Gang of Instrumentals

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Last updated 26 07 11

Gang of Instrumentals:

GANG of Instrumentals is a critically-acclaimed South African urban-pop group, founded in 2002. This Johannesburg based group consists of Tumi ‘Lady Naturelle’ Masemola, Mandla N- Pimville spokesman, and ‘Bongo’ Riot Zungu. 

Their innovative musical style is a mixture of hip hop, street rap, pop, soul, R&B, ragga, reggae and rock, with elements of kwaito and house. 

This fusion of different sounds has landed them the coveted Best Urban album at the South African Music awards 2009 and high profile performances such as the Presidential Inauguration, Cape Town Jazz Festival, Indian Cricket League and numerous others premiere events. 

This trio is one of the most successful independent groups in South Africa, having received 2 SAFTA Golden Horns for best soundtrack in a TV comedy 2006&7, 2 channel O nominations for best group and best video 2005, and a SAMA nomination for record of the year 2008 and band of the Year at the Kora awards 2008 . This year they are up tearing up the charts with singles from ROUND 3. 

The band members also write, produce and act in City Ses’la, which is the 2nd largest local show on TV (after Generations). With an average AR rating of 16.9, City Ses’la is in its 3rd season and just picked up 7 out of the 8 awards they were nominated for at the SA Film and Television awards, making it by far the most successful comedy show in South Africa. 

G.I is back with a major bang, having started their comeback trail with the single, OH YEAH, which climbed on major contemporary radio charts. WOZA DECEMBER became THE summer anthem of 2008/2009, currently being used as the backdrop to the Wimpy/Engen campaign. Leave All Your Worries is the 3rd single from the album.

Gang of Instrumentals History:

KASSI FLAVA 

Without the backing of a major record label, GI independently released their debut album Kassi Flava in August 2004. The album won the group critical acclaim and the album's lead single Cry 4 me, became a smash hit reaching number two on the South African national commercial radio pop charts and the listener’s choice charts. 

Cry 4 me caught the attention of the ‘Dance 4 life’ international Aids campaign organizers, who used the Cry 4 me dance remix as the theme song to promote the ‘Dance 4 life’ music concert in Cape Town at which GI was the headline act. 

The single went on to receive a Channel O nomination for best music video, and the gang has since been approached by the Ministry of Sound and Dj Tiesto for the global release of the track.

SALUTE 

November 2006 saw the release of their second album, Salute, with three number one singles the album was a critical and commercial triumph. 

The first single, ‘My number one’, peaked at #1 on all South African pop charts. The song received even more exposure in 2008 when it was featured in the MTN world cup compilation, and received a SAMA (South African Music Award) nomination for record of the year. 

The album subsequently spawned ‘Shake it’, which topped the charts, and was licensed by the French car manufacturer Renault, who used the song to market and promote their Renault Shake it! Megane vehicle. Other hits such as Salute and Sunshine tore up the airwaves as well. 

With each member contributing to writing on all tracks on their albums, as well as executive producing, GI have maintained an experimental approach in their music and are widely praised for their originality and artistic content.

ROUND 3 

Their third offering, Round 3, is out now, having been released mid October 2008. The gang’s fresh and energetic sound has carried them beyond the borders of South Africa, to the U.S where they were invited to Nashville in order to showcase their African flair alongside acts such as Hard-Fi and Black Rebel Motorcycle. They have recently headlined an African festival in Zimbabwe, Harare. Round 3 is a fiery, passionate, and more daring production by the Gang of Instrumentals. 

“GI is a reflection of the new, global and progressive Africa”, adds Mandla N.

About Gang of Instrumentals: 

Gang of Instrumentals is the scorching hot new band on the South African music scene, with catchy lyrics that manage to fuse African language and English into a synergy of powerful tracks filled to the brim with relevant content and universal truths. 

The Gang calls themselves “An army of underground revolutionists - Armed with piercing lyrics penetrating your soul - Lieutenants of funk; Corporals of beat; Renegades of Rhyme; Soldiers marching to the rhythm of a new sound” 

GI is a multi Channel O nominated, SAFTA Golden Horn winning, pop / urban groups with a fresh sound and street credibility. Founded in 2002, the Gang burst on the scene in 2004 with their debut album, “Kassi Flava”, which included the chart-topping track “Cry4me”. 

Their latest musical offering, their second album “Salute”, is a balanced mix of vocally challenging songs that truly showcase this extraordinary group’s artistic ability to create fresh new sounds by merging soul and hip hop with a reggae undertone that has a broad appeal across age, race and gender lines.