Die Antwoord

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The 2012 Line-up

Playing

Wednesday Feb 22 7:00 PM on The Regency Ballroom

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Die Antwoord
$O$
$10.98

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Die Antwoord? How can I describe thee? Yes it’s art and hip hop, and yes it’s foreign, but there’s something else about the South African group that defies explanation. “Are they for real?” is the question that most often comes to mind with Die Antwoord, and I don’t have an exact answer for you.

They’re definitely funny (watch the videos on their fabulous website), and it has even been suggested that they are a satirical look at rap culture. But, they’re also seriously catchy, and the musicianship is not to be doubted. In fact, “Ninja” aka Watkin Tudor Jones, DJ Hi Tek, and “YoLandi” aka Yolandi Vissar, have all been involved in art and music for a long time in their native South Africa. They even have their own line of toys!

Die Antwoord burst into global consciousness with 2009’s most viral video “Enter the Ninja,” a bizarre art adventure that featured Yolandi dressed as a schoolgirl singing in her bedroom, along with Ninja and the late artist Leon Botha in front of Botha’s work. Their debut album, $O$, showcases Die Antwoord’s self proclaimed “rap rave” Zef style, and the rerelease even features the Diplo produced track, “Evil Boy.”

The band raps in Afrikaans and English and combines rap music and performance art, donning ‘80s influenced outfits and gold body suits. And video after video, they deliver shocks that are more than awesome to watch. The succession of music videos to promote $O$ and Ten$ion have gotten more and more creepy over time with YoLandi burning down a house then prancing around in a gold catsuit in “Rich Bitch.” They have kept the world (mostly the internet, actually) asking what’s next. It doesn’t even matter if this band is a “joke” because growing numbers of fans are enjoying it either way. Their second album, Ten$ion, drops right in time for their Noise Pop show so expect some crazy half clothed, crowd surfing shenanigans.

LAUREN ROSENTHAL