Die Antwoord

Die Antwoord, Afrikaans for "The Answer," is a South African hip hop duo formed in Cape Town. The group consists of rappers Ninja and Yolandi Visser. Their music blends hip hop with rave influences and is frequently produced by DJ Hi-Tek, featuring lyrics in both English and Afrikaans. Die Antwoord's image is closely tied to the South African counterculture movement known as zef and incorporates collaborations with artists such as photographer Roger Ballen.

Before forming Die Antwoord, Ninja and Visser were involved in satirical projects including MaxNormal.TV, which featured business-suited motivational hip hop, and the Constructus Corporation, a hip hop fantasy group centered around a comic book called the Ziggurat.

Die Antwoord gained international attention when their music video for "Enter the Ninja" went viral, introducing their distinctive blend of rap, electronic beats, and surreal visuals to a global audience. The single reached the British Top 40, leading to a contract with Interscope. The group performed their first international concert at the Coachella Music Festival before an audience of 40,000. After leaving Interscope, Die Antwoord established their independent label, Zef Recordz, and released their second album, "Ten$ion." Subsequent albums, including the techno-influenced "Donker Mag" and the trap-based "Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid," achieved commercial success in the United States, each topping Billboard's Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Their fifth studio album, "House of Zef," further expanded their discography.

Die Antwoord's albums and singles have charted in the top 50, and often the top 10, in countries across Europe, North America, and Australia. Their music has been featured in popular video games, including titles in the Far Cry franchise. Beyond music, Die Antwoord appeared as fictionalized versions of themselves in Harmony Korine's short film "Umshini Wam" and Neill Blomkamp's science fiction film "Chappie." The latter, set in Johannesburg, follows an artificial general intelligence law enforcement robot and grossed $102 million worldwide.

Known for graphic and surreal music videos, energetic live performances at music festivals, and a provocative public image, Die Antwoord has maintained a strong presence in global pop culture. The documentary "Zef: The Story of Die Antwoord" explores their career, and their international tours have included multiple sold-out shows. From viral internet origins to film appearances, Die Antwoord occupies a unique position at the intersection of performance art, hip hop, and electronic music.