Die Antwoord

Die Antwoord is a brash, controversy-courting hip-hop and electronic group from Cape Town, South Africa. • The band describes its aesthetic as “Zef Side”—“zef” being a South African counter-culture movement that celebrates being poor but flashy. • Die Antwoord freaked the world out with their 2009 breakout video “Beat Boy,” featuring rapper Yolandi Visser rocking short bangs and bandmate Ninja in Pink Floyd boxer shorts. • After enjoying viral popularity online, Die Antwoord signed with Interscope Records in 2010. The group’s debut album, $O$, arrived in American that year. • Die Antwoord split with Interscope before dropping their sophomore LP, Ten$ion. The album includes “Uncle Jimmy,” a skit that pokes fun at Interscope boss Jimmy Iovine. • In 2017, Die Antwoord announced plans to disband after their fifth album, The Book of Zef, which finally dropped in March 2020. • The group is famous for both its surreal “ugly is beautiful” music videos and its myriad controversies. They've been accused of misogyny, homophobia, racism, and cultural appropriation. • Die Antwoord means “the answer” in Afrikaans. The question, according to Ninja: “Whatever, man.”