa. Pioneer Unit RecordsPioneer Unit RecordsPioneer Unit Records is a Cape Town-based independent record label. Pioneer Unit's sound is characterised by the fusion of classic East Coast Hip Hop, Detroit Techno, Dancehall, Dub, Grime, Electro and the sounds of Africa....
(PIONEERCD002) - The Sharpaganda Theory: Lesson 1 (12" vinyl) - Ben Sharpa. Jarring EffectsJarring effectsJarring Effects is a French musical label based in Lyon, south-east of France. Jarring Effects encourages musicians to be independent, produce the music themselves, be creative and to make music they enjoy rather than trying to make it commercially viable...
/ Pioneer Unit RecordsPioneer Unit RecordsPioneer Unit Records is a Cape Town-based independent record label. Pioneer Unit's sound is characterised by the fusion of classic East Coast Hip Hop, Detroit Techno, Dancehall, Dub, Grime, Electro and the sounds of Africa....
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/bensharpa
- Interview with Ben Sharpa