Photo: WENN
Die Antwoord, the definitive rap-rave group from Cape Town, brought their distinctive sound and Zef style to Brixton for a triumphant show at the O2 Academy last night.
The atmosphere was galvanizing as the rap-rave techno duo stormed on stage to begin an hour-long rave of hits and energetic showmanship.
DJ Hi-Tek towers over the stage in a distorted mask, Ninja tall and tattooed flashing a grin whilst intensely thrusting at the screaming crowd and Yolandi Vi$$er bounces across the stage as they launch into fan-favourite ‘Fok Julie Naaiers’.
Picking out the main highlight is difficult, there’s so much to rave about, would it be the monstrous masks? The disjointed hard-hitting beats? The mesmerising Xhosa chants? The fluorescent jumpsuits? Ninja in a Pit Bull terrier mask soaring (almost) majestically into the crowd? Yolandi bouncing off the decks? Oh, not forgetting the giant ‘Fred the Flour Man’ lookalike with a raging boner? Yeah, Die Antwoord know how to put on a show.
“This is the biggest show we’ve ever done in one f*ckin’ place, this is real f*ckin’ huge,” Ninja stands in the spotlight taking it all in, “I mean F*CK!”, ripping off his pants to show off his infamous Pink Floyd ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ boxers, before deciding to show his bare arse to the front row.
Pixie-like Yolandi constantly bounces around stage, her fast-serving rap spot on and her high-vocals just as hypnotising as they are on record. No matter how crude some may find them, you can’t help but respect them. Their passion for their music really comes across in their love for performing.
Whether you’re laughing at them, or laughing with them, whether you get it or you don’t - it doesn’t even matter, they know how to entertain. The gig was ridiculous, but in the best way possible. They are an experience to say the least, and a fun and brilliant one at that.
Yeah, yeah; I fink they’re freeky and I like them a lot.
