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DIE ANTWOORD
"DIE ANTWOORD"
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Die Antwoord (Afrikaans: "The Answer") is a Zef-Rap act from Cape Town, South Africa consisting of three members, Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er and DJ Hi-Tek.
The band self-identifies as a melange of several diverse cultures all mixed into one.
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BACKGROUND
Their website is a must see...
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Die Antwoord lead vocalist Ninja (born Watkin Tudor Jones) was a part of South African hip-hop scene for many years, fronting such acts as The Original Evergreens, Max Normal.tv and The Constructus Corporation. He is known for adopting different stage personas. In the case of Die Antwoord his persona is Ninja: a hyper violent character who is very different from his previous incarnations.
Die Antwoord was later created as a group in 2009, consisting of performers Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er, and DJ Hi-Tek. Their debut album $O$ was made available as a free download on their official website. In 2009 South African cinematographer Rob Malpage (along with co-director Ninja) shot the video for their single "Enter the Ninja.” The video became a viral phenomenon on the internet nine months later, delivering millions of hits to the official Die Antwoord website.
Their original South African hosting provider, Hetzner, disabled their hosting account following massive bandwidth overage caused by the traffic following the site launch. The group were forced to move their hosting to a US-based hosting provider to handle the traffic. The current website is administered by Sony ATV. The "Enter The Ninja" video also features South African progeria survivor Leon Botha, a prominent Cape Town artist.
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LIVE
Tokyo Star in Greenside, Gleaneagles Road
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My experience of “DIE ANTWOORD” took place at Tokyo Star, a prominent alternative “watering-hole” for the creative and artistically orientated. Upon entry to the bar itself I noticed that they venue had constructed a semi-stage for the up coming band.
The local DJ spun some alternative music such as the likes of “Mr.Scruff” and “Dead Prez” to finely tune the crowd into accepting the likes of what would be an alternative musical experience unseen or felt before this evenings’ proceedings!
Standing near the back of the 20 by 20 meter room – Tokyo Star has always been round for it’s intimate setting, this their new venue situated in Greenside is more than double the size of their last venue which was situated in the heart of “old school Melville” – I was able to have a full 160degree view of the pseudo stage. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the group walk through the front door and congregate at the entrance, staying out of sight for the meantime.
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"DIE ANTWOORD"...jou ma se......
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In terms of exposure to “DIE ANTWOORD”, I have been through their website, from top to bottom…listened to every song, which streams from the website itself, as well as done some external research into the group itself. Now, when I say that I have a nervous come anxious feeling in my stomach from the moment I saw them to the moment they stepped out on stage would be putting it lightly. I was brimming with excitement.
The set was started by DJ Hi-Tek who started off proceedings with some incredibly deep base-lines and Electronica…”this is going to be insane”, I thought to myself. As they marched towards the stage, the crowd became electric, fueled with “gees” (an Afrikaans word for spirit), I was taken a back by how incredibly short Yo-Landi Vi$$er was and how “weathered” (no doubt from the fast paced life-style of a turbulent musical career) Ninja was…but as I stood there on my toes bopping and weaving in attempt to get a better look at the group together on stage, I felt like a veteran supporter of the group…as though I had seen them a million times before…I felt connected.
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Connected not because I generally “like” their music but because I believe I understand how important a group like this is to South African music. There has not been a South Africa group that appeals to the darker, cross-cultured, electronic/rap audience in South Africa…EVAR! Their success can be somewhat compared to the rise in fame of “Jack Parrow” who has also gained an alternative following in the music industry as a cross-cultural/genre artist.
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As an overall review on their performance…I can honestly say that I have not experienced a more energetic, robust, penetrative performance on a South Africa scale. Immediately as they started on their more popular songs, one could not help but notice the sea of Blackberry’s all boasting the “flashing red light” which signifies – filming! The infusion of screams, flashing lights, both camera’s and performance lighting along with the slur of Afrikaans swear words had me half in hysterics and half riddled with goose bumps.
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I have been to many live performances in my short lifetime, but this by far, even as “intimate” – no more than 75 people – as the setting was…the energy was electrifying. This band is set for greatness and to my knowledge, they have got an enormous European Tour in the pipeline as they head towards the likes of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK.
I hope the world is ready to have all their questions answered…“DIE ANTWOORD”…!
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(Regrettably, the live images from the event at Tokyo Star have not yet been sent to ZAGlamour and thus sourced images of "DIE ANTWOORD" performing live had to be posted in their place. Images from the Live Event will be posted ASAP.)
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