A group of self-proclaimed "zef" (i.e., white trash) South Africans who rap in English and Afrikaans over rave-style beats? Turns out, that's just what hip-hop needed. Die Antwoord's "Enter the Ninja" video went viral in February, introducing the world to Ninja, the group's glowering lead MC, and Yo-Landi Vi$$er, a pixieish sidekick with the world's weirdest mullet. On this EP, Ninja's staccato flow kills even when you only understand every fourth word. Boasting, dissing and smoking dope, Die Antwoord don't dispense with rap clichés – they give them a new accent that's both disorienting and thrilling. - Jody Rosen, Rolling Stone Magazine, 27 July 2010

Since Die Antwoord shot to international fame in March this year, this global zef rap rave music phenomenon has captured the imagination of millions. By November's end (having set out only in July), Die Antwoord would have played over 80 gigs, among them, America, England, Canada, Poland, Serbia, Japan, Holland, Belgium and Germany. In a recent feature in Sunday Times, Diane Coetzer summed up the phenomenon that is Die Antwoord as follows: "In the way of only a handful of artists in history, Ninja and Yo-landi have created a new world; one that hurdles over existing boundaries with the same full-tilt energy that marks every single live performance."

"If we haven't already convinced you that Die Antwoord are the mulleted, Pink-Floyd-boxer-clad saviors of everything good and right about music, then you can go take a proverbial walk off a proverbial pier". - LA Times

Die Antwoord has since signed internationally to Interscope Records, arguably the world's most prolific and successful label (boasting artists the likes of Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent) in a deal which is understood to be the most significant global recording contract ever signed by a resident South African artist.

“For any act in the world these achievements would be deemed extraordinary, but for a South African act it's unprecedented.” "Aint nobody from these parts done this before"- Michael Canfield – MD, Tixsa Web Ticket Company

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Enter The Ninja enters UK Top 40 chart at # 37 – Sept ‘10

"… an unprecedented accomplishment for a South African act … it is satisfying to see that music fans in the UK have responded to Die Antwoord's uncompromising genius.” - Jay Savage, MD Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Die Antwoord’s first international hit, Enter The Ninja, which entered the UK’s Top Forty Chart in the week of 13 September, is again understood to be a South African first - certainly in recent times. Significantly, the chart is the only official UK chart and is based entirely on actual sales. Recently, Die Antwoord also completed a number of videos, including filmed skits and documentaries, and more videos are currently in pre-production. Die Antwoord is also presently liasing with a Japanese toy giant on a range of Die Antwoord Toys.
"The music is just one part of of an expansive world that's got a language, visual flavour and ambience of its own, a 360-degree outlook on life that's untainted by anyone's marketing department." Diane Coetzer, Sunday Times

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Die Antwoord signs to Rhythm Records for SA release of $0$

On the local front, Die Antwoord are releasing their debut $O$ album with Bellville-based indie record label Rhythm Records. In 2006, Ninja and Rhythm Records boss Albert du Plessis met at a music festival in Belgium, where Ninja promptly applied some Ninja sticker cut-outs to Rhythm Records video and audio equipment.
"My equipment still carries those stickers" says Albert four years later, “and the Rhythm Records team is proud to be releasing the local version of $O$, which will be a unique-to-SA edition with a total of 17 tracks, including dialogue skits (one of which features District 9’s Sharlto Copley).

Die Antwoord album cover shot by world-renowned photographer Clayton Cubbit.

The $0$ album cover was shot by Clayton Cubitt, the New York photographer who first alerted (major US blog) Boing Boing writer Xeni Jardin to Die Antwoord after watching one of their live clips. "I'm always looking for amazing things online, underground things or things that are well done and real” said Cubitt in an interview with local website watkykjy. “I stumbled upon their Zef Side clip when it had just a few views, and the preview image of Yo-Landi dancing looked intriguing, so I watched it and the whole thing hit so hard I knew it needed to be seen by everyone.”

Evil Boy - new single
"Lock your doors, hide your children, tie up your girlfriends, EVIL BOY is coming! The new, wild, savage single from Die Antwoord is about to drop with beats by Diplo (of Major Lazer) and guest vocals by teenage Xhosa rapper, Wanga. The Evil Boy music video (directed by Ninja and Rob Malpage) slides out the slime bunny on the 12th of October, along with the highly-anticipated $O$ album. Our inside source tells us the Evil Boy music video has a dark, comic book theme - African voodoo pop with a demonic kwaito twist! Gaan sê vir jou ma.

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Upcoming Die Antwoord gig at Bassline, JHB on 2 October

Catch Die Antwoord at The Bassline in JHB on 2 October, where they will perform a once-off show before jetting off abroad to continue touring and taking Zef to the rest of the world.

Full gig details:

DIE ANTWOORD - JOU MA SE POES IN A FISH PASTE JAR JOL

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY:

BLUNTED STUNTMAN
KID FONQUE

Date: Saturday 2 October
Venue: The Bassline
Adress: 10 Henry Nxumalo Street, Newtown, Johannesburg
Venue Contact: 011 838 9146
Cover Charge: Pre Sale R120, Door R140
Doors open: 20h00

Tickets on sale from 22 September at www.thebassline.co.za
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115343038524617&ref=ts

PRESS RELEASE COURTESY OF: RIANA WEICHERS