WTF Die Antwoord

Want to take an acid trip minus the acid? That's what this South African trio is all about. Die Antwoord (Afrikaans for "The Answer") members Ninja, Yolandi Visser and "God" AKA DJ Hi-Tek were formed in 2008. How can I describe them? Combine insane, colorful style, "zef" culture, prolific profanity, unique and disturbing imagery and a gleeful rejection of mainstream musical norms. Believe me when I tell you, you've never seen or heard anything like them.



Their music is categorized as "rap rave." Give it a listen.

"Fatty Boom Boom" (Theatrical)

"Fatty Boom Boom" (Lyrics only)

"Ugly Boy" (Lyrics only)

"Fok Julle Naaiers" (Lyrics only) (A warning: this one's a bit much.)

And just what is "zef"?

From Wikipedia:

"Die Antwoord's musical and visual style incorporates elements of a 'zef' culture, described as modern and trashy, appropriating out-of-date, discarded cultural elements.Yo-Landi said, 'It's associated with people who soup their cars up and rock gold and shit. Zef is, you're poor but you're fancy. You're poor but you're sexy, you've got style.'"

Critics have undervalued their work as capitalizing on shock value. Shock, they do, and well, but there is real talent underneath all that craziness. I was introduced to them when they appeared in the film Chappie in 2015. Lyrics are somewhat typical if not often crude, centering on sex, drugs, and general egomania. I like Ninja, but for me, Yolandi makes them. She just does it for me: her accent, her raps, her "fuck-it" sensibility, and her proclivity toward horror make her unforgettable.

I'll admit, they may be an acquired taste. But bottom line: raps are brilliant and weird. Weirdly brilliant. Beats are bad-ass and catchy. My only complaint is there are simply too many penises: lyrically, figuratively, and in reality. If you watch the video for "Evil Boy," you'll agree.

Imma start saying "fok" instead of fuck.

J. L. Dodd

"We are the underbelly. No one has ever presented that. It was something people were shy or scared of - they swept it under the carpet. We made it our thing." - Ninja

"Music used to be about people not giving a fuck. We're taking it back there." - Yo-Landi

On their March 2015 show in Sydney:

"It's the kind of show that would be used as a torture device on most normal, sane people. Ear-splitting, rude, self-indulgent and manic. One man's hell is this reviewer's heaven."-Rachel Olding, The Sydney Morning Herald

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Antwoord

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/die-antwoord-review-earsplitting-rude-monstrous--and-heavenly-20150306-13wuci.html