I Can’t Tell if They’re Kidding: A Look at Die Antwoord

Anyone who was lusting over the lineup for the ill-fated Hard LA knows that there would have been a lot of acts to look forward to. What many of you may not have known, myself included, is why the Hard LA poster had “Die Antwoord” affixed on the list third from the top, just below N*E*R*D and with many other hugely talented acts listed below them. There are only two possible answers: a) concert posters don’t mean shit (I’ve always suspected); or b) Die Antwoord deserve our attention. Ironically, “Die Antwoord” actually means “the answer” in Afrikaans, a language often used in their raps and one of the 11 official languages spoken in the group’s homeland of South Africa (thanks Wikipedia!). So what are they the answer to? At least your online boredom, and below are two videos released by the group that shed a little bit of light on who they are. Don’t expect them to answer all of your questions though, because odds are you will have way more after seeing these guys in action.

They rock strange redneck hairstyles, clothing, and general mannerisms. Their music is a mutant mix of electro-rave beats and what seems like satirical hip-hop. The front man has a slew of cheesy gangsta tattoos, a Vanilla Ice reminiscent flat-top, and simply goes by the moniker “Ninja.” This must be a joke, right? Maybe it is, and maybe it isn’t, but none of that changes the fact that they are hilarious and their music will get stuck in your head for a week without pause. Die Antwoord mixes the rap stylings of Ninja (actually named Watkin Tudor Jones), backing vocals by Yo-Landi Vi$$er, and beats by DJ Hi-Tek. Some people take them seriously, while others claim that they are the South African version of “Da Ali G Show.” Either way, together they make musical entertainment at its strangest, and they delivered just that when they performed at this year’s Coachella. Anyone that planned on attending Hard LA doesn’t have to miss this beautifully grotesque musical project. In lieu of the massive M.I.A. headlined festival, Hard is throwing a smaller show with just Die Antwoord, Destructo, and Borgore at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Apparently the mob of LA music fans are just as intrigued as I am by the South African trio, as the show sold out just a few days after its announcement. Those who have tickets should go into the venue with a very open mind. Don’t go into it expecting a life changing musical experience, but instead approach the stage with the nervous curiosity that you feel when your friend pulls up YouTube and says “You gotta see this!” That’s exactly what Die Antwoord are; a complete spectacle. Whether they are a total joke or just totally weird doesn’t change their entertainment value the slightest bit. But I’ll let you be the judge of that: