Quick hide the kids, Die Antwoord has released their new video, but where does the idea come from?

They call themselves Die Antwoord- meaning “the answer” in English. They are music game-changers; words like “normal” and “generally accepted” don’t usually come to mind when thinking of Die Antwoord. They are not even outside the box. For them, there is no freaking box. Just when you thought they could not come up with anything to top  the controversial “black face” and lions eating a meat-covered Lady Gaga in their previous video, they do! Die Antwoord has been shocking us with their idea of art and social commentary since 2007. Their latest video doesn’t disappoint. The group’s fans will like this one. It’s gruesome. It’s horrifyingly  disturbing and so unapologetically Die Antwoord. Others will watch the group’s latest video offering “Pitbull Terrior” open-mouthed and wonder: WTF did I just watch? The video is directed by the group’s frontman, Ninja and captures scenes of him made up as a  pitbull (excellent make-up artistry by the way) who escapes from the leash of his master  and basically eats and attacks people. Some viewers have also noticed that the  video is also exactly 4:20 minutes long – 420 is said to be the universal symbol for the appreciation of weed. Die Antwoord may be laughing at us while we all sit scratching our heads trying to decipher this video but let’s attempt it anyway. While the group may not be the actual answer, perhaps through their music and videos they are searching for it. Maybe asking you to think about these questions and issues.

Is the video social commentary?

Maybe the group is making a statement about the violence in the country. Pitbull fights are a constant in the streets of Cape Town suburbs. How often have guns been randomly whipped out in the street? Men bleeding on the side of the road is what’s actually happening in the country. Maybe not by being bitten (by dogs), but by being stabbed or shot. Only animals can kill without remorse. And human life is becoming cheaper and no longer respected as it should be. Perhaps the gun used in the video being a toy water gun is a message that guns or violence is not the answer and people are playing with the lives of others. Maybe like the Pitbull terrior in the video, some humans are out for blood. Or could Die Antwoord be saying that society has you on a leash? If you are unleashed will you create havoc because of frustration from being controlled and forced to conform?

Surprise, surprise!

But, would it surprise you that the idea of the song “Pitbull Terrior” doesn’t originate from the loins of Zef – the genre that the group defines their music as, but from the movie Black Cat White Cat released in 1998?     Die Antwoord’s video is open to your own interpretation. This group will always keep us wondering, even if it’s just about what they could do next. Love them or hate them, their videos get us talking…. and maybe even thinking too. Warning : parental guidance is advised. This could cause nightmares.   Die Antwoord’s new Album, Donkermag will be released June 3.   The group was not available for comment. Images taken from Die Antwoord Facebook page.