Die Antwoord On David Letterman: South African Rappers Perform 'I Fink You Freeky' (VIDEO)

Die Antwoord Letterman

First Posted: 02/ 7/2012 8:57 am Updated: 02/ 7/2012 12:25 pm

Die Antwoord took their consciously unnerving act to a mainstream audience Monday night -- the late-night television crowd. For those who'd never been exposed to the South African rappers before, their appearance on David Letterman may have been slightly terrifying, a sentiment shared by some South Africans who are uneasy with the trio representing their nation abroad. For the rest of us, this was a tamer version of the shock rappers we've come to know: Yo-Landi looked as bug-eyed as always in a pair of black contacts and long white t-shirt (Alexander Wang?), DJ Hi-Tek wore a deformed face mask, and Ninja danced frantically in a orange jumpsuit to their clubby single, "I Fink U Freeky," off their just-released album Ten$ion.

Letterman seemed at a loss for a moment when he came up to greet the group after their performance. He recovered with a few words that could be taken as praise, or not: "Well, there's your halftime show!"

Yolandi and Ninja remained unblinking behind him.

WATCH:

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Die Antwoord took their consciously unnerving act to a mainstream audience Monday night -- the late-night television crowd. For those who'd never been exposed to the South African rappers before, thei...
Die Antwoord took their consciously unnerving act to a mainstream audience Monday night -- the late-night television crowd. For those who'd never been exposed to the South African rappers before, thei...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Breeze
08:34 PM on 02/12/2012
DIE ANTWOORD WHEN THEY WERE JUST MEMBERS OF WADDY'S (Ninja's) MAXNORMAL.TV GROUP.....back when he had his normal Englischer South African accent and was his sweet and normal self.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyz2-9JsVJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyz2-9JsVJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyz2-9JsVJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyz2-9JsVJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyz2-9JsVJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyz2-9JsVJ0
01:36 PM on 02/11/2012
We did this to the world. *sigh*
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Breeze
06:31 PM on 02/10/2012
Aww, moderators got offended by the truth and didn't post my last comment :(
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Breeze
06:21 PM on 02/10/2012
Our other option:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2nmgcVbfKE
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
brettrobbins
09:33 AM on 02/11/2012
Why stop there?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tatccHVfuhA
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Breeze
12:28 PM on 02/11/2012
Well, for me, the video I posted is about as far as anything can go, in any way. There is no choice but to stop. The road ends.
It beats anything in all ways.
It is the lowest of the low, and the highest of the high.
Aphex just......channels DJ Hi-Tek.
Jokes.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Breeze
06:09 PM on 02/10/2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnX9b38l8FE

Hello, the character that he plays called Ninja.

Wink wink, nudge nudge.

You can clearly see where the act/reality fade in and out. A sentence starts with sincerity and fades into improvisational Ninjaspeak - supported by lots of "like", "sort of", "and then" and phrases that mean NOTHING like "make it more futuristic", "porthole to another dimension" and "breaking into our subconscious...we want to find out more stuff about ourselves, like what is going on down there in the dark depths of......like.....Africa."

This guy is a master improviser.
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FireThemAll2012
I'm also the 53%
03:33 PM on 02/10/2012
omg.........what a load of cr@p
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Harpotoo
09:53 AM on 02/10/2012
I'm a 55 year old Rock and Metal Head and I just loved that! Way Cool!
08:47 PM on 02/09/2012
I like you a lot too!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Realbluesky
08:46 PM on 02/09/2012
I am almost 60 years old. I think they are very unique, talented, and entertaining. This act has a future!!!
12:19 PM on 02/09/2012
I don't think "the overseas" will ever get what this is about. All you should do is look/listen and be amazed at one of the best artists on a musical stage. #itsART

PS. I'm a metalhead.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Breeze
11:27 AM on 02/09/2012
The entire last half of the following article (linked), from just before the interviewer says "it means not real", is absolutely VITAL to understanding Die Antwoord.

They are a creation, entirely, but that creation is just a decision to do and to be various things and is as much reality as the reality we all have foisted upon us every day by the thing that happen to us that we can't choose.

Self-directed reality?

Anyway, it pretty much reveals the truth of Die Antwoord. I hope you all can understand...
http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/music/2012/02/09/qa-with-ninja-of-die-antwoord/
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Oblongato
My micro-bio defines me.
01:50 PM on 02/09/2012
Thanks for the tips. I was immediately fascinated by their music the first time I heard "Enter the Ninja" on the radio. Now, with the background, I find them much more interesting.

A pity the all of the stuff from the older projects is out of print. I may have to succumb and buy my first mp3s.

Is that a Dali mustache he's sporting now?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
brettrobbins
02:54 AM on 02/10/2012
Thanks for the link to the interview. Interesting. Especially his take on "documentary fiction."
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Breeze
06:11 PM on 02/10/2012
(See my comment at the top of the thread...)
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
AngryHarpy
I dwell in possibility.
04:05 AM on 02/09/2012
Hmm, that was interesting. I'm off to check out Die Antwoord's other music!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Breeze
11:57 PM on 02/08/2012
Photo of Yolandi Visser before Die Antwoord...

http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyxjugaRiE1qb8gjno1_250.jpg
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Mediorite
boom.
04:31 PM on 02/08/2012
Surprised this isn't a hotter single: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rit8dqh745A

Yo-Landi absolutelyKILLS her verse.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Breeze
10:42 PM on 02/08/2012
It was too early in the scheme of things.

Zef Side intro vid followed closely by Enter The Ninja dominated new viewings of Die Antwoord and eclipse Wat Pomp in the fame stakes....
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Alex Breeze
10:45 PM on 02/08/2012
Oh! Holly!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Mediorite
boom.
10:55 PM on 02/08/2012
Holly?
04:23 PM on 02/08/2012
These guys are so awesome! Kudos to Letterman for putting them on. Hope they get some real success in America. Watch a few of their videos and then go watch Lady Gaga - and you'll realize how overproduced all our crap is.