A packed moshpit waited in suspense, a blinding, blue light illuminating the empty Metro Theatre stage (5 March), bass ominously booming through the speakers. We prepared ourselves for the force of nature… Or should I say force of hell… That is Die Antwoord.
Nothing you read about the South African rap-rave duo compares to witnessing the fantastically-outrageous performance the pair create on stage.
Click here for more photos from the show.
Yolandi and her partner-in rhyme Ninja bounced onto the stage in bright-orange hooded tracksuits accompanied by DJ Hi-Tek in a terrifying bulldog mask. Once you got past being petrified it was all very exciting.
Image © Matt ViesisOh and how could I forget the masked, African dancer with a booty that Yolandi points to in the song ‘$copie’, preaching: “I got what you want, boy, you never gonna get it!” Excuse me while I try not to riddle this review with profanities. An electrifying night of Africaan zef counter-culture has drastically altered my vocabulary. (Is it bad that I don’t even mind?)
The night started off with more of a zef-rap feel, with dirtier tracks like ‘Rat Trap 666’ complete with ball-sack flashes and the slightly cuter ‘Raging Zef Boner’. Ninja made it clear he wasn’t going to take any shit, looking frighteningly ready to throw a punch at an annoying punter that had Yolandi accusing the entire crowd of being “rapists and molesters”.
Image © Matt ViesisThe outfits became trashier and the bass dropped heavier as Yolandi’s quixotic character came to life in ‘Cookie Thumper!’ and the newer ‘Ugly Boy’, both showcasing crass and awfully rude lyrics made totally acceptable by her wonderfully angelic voice. Ninja returned in a wild-dog mask, completely altering the dynamics with ‘Pitbull Terrier’. Front flipping into the pit for a crowd surf, Ninja’s “I-don’t-give-a-fuck” attitude was utmost.
Image © Matt ViesisThe hype intensified as hardcore trance ‘Baby's On Fire’ morphed just as quickly into ‘I Fink U Freeky’ – the entire crowd physically and mentally losing their selves trying to keep up with hit after hit after hit.
Completely absorbed into the South-African ‘zef’ culture the crowd was now completely on board with the insanely, politically incorrect yet totally kick-ass unit that is Die Antwoord. ‘$copie’ therefore came as a welcome surprise – the unidentified African dancer skillfully and sexually shaking her booty on the decks in tight, gold shorts letting everyone know that “I got what you want boy, I got what you want”. Objectification? Perhaps. Do they get away with it? 100%.
Image © Matt ViesisAt this point we were a sweaty mass of growling Afrikaan animals bowing down to the king and queen of rap-rave. ‘Happy Go Sucky Fucky’ was the perfect song to close the show. Brainwashed and loving it we banged our heads to the deafening bass while chanting; “fuck your rules, fuck, fuck your rules!”
Die Antwoord are a force to be reckoned with. Love them or hate them their message is clear and they won’t take shit from no one.
Click here for more photos from the show.
